My Husky Experience
From uncertainty to purpose: a timeline of exploration, growth, and connecting the dots.
Admitted as ENGRUD
Started my journey at UW as an Engineering Undeclared student, initially intending to study bioengineering. This open-ended beginning set the stage for exploration across different engineering paths.
Took CSE 121: Academic Turning Point
What started as a prerequisite became a transformative struggle. Despite initial challenges with this entirely new subject, I discovered a passion for computing and problem-solving through code.
Impact on Learning: Coding was entirely new to me, and the learning curve was steep. I spent lots of time in office hours and my scores reflected my struggle. But with persistence, concepts that once felt impossible started clicking. This course taught me that confusion isn't failure, it's an indication of growth. Looking back at my first programming assignments, it's rewarding to see how far I've come.
Declared ECE Major
Placed into Electrical and Computer Engineering, a technical path that would later reveal its limitations for me.
ECE gave me rigorous systems-level thinking and technical problem-solving skills. But as I progressed, I realized I was drawn to more user-centric technology. Still, this technical foundation proved crucial to everything that followed.
Joined Web Impact
A friend suggested I check out this RSO. I showed up hoping to learn web development and left with a new understanding of why technical skills matter.
Connecting Classroom to Community: This marked the beginning of understanding technology as a tool for real-world impact. Working on community-driven projects showed me how technical skills could directly serve local businesses and non-profits, connecting classroom learning with tangible outcomes.
Started TAing
Became a Teaching Assistant for CSE courses and discovered that teaching transforms the teacher as much as the student.
Connecting the Dots: Remember my CSE 121 struggle? Now I was on the other side, watching students experience the same confusion I once felt. I let those past challenges guide me, realizing they made me a more empathetic TA.
Became Web Impact Coding Officer
Stepped into leadership at Web Impact and saw how my TA skills transferred to a completely different context.
Transferring Learning: As Coding Officer, I led workshops and mentored teams—applying TA skills in a new context that showed their versatility.
Switched to Informatics
Changed majors after two years in engineering, a risk that ultimately paid off.
Embracing Ambiguity Again: Switching majors meant accepting uncertainty for the second time in my college journey. But my experiences showed me that I care not only about building technology, but also about understanding how it serves people. This taught me that finding your path requires the courage to change direction.
Became Web Impact President
Now leading the organization that first showed me what purposeful technology looks like.
Full Circle: As President, I'm creating for others the same growth experience Web Impact gave me. My decisions are informed by lessons from my journey: that struggle with adequate support builds resilience, that uncertainty can be embraced, and that leadership means helping others find their own path.
What's Next
I don't know exactly what's next, but UW taught me to embrace the unknown by asking questions, seeking mentors, and trusting that persistence pays off.