Freshman Academy

All first-year students in Viterbi are invited to enroll in Freshman Academy (ENGR 102), a class that allows new Viterbi students to learn about the field of engineering, understand how engineers think and approach problem-solving, and examine the ethical, societal, and political impact of engineering.  The class also brings together students from all engineering majors, giving students the opportunity to meet other first-year students and build their Viterbi community.  Each Academy section is led by an experienced faculty member and two upper-division engineering students called Academy Coaches who serve as mentors and resources for questions about student life in Viterbi.

All Academy Lectures

Students in Freshman Academy are provided with the opportunity to hear from professionals, innovators, researchers, and USC alumni in the engineering field through the All Academy Lecture Series.

Fall 2020 Coaches

Academy coaches are current Viterbi sophomores, juniors, and seniors in different engineering majors. Coaches can answer any questions you have about the course, Viterbi, USC and any other issues or challenges that you might face during your first year.

ALYSE BARLOW

Year: Senior
Major: Industrial and Systems Engineering, minor in Computer Programing
Hometown: Bellevue, WA
High School you attended: Eastlake High School
Email: anbarlow@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Engineers Without Borders: Bolivia Project Team, IISE, Volunteers Around the World, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority

Hobbies/interests:
Eating at new places, cooking, going to Manhattan and Newport Beach, hiking, and yoga

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Meeting new friends during orientation that I still talk to and hang out with to this day
  • Experiencing gamedays for the first time
  • Going to Hermosa Beach with some friends in BmE immediately after the Chem 105a final first semester
  • My first time at Coachella
  • Coding for the first time and learning C++ in ITP 165 then deciding to pursue a minor (shout-out my professor Raymond Kim!)

Advice for freshmen:

  • Your health is SO important. Do not sacrifice your sleep, eating, and exercise habits to get every second of studying in! Remember that you are still human, same with all of your peers.
  • Office hours are crucial. If you are struggling in a class, don’t “give it time” and hope you will understand down the line – I’ve made this mistake before! Your professor’s and TA’s office hours are meant for students to come in and get extra help – right as you become confused in lecture, make a note of your question and see your professor or TA as soon as possible to get it answered. It also builds a personalized relationship for a potential letter of recommendation or research opportunity.
  • Soak up your time in Los Angeles, you only have four years! Try all its fantastic restaurants, fun sightseeing, and gorgeous beaches. They’re no more than 30-minute Uber or Lyft rides away!
  • Making friends in your classes for study groups is super helpful. It makes studying much more fun and beneficial – multiple heads are better than one!

ANISHA RAO

Year: Sophomore
Major: Astronautical Engineering, minor in Entrepreneurship
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
High School you attended: St. Francis High School
Email: akrao@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Rocket Propulsion Lab (RPL), Society of Women Engineers, Women in Engineering, Boxing Club

Hobbies/interests:
Traveling, anything food-related, martial arts, political science and international relations

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football game days with friends
  • Exploring Santa Monica and downtown LA
  • Trips to the desert with RPL
  • Late night boba runs to Pot of Cha
  • SpaceX tour with my ASTE 101 class
  • Learning to skateboard

Advice for freshmen:

  • Everyone wants to make friends, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, especially within the first couple weeks of school!
  • Go to career events, office hours, club meetings, etc. Get to know as many professors, classmates (in and out of your major), and industry professionals as you can. This network of people will be invaluable to you later on.
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s okay to mess up!
  • Get off campus and explore LA! Go outside! There’s so much to experience beyond USC.
  • Take your first year to explore clubs (engineering and non-engineering) you’re interested in. It’s never too late to try something new!

ASHLEY BRADY

Year: Junior
Major: Environmental Engineering
Hometown: Chicago, IL
High School you attended: Walter Payton College Prep
Email: bradya@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Camp Kesem, Engineers Without Borders, Childress Research Lab, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Ultimate Frisbee Intramurals

Hobbies/interests:
Hiking, hammocking, yoga, volleyball, watching the Cubs

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football gamedays
  • Singing/dancing to country music with my roommate
  • Camp Kesem counselor retreat

Advice for freshmen:

  • Go to the involvement fair and sign up for everything you’re interested in (you can try it all out and then pick what you like)
  • Join clubs you love!
  • Never be afraid to ask upperclassmen for advice
  • Late night deep talks are worth the one less hour of sleep
  • Roommate dance parties are a great way to release stress

ASHNA CHANDRA

Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science, minor in Technology Commercialization
Hometown: Saratoga, CA
High School you attended: The Harker School
Email: ashnacha@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Rocket Propulsion Lab (RPL), Society of Women Engineers, Women in Engineering, Boxing Club

