Hamid Torabzadeh

Hamid Torabzadeh, a graduating senior at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California, was this year’s My Impact Challenge Grand Prize winner. Throughout his four years, his favorite classes varied but many were history and science related. He also earned and served in many leadership positions including positions for his high school’s Model United Nations, FIRST Robotics, Speech and Debate, American Red Cross, and HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapters.

Hamid’s service project is also reflective of his interest in public health as READYteens’ goal was to change families’ lives in the face of inevitable public health crises. His advice to others entering the challenge next year is “to find ways to apply civic values to specific needs in their own communities because no single person or action is too small to have a cascading effect of impact and positive change.”

His passion for health will be furthered as he attends Brown University this upcoming Fall as part of their PLME combined baccalaureate-MD program with guaranteed admission to the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. At Brown, he is planning to study public health and computer science “to explore the intersection of social sciences, life sciences, and technology and their role in improving healthcare and public health for all.” Hamid’s desire to pursue a career in this area is in part inspired by his greatest influence, his uncle Amir, a disability rights and social justice advocate who has constantly reminded Hamid that anything is possible with a positive mindset and hard work.