Age
18
Gender
Female
Ethnicity
Middle Eastern, Caucasian
Religion
Other
Hobbies and interests
Tennis
Mentoring
Track and Field
Statistics
Economics
Mathematics
Soccer
Finance
Data Science
Reading
Academic
Business
Economics
US CITIZENSHIP
US Citizen
LOW INCOME STUDENT
Yes
FIRST GENERATION STUDENT
Yes
Sarena Szymaszek
755
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FinalistSarena Szymaszek
755
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FinalistBio
Hey there! I'm Sarena, and I am currently a Freshman at the University Of Connecticut. I am a getting a dual degree in a BS in Economics with a concentration in quantitative analysis, and a BS in Actuarial Sciences & Finance. I plan on going for the 4+1 program my University offers for Quantitative Economics, where I can earn my masters in five years. I also plan on going to graduate school for both Economics, and Actuarial Sciences to obtain higher degrees such as PhD's. I am involved in many clubs such as Economics Society, Women and Minorities in Economics, Joint statistical club, Finance Society, and the Actuarial Sciences club. For the upcoming semester I am looking into becoming a Statistics tutor for my school and also plan on becoming a research assistant in analyzing historical insurance documents. I am passionate about school, but also with the involvement in my community. I am a 10+ year donator and fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and actively do community service and fundraising for my local Church.
Education
University of Connecticut
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Mathematical Economics
- Economics
GPA:
3.5
Orville H. Platt High School
High SchoolGPA:
3.9
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Mathematical Economics
- Data Analytics
Career
Dream career field:
Insurance
Dream career goals:
Actuary
Sports
Track & Field
Junior Varsity2022 – Present3 years
Tennis
Varsity2020 – Present5 years
Awards
- Varsity Letter
Arts
Platt High School
Theatre2020 – 2022
Public services
Volunteering
First Congregational church — Our Roles involved donations, helping out with blood drives, making food for the homeless, donating money to first responders2022 – PresentPublic Service (Politics)
Registrars of Voters, Meriden, CT — At the Registrars of Voters Office I worked as a Ballot Clerk, Official Checker, Tabulator Tender, and Assistant Registrar2020 – PresentVolunteering
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation — Fundraising2012 – PresentVolunteering
Mentoring Freshmen, Platt High School — Tutor them and help them keep their grades in check while also letting them ask questions about high school2021 – 2024
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Philanthropy
AB Foundation Scholarship
Admiration: it’s a word that everyone knows but is not used often. “Admiration” is the word that comes to my mind when I think about my mother. Not only was she a teenage mom, but she also had given birth to a child with severe medical problems, while also working and pursuing an education.
My mom was only eighteen when she got pregnant. Being so young and kicked out of the house without help, she decided to change her life. She got a job, worked full-time, and then got an apartment. But little did she know that was just the beginning. It was already hard enough doing things on her own and supporting herself. When I was born, I was extremely sick—vomiting everything up, not eating, losing weight, coughing, etc. After a month, the doctors figured it out. I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at one-month-old.
Looking back, I can confidently say my mom did everything she could to be a great mother. Being a mom and having a baby with Cystic Fibrosis was not easy. It required multiple trips weekly to doctor's appointments, which were about 30-40 minutes away due to the need for intensive care from Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford. I also needed to take multiple medications a day, which not only included pills but also two nebulized treatments, morning and night, that each took between 30 minutes to an hour. On top of all of that, I ended up being hospitalized multiple times a year due to medical complications such as lung infections and sinus surgeries. It's safe to say that I was a sick kid. But despite my being ill and taking care of myself, my mom worked full-time at an eye doctor's office while working to get her associate's degree in nursing. Unfortunately, this took her more than two years because of everything she had going on. Eventually, after four years, she obtained her associate's degree, became an RN, and started working in a hospital.
Growing up, my mom supported me and always encouraged me to try my best. She knew what it was like to struggle and make mistakes. Now, she did not tell me not to struggle. But she wanted me to avoid making the same mistakes she made. I would say that my mom was the most influential when it came to my education and my career goals. My mom was very pushy about doing well and succeeding.
Throughout High School I was very involved in many clubs. From drama club to other things like varsity Tennis and Managing the Soccer team. When it came to college, I knew what I wanted to go into and that I wanted to go to the UConn. However, the college process was nerve-racking. In 2024, UConn had over 55,000 applications and only excepted around 4,300. When I got excepted, not only was I proud of myself, but my mom was also excited for me. Knowing all she did for me growing up, made this moment in life even better, knowing that I couldn’t have gotten here without her.
I think it’s safe to say that sometimes what our parents do for us go right over our heads. It especially did for me. Despite being only eighteen years old, and having a baby with extreme medical conditions, my mom fought for me. She worked full time and went to school while also providing everything I needed, medically and miscellaneously. I admire her, and her ambition to take care of me while also pushing me to achieve all my goals while being a teenage mother.