My time at UW has been transformative in ways I never could have predicted. I entered college with a clear, linear plan–pursuing Bioengineering and Global Health– but quickly realized that life is rarely straightforward. Through a series of unexpected opportunities, challenges, and explorations, I uncovered my true passions in socially impactful design, user research, storytelling, and leadership. As a Human Centered Design & Engineering major in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, I have been fortunate to approach these topics with an interdisciplinary lens, shaped by the nonlinear journey that brought me here. 

Coming into UW, I was a high-achieving student with rigid notions of achievement and success. These ideas were quickly challenged by the rigor of my coursework in Engineering and the Honors Program, where I encountered failure in ways that I hadn’t before. Freshman year, I struggled with intense insomnia – an experience that, in retrospect, was a wake-up call to the importance of prioritizing my mental and physical well-being. Over time, I developed tools to nurture a more balanced life: cooking nourishing meals, carving out time for fitness and movement, and deepening my meditation and yoga practice. This commitment to my well-being taught me that holistic fulfillment was a value of great importance to me. It has given me the capacity to explore a wide range of meaningful projects while maintaining a sense of fulfillment. 

I have also come to embrace curiosity and intuition as my primary ways of knowing. I learn best through experience– by immersing myself in unfamiliar environments, engaging with different perspectives, and challenging my own assumptions. This has led me to study experiential design in London, work with the Seattle Department of Transportation to improve passenger experiences, hike with a group of strangers through the Peaks and Professors program, and organize professional and social events for my HCDE cohort. Through these experiences, I have realized that some of the most valuable learning happens outside of the classroom, in the moments of connection and exploration that encourage growth. 

The interdisciplinary nature of my education has profoundly influenced how I approach design, research, and leadership with a mindset of empathy and understanding. Some of my most memorable classes have been outside my major– discussing data justice, the tyranny of clock time, and societal ideals of normativity. These perspectives have shaped the way I think about technology, ethics, and human-centered innovation. 

This portfolio captures the journey I have been on throughout my time at UW, framed through four central themes: balance, community, exploration, and storytelling. Just as my path has been nonlinear, I invite you to explore these themes in any order that resonates with you. 

Beyond UW, I intend to carry these values forward– continuing to pursue work that aligns with my curiosity, intuition, and passion for social impact while caring for my holistic wellbeing. I hope to find spaces where I can build meaningful connections, challenge conventional notions of success, and create designs that truly serve people. My time at UW has taught me that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge but about cultivating a way of being that embraces curiosity, balance, community, and growth.