Rey Morin
Silver Achievement
Name: Rey Morin
School: Rancho Bernardo High School
City: San Diego, CA
Anzan Level: 2 Kyu
Abacus Level: Pre-1 Dan
Length of Learning: 12 years
Contest Results:
2015 Sothern California Abacus Contest Abacus Dictations Silver
2015 Sothern California Abacus Contest Comprehensive Bronze
2017 Sothern California Abacus Contest Comprehensive Bronze
2018 Sothern California Abacus Contest Comprehensive Bronze
2018 Sothern California Abacus Contest Abacus Dictations Silver
2019 Sothern California Abacus Contest Comprehensive Silver
2023 Sothern California Abacus Contest Team Competition 1st Place
Scholarly Achievements:
13 AP courses(end of Senior Year; 5s on Biology, Japanese, Calculus BC, Physics C: Mechanics, Statistics, Environmental Science)
Chamber and Symphony Orchestra 2022-current
2024 AP Scholar, 2025 AP Scholar with Distinction
National Merit Commended Scholar
SAT and ACT 1st Percentile Scorer
4.0 Unweighted GPA
7 Community College Courses: Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations(current), Chemistry 100, Economics, World History, Economics
Social Achievements:
Tutoring in STEM
Piano for 12 years
JV Volleyball
Founder/President of Japanese Language and Culture/Abacus Club, Heart Club, and Science Magazine Club
Vice President of Community Service of California Scholarship Federation Club (60+ hours)
National Honor Society member (30+ hours)
Orchestra Board leader
Symphony Orchestra member of the Civic Youth Orchestra
Palomar Hospital Volunteering/Internship (320+ hours)
Co-Founder of Open Research 4 Teens organization
2024 Boz Institute Deep-Sea Metagenomics Research Summer Program
Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program(ASDRP): started microbiology/cancer biology research project and led computational genomics research of uterine cancers
ASDRP 2025 Summer Symposium presenter
SDSU phage biology lab internship
Testimonial
Abacus has deeply shaped my life, serving as part of the underlying foundation of my passions and as the psychological backbone of how I problem-solve. The 12 years I have spent practicing also taught me persistency, a strength that I value: commitment should be shown to every aspect of life. Although I had periods when I struggled to progress, I kept my hands moving and the beads clacking. I challenged myself to see how small I could make the pauses between clacks, a tenacity that I applied to other parts of my life as well, whether it be the meticulous culturing of cells in the lab or the consistent practicing of piano at home. My practicing of abacus also honed my mental visualization skills, allowing me to truly take a deep dive into the concepts from STEM courses. Furthermore, the in-depth knowledge I gained I applied to various problems with versatility thanks to sharpened memory and focus from practicing the abacus.
However, I've only recently realized the pivotal role that abacus has played in influencing my perspectives. I try to share my value with peers at school through my club, and I often wish that someone could have told me at a younger age the substantial effect abacus would have on me. Considering the ease of learning a versatile skill like abacus at young ages, the importance of diligent practice and awareness early on is emphasized. Thus, I encourage younger students to persevere. Continue to practice, and know that the investment of effort will pay off more with every clack of each bead.