Kaitlyn Qin

  

Volume 9 | Issue II | June 2025

Greenwich High School ’27

Connecticut, United States

  

Growing up in a household constantly discussing legislation and social issues, I found myself interested in public policy and social equity from early on. Since reading an article in third grade about how prisons profit from keeping cells full, I’ve felt a deep concern for incarcerated individuals and wondered how institutions could help them. Prison reform movements began as early as the 1800s – yet centuries later, many problems remain unresolved. Selecting a specific question took long, but eventually I was drawn to the growing overrepresentation of mental illness in prison populations. Recognizing the critical struggles inmates face and the potential of better support to save lives, I examined how to improve systems to prevent recidivism. Approaching this complex project, I didn’t know where to find datasets, how to conduct a Python logit regression, or understand the statistical language – but I learned through research guides, online resources, and trial-and-error. I spent months reviewing journals, exploring analysis methodologies, and finding a usable dataset before writing. I persevered through the tedious process, ultimately gaining valuable skills. Notably, I grasped how to look beyond numbers to understand real-world implications, as conflicting studies reminded me that mental health can’t be measured by a single metric. As VP of my school’s Model UN and Debate clubs, I’ve been inspired to pursue a future in public policy or political science, and continue researching topics related to criminal justice, equity, and institutional accountability.