Why did you choose to study at WPI? 

I enjoyed the idea of project-based learning and the community aspect of the school. Being someone who hasn't had the chance to explore the New England area, I believed that coming to Worcester would help me broaden my horizons and meet new people!

How are you involved with the WPI community?

I am a Community Advisor for the Daniels Hall fourth floor. I enjoy this role because it allows me to connect with incoming freshmen and learn more from them while also giving pieces of guidance and advice when I can. I am also a research assistant, which is arguably my favorite role, as it has allowed me to become close with WPI faculty and learn more about person of color (POC) sovereignty and what it entails in the New England area, which has been really interesting and insightful for me to learn! I am also a Great Problems Seminar Peer Learning Assistant (GPS PLA) for “Shelter the World,” which is really fun because I get to connect more with students and basically take the course again but through a more experienced lens, which has been interesting. Finally, I am part of the First-Generation Student Association (FiGSA) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), both of which are important, since they help me connect more with other students like me and build a network that I can rely on!

What’s your favorite thing about WPI? 

I like that the off-campus version of the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) is widely accessible to a majority of students and is supplemented with the Global Projects scholarship – therefore making it readily accessible to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it! I also enjoy Halal Shack, which is my favorite spot to eat on campus. I'm a sucker for Mediterranean food.

Do you have a faculty or staff mentor? 

Sarah Stanlick and Katherine Foo have been amazing professors that I've worked with throughout the summer in the Early Research Experience in E-Term program (EREE). They walked me through how to write an annotated bibliography, conduct interviews, prepare questions, analyze literature, and so much more. That has been extremely helpful, now, as I prepare for my future courses. They were also very mindful and approachable and would always be willing to help in any way they could.

How has WPI’s project-based learning influenced your education?

Project-based learning has really honed my communication and team-building skills during my time here at WPI. I've encountered it in every course I've taken so far, albeit at a smaller scale than courses like Great Problems Seminar (GPS) or my summer research in the EREE program. In GPS, I was on a team that created a structure for civilians living in Dharavi, India. We ended up going through at least four drafts before finally settling on a design and later a poster that we could present at the GPS Poster Presentation Day that happens in December. Being able to bounce ideas off my groupmates, trusting that they could do their end of the work, and holding them accountable if they haven't, are very important skills that I carry with me into my day-to-day life and relationships. It forces you to get to know your (and your teammates’) strengths and be okay with your weaknesses.