Why UC Merced?
UC Merced stood out to me for several reasons! The faculty-to-student ratio was a huge factor in my decision. We also have access to amazing research opportunities, which have allowed me to work closely with professors who are truly invested in exploration. And, as a growing community of students, this campus offers us an opportunity to build a legacy by starting organizations/clubs. I was able to take part in a few of our newly established organizations, which is very rewarding!
Why Your Major?
In high school, I had many interests, I was always curious and wanted to keep myself busy. I would envision different futures for myself, becoming an art major, pursuing business, or computer science. However, computer science was the only discipline that challenged me in a way that fostered growth. It pushed me to build new skills constantly and gave me a sense of fulfillment. That drive hasn't changed—it's this constant cycle of problem-solving and improvement that keeps me engaged and passionate about my major.
Inspiration and Mentors
My biggest inspirations and role models are my beautiful parents. But beyond my family, my college experience wouldn't have been the same without my incredible mentors. I'm deeply grateful to Professor Du for the opportunity to work with the DOE, which showed me the impact of cross-disciplinary collaboration. I thank Professor Chandrasekhar and my TA Sri, for putting us through a rollercoaster of emotions, haha, in our capstone project. It was a wonderful experience, it pushed me to grow technically and personally, and I enjoyed every step of the way, even the late-night cramming sessions. Finally, I thank Professor Pandey for your mentorship in our lab, for sharing so many opportunities with me, and for being an amazing human. Each of you has shaped not just my academic journey, but who I am as a person, and for that, I'm forever grateful.
Memorable Academic Experience
There are so many! I’ll never forget staying up night after night with my teammates working on projects—I still remember the first time I used GitHub and panicked about overwriting someone’s code (iykyk). But my most meaningful experience has been my time in the lab. I wrote my first research paper, presented my work at Undergraduate Research Week, and worked directly on real-world problems. I especially treasure my conversations with professors and all the laughs we've had with our teams. These experiences taught me that the best part of academia isn't just the knowledge you gain, it's the community you build and the memories you create together.
What's Next?
I’m planning to pursue graduate school with a focus on AI and Data Science. But, one thing that won’t change is that you’ll probably find me buried in work at a café! Let's connect on Linkedin!