Hobbies/interests:
Traveling, anything food-related, martial arts, political science and international relations

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football game days with friends
  • Exploring Santa Monica and downtown LA
  • Trips to the desert with RPL
  • Late night boba runs to Pot of Cha
  • SpaceX tour with my ASTE 101 class
  • Learning to skateboard

Advice for freshmen:

  • Everyone wants to make friends, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, especially within the first couple weeks of school!
  • Go to career events, office hours, club meetings, etc. Get to know as many professors, classmates (in and out of your major), and industry professionals as you can. This network of people will be invaluable to you later on.
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s okay to mess up!
  • Get off campus and explore LA! Go outside! There’s so much to experience beyond USC.
  • Take your first year to explore clubs (engineering and non-engineering) you’re interested in. It’s never too late to try something new!

CAMI SIMPSON

Year:  Junior
Major & minor: Industrial & Systems Engineering, minor in Computer Programming
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
High school you attended: Durham Academy
Email: cpsimpso@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Executive Board Corresponding Secretary for Theta Tau, Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize, Competition Program Assistant, and Summer Smasher Program Assistant

Hobbies/interests:
Arts & Crafts, Traveling, and Collecting Records

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Dance parties with my roommate
  • Playing board games with friends on our dorm room floor
  • Late night food runs
  • Becoming a member of Theta Tau
  • EVK!!!

Advice for freshmen:

  • Be bold.
  • Explore LA, organizations, and yourself.
  • Don’t fill up your plate all at once, take some time to figure out what means the most to
    you!

DIANA LAFOLLETTE

Year: Senior
Major: Chemical Engineering with Sustainable Energy emphasis, minor in Environmental Studies
Hometown: Destin, FL
High School you Attended: Niceville High School
Email: dlafolle@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Research assistant in Mark E. Thompson research group working on OLEDs, Alpha Chi Omega sorority, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, USC Science Outreach

Hobbies/interests:
Running, yoga, painting

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Big Little Reveal with Alpha Chi Omega
  • Halloween Horror Nights with my roommates
  • Many trips to Salt and Straw
  • Surprising one of my roommates with a horseback riding trip for her birthday

Advice for freshmen:

  • Relax.
  • It’s okay to quit a club if you don’t like it.
  • Try to leave campus to do things as often as you can.

ELISE ADREON

Year: Senior
Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering, minor in Business
Hometown: Evergreen, CO
High School you Attended: Evergreen High School
Email: adreon@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Director of Consulting for the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, Alpha Phi sorority, Dance Marathon Planning Committee

Hobbies/interests:
Hiking, skiing, Netflix

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Beating Stanford… twice 🙂

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
  • Make friends in your classes (engineers are cool!)
  • Remember that everyone is going through the exact same thing.

HANNAH CHEVES

Year: Junior
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: San Diego, CA
High School you Attended: Poway High School
Email:  hcheves@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Tri Delta Sorority, Risk Manager for Tri Delta, TIE Program Assistant, RE3, Neurology Research Assistant, Dr. Marcus Research Assistant, Peer Health Exchange, Scholars Leading Scholars, ASBME

Hobbies/interests:
I love to hike, paint, travel and explore LA when I have the chance!

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Winning free tickets to Stagecoach at Spring fest
  • Road tripping to SD with my friends for a weekend getaway
  • Football season (even though it was so hot!!)
  • Going to Santa Monica on Fridays after class

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t be afraid to talk to other freshman. They are all looking for their friend group too and probably want to get to know you!
  • Go to the club/career fairs but don’t join everything! There are a million things to do at USC and they’re all great organizations, but you don’t want to be overwhelmed during the craziness of freshman year.
  • I know this is not for everyone, but if you are thinking about rushing in the spring, DO IT! You don’t have to take a bid, but it is a great way to meet people. I met some of my best friends through my sorority and found a second home on the row.
  • HAVE FUN! Take a study break every once in a while and explore LA or what campus has to offer!

JOSH SOLOMON

Year: Junior
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
High School you Attended: Deer Lakes High School
Email:  jdsolomo@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Research under Professor Bhaskar Krishnamachari in the Autonomous Networks Research Group, Member of Theta Tau, Member of IEEE, TA for EE 141 (Intro to Linear Algebra for Electrical Engineers)

Hobbies/interests:
Running, movies, hiking, coding, web-design, reading

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Studying with all the other electrical engineers in “The Chiller” (Study Lounge in one of the Residential Halls)

Advice for freshmen:

  • Focus on whatever interests you whether its organizations, your classes, or your connections.
  • Take every opportunity you can because you might never have it again, and you have
    time to change if you decide you don’t like it.
  • Step out of your comfort zone every now and then.

