I am driven by innovation and empowering others whether it be through a 1:1 conversation or building a computer program that automates a process and serves to make someone’s day-to-day life easier. I am currently studying Computer Science at New York University where I find fulfillment in building community alongside other students through service projects, cultural celebrations, and especially through sharing opportunities for students interested in technology. Despite my passion for problem-solving and building programs, my path into exploring computer science wasn’t always the plan. My high school was a large and underfunded urban high school outside of Boston, MA. There was not much emphasis placed on learning about science and technology. Additionally, with only one girl on the school’s robotics team, I dismissed the idea of getting involved with machines and computers despite my curiosity. The feeling of unfamiliarity and self-doubt held me back from merely trying. However, I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. My passion for technology was first ignited when I was at the very conclusion of my high school career. By chance, I saw some friends on social media promoting a program called, Edgi Learning where students with no background knowledge in technology could get started on learning about the latest news in STEM advancements and career pathways in technology. My experience with this tech-education startup company had a ripple effect on my educational journey and life. Although I didn’t originally apply to college to study computer science, I joined clubs on campus such as Women in Computing, Tech@NYU, and Girls Who Code to learn more about other students’ journeys and how I could get involved. I started attending events and meeting with students just to build connections. The fierce self doubt and intimidation that once held me back started to melt away. Instead of feeling afraid, I felt inspired. One organization that I particularly felt motivated by was Women in Computing. As a freshman with still no programming experience, I took a chance and applied for a position on the e-board where I shared my ideas for how to build community and professional opportunities for women in technology. Looking back on those experiences, I wouldn’t have done anything differently. Today, I serve as the president of the Women in Computing club at my school, where I work towards cultivating a supportive environment for aspiring tech enthusiasts through making connections and sharing professional opportunities. Although it hasn’t been easy to revive the club post-pandemic, re-secure funding from NYU, and build student engagement, I never gave up because I know the impact that just one event or conversation may have on someone and their academic journey. I truly believe in the transformative power of technology, education, and community. In my vision for transforming the world through STEM, my focus is centered on education and making a difference in one community at a time. I am deeply passionate about bridging the educational gap, especially in underserved communities, where access to quality STEM education and higher education is often limited. I aspire to create and help lead comprehensive programs tailored to empower students who might not have had the opportunity to explore STEM before. By engaging students with hands-on experiences, mentorship, and a supportive learning environment, I intend to ignite curiosity and passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. My ultimate goal is to contribute to a world where every young student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to explore, learn, and thrive in STEM fields where students will find inspiration in the unfamiliar.

I could only hold my breath as my chest tightened while I looked through my google calendar, full of obligations and my notion planner, full of unchecked to-do list boxes. It's days like these where it's so hard to stay motivated and keep sight of my goals for my future and why I work so hard in pursuing higher education. Racked with anxiety, I wanted so badly to say no to my friend one day when she asked me to go to a fitness class at our university gym. However, something compelled me to say yes as I became full of desire to leave the desk of my dorm for an hour to escape my computer's constant reminders of my things to do. Although I walked begrudgingly to the gym, once the music came on and the fitness instructor yelled various directions out at the class, I felt like I was truly indulging in what I would call "me time": having fun with my friends while working out. The anxiety that once convoluted my body and mind slipped away for the duration of the class and I felt energized and motivated for the rest of the evening. Exercising is something relatively new that I've adopted into my life but it's a form of self-care that I'm so happy to have discovered for myself. To have merely an hour or two to completely immerse myself in an activity that's not homework, working, or anything I'm obligated to do is an amazing feeling. I've found health not only for my body but for my mind, especially in a time where the world can easily become overwhelming.

Eagerly, I opened my end of summer paystub that came in the mail after I worked my first job. This excitement quickly turned to disappointment upon seeing the amount of money I’d made in small bolded numbers at the bottom of the page. The amount I made was nowhere to be found in the dwindling numbers that comprised my current bank account balance. I did not save one penny. As a young member of a low-income family, I did not understand the value of money. Upon landing my first job, all I could grasp was that money granted me access to many material items that I never had access to before. Exhilarated by the instant gratification brought through purchasing American Eagle Jeans (which felt like a rite of passage at the time), I overlooked how budgeting and saving were financial skills that would be foundational to my future as I would need to manage the expenses of my college education on my own. After learning the hard way, I discovered that budgeting and saving money from working are essential to ensuring financial stability for the future. It’s important to have finances to fall back on in times of struggle and it’s important to have managed finances for essential needs such as purchasing food, paying bills, and in my case, financing my journey in higher education. It’s also important to budget so that you can have control of your obligatory expenses and have money set aside for leisure or indulging purposes. Through this realization, I saved more money than I spent for the last few years and was able to pay for my first year of college without stress. In the future, I hope to continue and improve my financial habits so that I can ensure financial stability for my future.