Academics

I remember sitting on that bench, looking across Drumheller Fountain. It was dark and empty—not a person in sight. It was one of those Seattle winter nights where campus feels isolated and pitch-black by 5p.m. I had just opened the notification for my MATH-125 grade and sat next to my girlfriend, distraught. I had effectively failed the class after the first exam.

That feeling defined my first few quarters. It shook my deep-rooted self-worth, which had always been tied to academic success. I remember crying on that bench, terrified for my future. I was struggling to adapt to college, battling loneliness and malnutrition, and this grade felt like the hit that finally leveled me.

That moment is vivid even now. I can still feel the cold night air just by imagining it. It stuck because it defined my fight forward.

I am astounded by the growth born from that struggle. I went from a 2.97GPA my freshman-autumn to a 3.93 senior-year-autumn. I fought back on all fronts: I reclaimed my health, curated a growth-focused environment, and completely reinvented how I learned.

Since then, I’ve built custom PCBs, machined precise metal components, designed nanofluidic systems, and worked in quantum photonics research. Yet, the greatest takeaway isn't the technical skill—it’s the perseverance, unwavering passion, and leadership vision that have fundamentally changed who I am.