JULIA CORDERO

Year: Junior
Major: Computer Engineering & Computer Science
Hometown: San Bruno, CA
High School you Attended: Capuchino High School
Email: jrcorder@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Research under Professor Bhaskar Krishnamachari in the Autonomous Networks Research Group, Member of Theta Tau, Member of IEEE, TA for EE 141 (Intro to Linear Algebra for Electrical Engineers)

Hobbies/interests:
Running, movies, hiking, coding, web-design, reading

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Studying with all the other electrical engineers in “The Chiller” (Study Lounge in one of the Residential Halls)

Advice for freshmen:

  • Focus on whatever interests you whether its organizations, your classes, or your connections.
  • Take every opportunity you can because you might never have it again, and you have
    time to change if you decide you don’t like it.
  • Step out of your comfort zone every now and then.

KENDA FINCH

Year: Senior/PDP Masters
Major: Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering), PDP in Civil Engineering
Hometown: Albany, CA
High School you Attended: Albany High School
Email: kendafin@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
ASCE Co-President, Engineers Without Borders: San Bernardino Project Team

Hobbies/interests:
Cooking and Baking, Reading, Swimming, Game of Thrones, and Hiking

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • First USC Gameday!
  • Taking over study rooms with friends during midterms and finals
  • Exploring LA and trying new restaurants
  • Taking the Metro to Santa Monica for the first time

Advice for freshmen:

  • Everyone is trying to make new friends. Don’t be afraid to talk to anyone in your classes or in your dorm.
  • College isn’t like high school. You might have to work harder than you think, so organize your time well and talk to your professors if you feel like you’re struggling
  • Have fun! Freshman year is full of making new memories – go explore LA and try things you never thought you would.

KIM LARSON

Year: Senior
Major: Biomedical Engineering, minor in Dance
Hometown: Snohomish, WA
High School you Attended: Henry M. Jackson High School
Email: larsonk@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
ASCE Co-President, Engineers Without Borders: San Bernardino Project Team

Hobbies/interests:
Cooking and Baking, Reading, Swimming, Game of Thrones, and Hiking

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • First USC Gameday!
  • Taking over study rooms with friends during midterms and finals
  • Exploring LA and trying new restaurants
  • Taking the Metro to Santa Monica for the first time

Advice for freshmen:

  • Everyone is trying to make new friends. Don’t be afraid to talk to anyone in your classes or in your dorm.
  • College isn’t like high school. You might have to work harder than you think, so organize your time well and talk to your professors if you feel like you’re struggling
  • Have fun! Freshman year is full of making new memories – go explore LA and try things you never thought you would.

MADDIE WALTER

Year: Senior/PDP Masters
Major: Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Emphasis, PDP in Product Development Engineering
Hometown: Orland Park, IL
High School you Attended: Carl Sandburg High School
Email: mkwalter@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Society of Women Engineers

Hobbies/interests:
Finding the best sushi restaurant in LA, hiking, going to the beach, yoga, tweeting

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Night hike in the Hollywood Hills to the Wisdom Tree with ASBME
  • EVK Midnight Breakfast
  • Meeting my best friends!
  • Game days
  • Getting a research position
  • Living in Los Angeles and being able to explore

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t worry if you don’t have your entire life figured out yet! You’ll get there.
  • Your GPA isn’t THAT important, especially as an engineer. It’s way more important to be involved and happy.
  • Take some classes that have nothing to do with your major! (Like ballroom dance. It’s my favorite class I’ve ever taken.)
  • Join clubs! They’re a great way to meet new friends and really find your home on
    campus

MIKE SHAO

Year: Senior
Major: Chemical Engineering, minor in Business Finance
Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas
High School you Attended: Clements High School
Email: mikeshao@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Undergraduate Student Government, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Research

Hobbies/interests:
Tennis, hiking, running, Netflix, reading

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Going to Santa Monica for the first time
  • Making new friends
  • Football games

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t be afraid to try new things, you never know what you’ll find interesting!

NATALIE KISTLER

Year: Junior
Major: Biomedical Engineering (Pre-Medicine)
Hometown: Kansas City, KS
High School you Attended: St. Teresa’s Academy
Email: nmkistle@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
3D4E, Pi Beta Phi Sorority, Viterbi Student Ambassador, Society of Women Engineers, Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering, Spoon University, Hudson Clinic Volunteer

Hobbies/interests:
Running, going out to eat (especially ice cream), going to the beach, watching sports, looking at food Instagrams

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football Gamedays
  • Going to World Premiere of Captain Marvel and shaking Josh Peck’s hand
  • Spending 50$ in a week on ice cream
  • Spending the day at Manhattan Beach
  • Getting to talk to interesting Uber drivers with my friends

Advice for freshmen:

  • No one has it all figured out – even if they do a good job of hiding it.
  • The grill line at EVK – at the end of the hot entree line you can order burgers, hot dogs, and grilled chicken sandwiches.
  • Get involved in as many clubs as you can and then you can narrow them down during your future years.
  • Focus less on getting involved with the “right” groups or “right” classes and find what you are truly passionate about.

