And taking that risk paid off.
“Sure I knew it was competitive and the odds were in the single digit percentages, but they didn’t bother me,” said Demapan.
The 2010 MHS valedictorian has just begun his sophomore year at Stanford and is majoring in biology with a concentration in neurobiology.
His inspiration for pursuing a medical field of study came after his father suffered a stroke when he was younger.
“I didn’t quite understand how a simple blood clot could have permanently crippling effects,” he said.
Demapan spent years trying to understand strokes and learned that it is only one type of affliction that critically impacts the brain.
“In truth, there are so many neurodegenerative disease, of which none are curable,” he said. “I didn’t like that idea one bit, so I came to the conclusion that I should do my part to combat stroke and neurodegeneration.”
Demapan’s aspirations also contributed to his decision to apply to Stanford, where the advancements and growth in the institution’s neuroscience and biomedical fields are on par with his goals to learn as much as possible in those areas, attain a medical degree, and a doctorate.
The 19-year-old is currently busy with science courses this quarter, and while his academic momentum is in full gear, he had to figure out how to stay on top of the game when he first got to the university.
“I had never experienced a class were basically the decision whether or not you get an A or fail rests on a single test that runs three hours long,” he said.
Additionally, adapting to the social environment in Palo Alto wasn’t the easiest transition.
“I grew up in Chalan Kanoa all my life without much affluence. To be put into an affluent community with different foods and lifestyles, well, it was awkward to say at the very least,” he said.
However, the former Saipan resident managed to forge friendships with other Stanford students.
“Despite coming from such a small island, he has definitely proven himself in the Stanford environment,” Daniel Halford, a former classmate of Demapan at Stanford, said.
Halford also considers the former MHS student a great friend on both an academic and personal level.
“Darren and I were in the same calculus class and he always helped explain the concepts to me so I could understand,” he said.
Another friend of Demapan, Jose Alvarez, has only positive things to say about him.
“Darren is a great guy. He is always eager to help you out when there is a problem, and it is always easy to talk to him,” he said. “We became very good friends this past year, which is why my friends…and I are glad he will be living with us this coming year at Stanford.”
Demapan is expecting to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in 2014, after which he aims to continue his studies until he attains a doctorate. And although it may well be some years before he completes his academic pursuits, he said he intends to practice neurology and return to Saipan.
