This semester has been the toughest yet. The workload has been overwhelming. In my Capstone class, I was assigned to be the project owner, managing a team of five college students, which proved challenging. Balancing this with my other courses and the pressure of applying for graduate school and scholarships, I must admit my mental and physical health suffered. This peaked during Ramadan, which usually is a peaceful time for cleansing one's mind and body. However, with my workload and fasting, my mental and physical well-being fell. I couldn't fall asleep, even after staying up for two days, as I was restless thinking about my workload and how to divide tasks to meet deadlines. I've always struggled with anxiety, but I've developed strategies to cope. I prioritize preparation to stay ahead and avoid feeling unprepared or overwhelmed. I establish timelines for assignments and tasks, allowing me to focus on the work rather than worrying about deadlines or grades. Additionally, I find solace in background music or TV shows to ease my mind. However, this semester posed new challenges, as I fell behind on my timeline and encountered unreliable teammates, which added to my stress. Moreover, I experienced a loss of appetite. After I long day of fasting, I didn't even finish two spoonfuls before stopping and going back to work. Instead, I relied on small snacks that I could chew as my meal for the day, and chewing on things like pixels helped to manage my nerves. This, coupled with worsening eyesight and back pain from sitting and staring at the computer screen for so long, made the situation worse. Despite these challenges, I persevered because I knew that giving up would mean failure. Failing to graduate would jeopardize my family's financial stability, as the job that I have lined up is dependent on my graduation. So, I adopted the motto "just keep swimming" to keep pushing forward and to comfort myself knowing that in a few months, it will be over. After Ramadan, I took steps to prioritize my well-being because my family sat down with me numerous times to detail their concern for me. I ensured I got more sleep and I requested lighter home-cooked meals from my mom as a substitute for though sneaks that helped with my nervousness. However, the most significant help came from talking to my professors. Opening up about my struggles not only clarified my standing in the class but also helped me finish tasks faster. Their reassurance lessened much of my anxiety, and one professor even assured me of my standing within the group of members who were not reliable. There's a quote I once read that resonates with me: "Life sometimes feels like climbing an endless mountain, where no matter how hard you try, you can't find the path. Then someone comes along and points you in the right direction." It serves as a reminder that even in moments of despair, our minds can become clouds and things may seem impossible, like climbing a mountain, but all it takes is one person and their different perspective to help you see things clearly/differently.

During my early academic life, I partook in various tech-related extracurriculars -- tech squad, a/v club, and library assistant. The most influential was the tech squad. I had the opportunity to shadow and assist the IT leaders in the building. It was an immersive experience that initiated my technical, as well as my communication and networking skills as I helped faculty with IT troubleshooting and software updates. Moreover, as tech was at the forefront of my mind, I began to consume more tech content from digital creators like Michael Reeves. One video that stands out was Reeves' take on the da Vinci robotic surgical system. Developing a belt drive gantry system along with ODrive, an open-source controller, Reeves took on this engineering challenge in a lighthearted and adventurous manner, effortlessly blending humor and technology. Beyond the entertainment, the videos not only provided a window into the development process and technical concepts, e.g., open-source, but they also helped me develop a philosophy about coding. I could see there existed a rhythm and rhyme within computer science - elegance over complexity, simplicity over embellishment, and countless applications. The self-discovery and exploration of this period not only cemented my interest in tech but also showed the infinite possibilities within computer science. Additionally, during college, I honed my practical and fundamental skills. For example, I grasped the intricacies of different coding languages (i.e., C++ and Python), software analysis and design, and computer architecture. I then took these skills and started on personal projects, such as developing a Sudoku Solver and Generator in Python utilizing the backtracking algorithm. These experiences extended my technological repertoire but also ingrained in me a love for continuous learning and imaginative solutions. Upon graduating from CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. in Computer Science, I plan to attend Graduate School while embarking on a career at the intersection of technology and finance. NYC is the perfect backdrop to dive into the fintech sector, with its vibrant financial ecosystem and thriving tech scene. During my ten-week internship at Broadridge Financial Solutions, I gained a high-level insight into the fintech industry while also developing an interest in full-stack development, cloud computing, AI, and robotic process automation in finance. Moreover, I have a job offer at Broadridge Financial Solutions in their rotational career program for this coming July, which I intend to do concurrently while earning my degree. The program is a blend of technical and business training, and after earning my M.S I plan to continue my education in business and pursue an MBA. Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to lead a team in building innovative and creative technology akin to what I witnessed during my internship. At Broadridge, as a capstone project, I researched some of the new software solutions the company had just launched. The one that caught my eye was BondAI, which harnesses AI technology to help global clientele with bond-related questions. Learning about such tangible solutions ignited in me a desire to develop similar pioneering solutions to revolutionize the fintech industry.

During my early academic life, I partook in various tech-related extracurriculars -- tech squad, a/v club, and library assistant. The most influential was the tech squad. I had the opportunity to shadow and assist the IT leaders in the building. It was an immersive experience that initiated my technical, as well as my communication and networking skills as I helped faculty with IT troubleshooting and software updates. Moreover, as tech was at the forefront of my mind, I began to consume more tech content from digital creators like Michael Reeves. One video that stands out was Reeves' take on the da Vinci robotic surgical system. Developing a belt drive gantry system along with ODrive, an open-source controller, Reeves took on this engineering challenge in a lighthearted and adventurous manner, effortlessly blending humor and technology. Beyond the entertainment, the videos not only provided a window into the development process and technical concepts, e.g., open-source, but they also helped me develop a philosophy about coding. I could see there existed a rhythm and rhyme within computer science - elegance over complexity, simplicity over embellishment, and countless applications. The self-discovery and exploration of this period not only cemented my interest in tech but also showed the infinite possibilities within computer science. Additionally, during college, I honed my practical and fundamental skills. For example, I grasped the intricacies of different coding languages (i.e., C++ and Python), software analysis and design, and computer architecture. I then took these skills and started on personal projects, such as developing a Sudoku Solver and Generator in Python utilizing the backtracking algorithm. These experiences extended my technological repertoire but also ingrained in me a love for continuous learning and imaginative solutions. Upon graduating from CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. in Computer Science, I plan to attend Graduate School while embarking on a career at the intersection of technology and finance. NYC is the perfect backdrop to dive into the fintech sector, with its vibrant financial ecosystem and thriving tech scene. During my ten-week internship at Broadridge Financial Solutions, I gained a high-level insight into the fintech industry while also developing an interest in full-stack development, cloud computing, AI, and robotic process automation in finance. Moreover, I have a job offer at Broadridge Financial Solutions in their rotational career program for this coming July, which I intend to do concurrently while earning my degree. The program is a blend of technical and business training, and after earning my M.S I plan to continue my education in business and pursue an MBA. Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to lead a team in building innovative and creative technology akin to what I witnessed during my internship. At Broadridge, as a capstone project, I researched some of the new software solutions the company had just launched. The one that caught my eye was BondAI, which harnesses AI technology to help global clientele with bond-related questions. Learning about such tangible solutions ignited in me a desire to develop similar pioneering solutions to revolutionize the fintech industry.