NATHAN HIRSCH

Year: Sophomore
Major: Astronautical Engineering
Hometown: Danville, CA
High School you Attended: Monte Vista High School
Email: nshirsch@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
SERC, LPL, RE3, USC Climbing Team

Hobbies/interests:
Running, going out to eat (especially ice cream), going to the beach, watching sports, looking at food Instagrams

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Football gamedays
  • Meeting my new friends
  • Heaven on Earth (art exhibition a friend made)

Advice for freshmen:

  • You can always reach out for help
  • It’s best to talk to people about any problems you’re facing rather than holding it all in
  • It’s okay to be overwhelmed with all the new stuff, it makes more sense with time so there’s no rush to dive into everything
  • Use all your resources such as VARC, Math Center, and the Writing Center

PILAR LUIZ

Year: Sophomore
Major: Computer Science
Hometown: Los Gatos, CA
High School you Attended: Archbishop Mitty High School
Email: pluiz@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Thematic Option (T.O.), Research Assistant for Automatic Coordination of Teams Laboratory, Trojan Shelter, Photography Club

Hobbies/interests:
Photography, music, running, hiking, skateboarding, reading and watching films, painting and drawing

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Seeing Drake get booed off stage at Flog Gnaw and going to Jaden Smith’s concert during finals week
  • Sleeping over at Trojan Shelter’s shelter for college students experiencing homelessness
  • Getting up at 5:30am and going to Disneyland to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance on opening weekend
  • Living in my chaotic 8 person suite

Advice for freshmen:

  • Focus on what you are passionate about. USC is great because it’s big enough that other people are bound to have some of the same interests as you, thus doing what you love is a great way to meet people and make friends!
  • It’s okay not to be the best at everything, and it’s definitely okay to struggle with things.
  • Talk to everyone and anyone. You can form so many great relationships with peers and professors from just starting a casual conversation.
  • Balance school and recreation! Don’t forget to take a break, focus on hobbies, explore LA, hang out with friends, and do things that make you happy.
  • Don’t forget to keep in touch with your family and friends back home!

PIRIL NERGIS

Year: Senior/PDP Masters
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering, PDP in Electrical Engineering
Hometown: San Diego, CA
High School you Attended: Torrey Pines High School
Email: nergis@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
IEEE USC, QuEST, research at MiXIL

Hobbies/interests:
Music, outdoors, reading, plants, languages, cooking, exploring cities

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Late night study sessions and boba runs
  • Spontaneous movie nights in the lounges with random people in our building
  • Freshman Academy because I met some of my best friends
  • Women’s March! I met so many new people
  • Going to midnight showings at Cinemark Baldwin Hills with my friends

Advice for freshmen:

  • After high school, you think you can handle 8 am’s, but college is just different so make sure you get enough sleep
  • Get a bit out of your comfort zone and meet new people, try new student orgs, reach out to that professor
  • Always prioritize your mental and physical health above all.
  • Get to know LA; the metro is a great way to get around
  • Don’t be in a rush to try and do everything at once. In the end, you’ll make the time for what you want to do.
  • Most importantly: trust yourself

SHEETAL MADNANI

Year: Senior
Major: Chemical Engineering, minor in Political Science
Hometown: Guangzhou, China
High School you Attended: Utahloy International School
Email: madnani@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Model United Nations, Undergrad Research at Hodge Nanotechnology Lab, USC Global Fellows, Undergrad Research in Environmental Policy

Hobbies/interests:
LA food spots, books and bookstores, fun recipes, classical mythology, and international politics!

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Spontaneous movie nights in residential ‘study’ lounges
  • A Santa Barbara trip with my Model UN team
  • Dining hall get-togethers that lasted hours
  • Lying on grassy areas on campus in between classes
  • So. Many. Food trucks.

Advice for freshmen:

  • It is okay to not feel completely at home or settled in your first year. Getting acclimated to college takes time, and everyone has a different timeline for doing so.
  • Join clubs! It seems daunting, but it can turn out to be the best way to make new friends and find a community in an overwhelming first semester.
  • Google/Apple calendar is your best friend (also use it for fun social events!)
  • Be open to new experiences even if they seem to be ‘not your thing’ – college is as much about getting to know yourself in a new way as it is about getting to know new people.

