Why UC Merced?
I chose the University of California, Merced because I wanted to study with the best. UC Merced provides a high quality education with top professors who are willing to help when needed. The university is also conveniently located near Silicon Valley, the heart of technology and innovation. There are many career fairs that are hosted throughout the semester, which encourages students to apply for internships to various companies and jumpstart their career. UC Merced also offers the best financial aid within the UC system, bringing many students like me closer to their academic goals. I am grateful that UC Merced has offered a number of opportunities to prepare and thrive in the tech industry.
Why Your Major?
I majored in Computer Science and Engineering because I believe in building meaningful software to make technology more accessible and user-friendly. I want to be able to provide people in need with the proper technological resources to ensure they can achieve their fullest potential.
Inspiration and Mentors
I would like to thank Dr. Santosh Chandrasekhar for being a generous and dependable mentor. He was very helpful in my capstone class and I learned a lot about how to interact with clients and how to manage my time to accommodate their needs. He was also very supportive in my decision to attend graduate school. Dr. Chandrasekhar has inspired me to become a much more well-rounded person.
My advisor, Christina Mayo, has also been of great help in preparing for my bachelors. She directed me to various resources that would further enhance my experience at UC Merced.
I would also like to thank my family and friends, who have been very supportive of my academic career and encourage me to become successful in my future endeavors.
Memorable Academic Experience
My most memorable academic experience happened during my capstone class. This class allowed me to experience what working with a client was like, how to communicate our product effectively with them, and how to manage our time to complete a product that satisfied our client’s requirements. We also learned how to present our project in a way that was easy to understand, yet meaningful. This class gave me a taste of what it was like to work in the tech industry, which allowed me to become more prepared when performing a job.
What's Next?
I will be attending graduate school at the University of California, Irvine, where I will pursue a masters in Human-Computer Interaction and Design (MHCID). I hope to use the skills I’ve obtained from both my bachelors and my masters to make technology more accessible and user-friendly to people in need.
