Why UC Merced?
I chose UC Merced because it felt like a comfortable and genuine fit for me. Coming from Watsonville, a mostly Hispanic community, I appreciated that UC Merced had a similar sense of familiarity and diversity, which made the transition to college much easier. I was also drawn to the campus environment and how close it is to places like Yosemite, as I enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors. The smaller size of the university also appealed to me because it made it easier to connect with professors and stay engaged in my classes instead of feeling lost on a large campus. UC Merced offered the kind of setting where I felt supported and able to succeed both personally and academically.
Why Your Major?
I chose Mechanical Engineering because math and science were always the subjects that made the most sense to me. Even in elementary school, I remember racing through the timed multiplication sheets and feeling excited to be one of the first to flip over their paper. That early excitement for problem-solving stuck with me, and as I got older, those subjects stayed my strongest and most enjoyable. Outside the school, I realized I liked working on hands-on things too. Fixing my car, taking apart my gaming consoles, and customizing controllers made me appreciate understanding how things worked and figuring out how to make them better. For a while, I did think about majoring in chemistry (mainly because of Breaking Bad), but over time, I realized I enjoyed chemistry more as a hobby, especially through baking. Mechanical Engineering brought together everything I enjoyed, combining problem-solving with hands-on work.
Inspiration and Mentors
My biggest inspiration has always been my mom. She raised my sister and me on her own while working as a housekeeper, and managed to provide everything we needed, even when it meant sacrificing things for herself. No matter how tired she was, she always showed up for us and supported us in any way we needed. Seeing her work ethic and commitment has been one of my biggest motivators throughout my time in college.
I also want to thank several professors who have guided me along the way. Dr. Alejandro Gutiérrez has always been there whenever I needed career advice, and Dr. Francesco Danzi has answered countless engineering questions from me and been receptive to random engineering videos I would send him. Dr. Abel Chuang has been one of the most friendly and easygoing professors I’ve had, and I’m grateful to all my engineering instructors who've helped shape the path I’m on now. I also want to recognize Dr. Erica Rutter and Dr. Nathan Willis for being outstanding math professors who were always open to questions and willing to offer advice whenever I needed it.
I genuinely appreciate the TAs who made a big impact as well. Adrien Peltzer and Shashwat Sharan are two of the brightest and most approachable people I’ve met, and their support made a real difference in my learning experience.
Lastly, I want to thank my beautiful girlfriend Verania and my friends for being there through everything, whether it was studying together, helping each other with assignments, or just supporting one another throughout the semester, thank you all!
Memorable Academic Experience
One of my most memorable academic experiences was taking MATH 131, Numerical Methods. This class was easily one of the most difficult courses I took during my undergraduate journey. Every time a homework assignment was posted, I knew I was in for a long week. The amount of time, patience, and focus each assignment required meant there were plenty of late nights and a few sleepless ones as well. The midterms were just as tough for this class, so the entire semester felt like a nonstop grind.
What made the experience meaningful, though, was my friend Jesus Ruvalcaba. This man is one of the smartest and most hard-working people I’ve met, and we constantly challenged each other throughout the class. We’d compare answers, compete to see who could get a better grade, and motivate each other to keep going even when the work felt overwhelming.
As tough as the course was, it ended up being one of the most rewarding. Finishing each assignment and eventually completing the class gave me a huge sense of accomplishment. It’s one of those experiences that reminds you how much you’re capable of when you really commit to something.
What's Next?
After graduation, I’m aiming to move into a role in manufacturing or a position that has a strong hands-on component. I’ve always enjoyed work where I can be directly involved in how things operate or come together, and manufacturing aligns well with that interest.