SURYA NEHRA

Year: Junior
Major: Computer Engineering & Computer Science
Hometown: Tracy, CA
High School you Attended: Tracy High School
Email: nehra@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Novus Think Tank, USC Rocket Propulsion Lab, Research Assistant in Signal Analysis and Interpretation Laboratory, Warren Bennis Scholars Program

Hobbies/interests:
Reading, tennis, calligraphy, collecting vinyl records, talking with friends all night long

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Going to Koreatown for the first time
  • The launch of Traveler IV (the USC student-built rocket that made it to
    space)
  • Visiting the Broad
  • Spending the weekend at Lake Arrowhead and seeing snow for the first
    time
  • Late nights at Santa Monica

Advice for freshmen:

  • Don’t worry about feeling behind, whether if it’s in grasping a concept in class or in developing yourself through extracurriculars or internships. So many things in college are new, and it’s perfectly fine to not hit the ground running. Take your time and get comfortable.
  • Talk to people! Maybe you’ll make a new friend, a connection that will help you later, or simply have an interesting conversation. These interactions are as much a part of your education as class.
  • Explore interests outside of engineering. It’s very easy to get caught up in a social and academic bubble that’s dominated by engineering. Clubs and classes outside of Viterbi are a great way to develop new perspectives, meet great people that you wouldn’t have otherwise, and simply have fun.

TRISHA KHANDELWAL

Year: Sophomore
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Hometown: Moorpark, CA
High School you Attended: Moorpark High School
Email: tkhandel@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Society of Women Engineers (SWE), AeroDesign Team (ADT), Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (RPL)

Hobbies/interests:
Reading, baking, cooking, traveling

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Walking around USC’s beautiful campus for the first time
  • Having movie nights on Sundays with the girls on my floor
  • Having a beach bonfire with SWE
  • Watching The Bachelor in the Pardee lounge
  • Building a glider for the intro to Aerospace Engineering course (AME 105)

Advice for freshmen:

  • Really enjoy every moment you have on campus-you never know if it will be cut short #corona
  • Join clubs to find your place on campus and meet new people!
  • Don’t be afraid of going to office hours, your professors want you to learn and succeed!

TYLER SOMLO

Year: Senior
Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering, minor in Organizational Leadership & Management
Hometown: Long Grove, IL
High School you Attended: Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Email: tsomlo@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
President of the Institute of Industrial Systems Engineering (IISE), Sigma Alpha Mu Gastronomy Chair, Fellowship Representative – Tamid Group

Hobbies/interests:
Self-improvement, exploring new cities, chess, Chicago sports

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Trying dim sum at Din Thai Fung for the first time
  • Seeing James Worthy at my first Lakers game
  • Meeting friends from all over the world
  • Convincing my GESM professor to let us have class outside (twice)
  • Working at a startup over the summer in Tel Aviv

Advice for freshmen:

  • Put yourself outside of your comfort zone
  • Ask questions
  • How do you eat an elephant?
    • One bite at a time!

YASMEEN MASHAYEKH

Year: Junior
Major: Civil Engineering (Building Science)
Hometown: Walnut, CA
High School you Attended: Walnut High School
Email: ymashaye@usc.edu

Student involvement/organizations/campus jobs at USC:
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Institute of Steel Construction, Society of Women Engineers, Women in Engineering, Bamboo Village Summer Program (China), former USC Bookstore employee, Ansar Service Partnership, Muslim Student Union

Hobbies/interests:
Visual arts, architecture, psychology books, true crime documentaries, poetry, writing, traveling, visiting museums, amusements parks, cafes, and going on road trips!

Favorite memories from freshman year:

  • Spending 36 consecutive hours at Leavey with my roommate
  • Spontaneous night Metro rides with friends and exiting at random stops to explore LA
  • ASCE PSWC 2019 at Cal Poly SLO
  • Spending $150 of coffee each month
  • Visiting the Griffith Observatory with all my suitemates

Advice for freshmen:

  • Do NOT self-reject. Send that email, apply for that position, submit that application even if you don’t think you’ll get it. You lose nothing by receiving a rejection, but you do lose an opportunity when you reject yourself. Do not limit yourself; you’d be surprised what opportunities you land.
  • Learn to work through anxiety and stress rather than waiting for anxiety and stress to go away before you start working.
  • Problems are easiest dealt with right when they come up.
  • Never be afraid to speak up whether it be to ask a question or when something isn’t right.

Published on July 15th, 2020

Last updated on March 7th, 2022