Academic Support Programs

Our People

Contact Information

Email

Instagram

Facebook

Professional Staff

Ryan Burt, He/Him

Ryan Burt, He/Him

Director
(206) 685-5347

About me

Hi there! I was born and raised in Eastern Washington before moving to our lovely Emerald City to study at the University of Washington. The UW was big, but I was lucky to have friendly professors and inviting programs that made me feel connected and at home. For me that is a great goal for us in Academic Support Programs: to make every student feel supported and at home.  

I loved my undergraduate experience, where I studied English and the Comparative History of Ideas, and decided to continue my studies. In graduate school, I spent a lot of time thinking about how American universities can better welcome a diverse student population and offer classes that reflect an equally diverse curriculum.  Graduate school was difficult, but truly rewarding. In 2008 I received my PhD in the English Department at the UW.  

Over the years I have studied in Italy and Spain and taught for two years at a large public university in Southern Morocco. As I know how exhilarating, mind-opening and challenging it can be to live and learn in a country and culture that is not your own, I am grateful to be part of a team in Academic Support Programs committed to helping our students from all corners of the world succeed.  

Outside of school I love playing and listening to all kinds of music (I’m a drummer), checking out art, cooking, and getting into the beautiful Washington State out-of-doors. I love hanging with my family and friends.  After seeing some amazing parts of the world, I can say that Seattle is one of my favorite places to be.  

Please come visit me in ASP and let me know how I can help you at the University of Washington!

Alli Botelho, She/Her

Alli Botelho, She/Her

Academic Success Coaching Program Manager
206-543-5755

About me

Growing up I was born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawai’i which taught me about the values of community and family. From a young age, I learned so much from the community around me and strive to bring a compassionate heart everywhere I go.

I decided to move to Seattle to pursue higher education and learn from a new community of people. I went to Seattle Pacific University (SPU) where I studied psychology and learned about subject areas that I was passionate about. My college experience taught me that in order to be successful in higher education, I needed the community of people around me. From being involved on campus in many different organizations that sparked my passions in sharing my culture, service, and event planning, I learned about the field of Student Affairs.

From there, I decided to continue my educational pursuit at Seattle University where I graduated with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Student Development Administration. During my time in the program, I had the opportunity to intern with Academic Support Programs. I am thankful to continue working with ASP and support the Academic Success Coaching Program. I continuously learn and am inspired by our peer Academic Success Coaches who work to support students and create intentional spaces for students at UW. 

I value community, collaboration, and compassion where I believe that each person has their own strengths and that working together to achieve our goals truly makes a difference. In my free time, I love spending time with family and friends, trying new food places, watching tv shows, and working on new art projects. 

Please feel free to reach out, and let me know what I can do to best support you at the University of Washington! 

Jessica Simon, She/Her

Jessica Simon, She/Her

Graduate Staff Assistant

About me

Hi! I grew up on the east coast and then moved to California to study bioengineering at UC San Diego. During undergrad, I worked as a Supplemental Instruction Leader and Tutor at the Teaching and Learning Commons. I focused mostly on calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra, but I occasionally tutored chemistry and physics when needed. 

After graduating, I immediately drove up the coast to Seattle to begin my PhD program at UW.  I spent the first 2 years focusing on taking classes and research, but I realized that I missed education and working with students. 

In my role at Academic Support Programs, I primarily support the Exam Review and Discussion Session teams. I also help out with CLUE operations, so you can usually find me at the front desk on CLUE nights. Stop by if you want to chat or have any questions!

Student Assistants

Lauryn, CLUE Student Assistant, she/her

Lauryn, CLUE Student Assistant, she/her

About me

I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, watching movies/tv, eating, shopping, and travel!

I took ART 190 for to fulfill some VPLA credits. I honestly underestimated the difficulty level of the class (for someone like me who has never taken a formal drawing class but enjoys art recreationally). I started out finishing all the assignments during class, never spending too much time on them. Then, when my grades began to reflect that, I started taking the class more seriously and would spend hours on each project, and at times my grades still didn't reflect that. I got really frustrated and down on myself, but what I learned is that you should put your best foot forward in every class, no matter how easy or difficult you perceive it to be, and if you're doing your best that's all you can do! I shouldn't have underestimated the class at first, but I also should not have gotten down on myself for receiving certain grades when I was doing all that I could. Have grace with yourself and try hard things!

Leana, CLUE Student Assistant, she/her

Leana, CLUE Student Assistant, she/her

Senior, Psychology

Ask me about

I love baking, learning to crochet, and spending time with friends!

Notable academic challenge

Deciding my major and career path

Anabela, Coaching Student Assistant, She/Her

Anabela, Coaching Student Assistant, She/Her

Senior, Medical Anthropology and Global Health

I'm excited about

I enjoy cooking, watching video essays, dog-sitting, painting my nails.

Ask me about

One of the reasons I love studying global health is that it emphasizes the importance of caring for the health and wellbeing of everyone. I feel like having this compassion translates into our everyday life and is something I would like to carry with me working with ASC. Having utilized the resources from ASC myself, I am glad that I can be a part of a program that creates a supportive community for students.

Notable academic challenge

When I was taking many STEM classes, I had started off the quarter strong but I noticed that I began to fall behind towards the end of it. I used an online app called Notion that gave me reminders for all of my assignments but since the dates for them may not be announced yet I would only have them planned until mid-quarter. I relied on my app to remind me of my assignments but when it came to mid-quarter I had forgotten to take the time to update Notion. It is always important to take time every so often to go on Canvas or look at your syllabus so you don't overwhelm yourself.

Meha, Digital Engagement Student she/her

Meha, Digital Engagement Student she/her

Senior, Business Administration, Marketing

I'm excited about

I like reading, cooking/baking, and knitting!

Ask me about

I'm a senior in the Foster School of Business and I'm majoring in Marketing. I applied to UW as an international student. I've worked in ASUW previously and this is my first year working with ASP!

Notable academic challenge

I applied to Foster through the standard admission process. It was a long road with the prerequisites, tests, and essays that I had to write along the way. I'm grateful to have gotten in but I know how stressful the UW major system can be for students! I hope to help others in anyway that I can.

Success Coaches

Aagney, He/Him

Aagney, He/Him

Sophomore, Computer Science

Project areas

902079742

I'm excited about

Dining out, journaling, driving with the windows down, going on runs, watching YouTube documentaries, and all things football/soccer.

Ask me about

In my time at UW, I've learned that students' efforts, headspace, and time are all split among many different commitments. They often juggle three or four difficult classes, part-time jobs, living independently, involvement in sports and extracurriculars, advancing their careers, and even grappling with personal issues. I hope to support students in finding a proper balance between all their commitments. My goal is to connect students to all the resources that UW provides and help them realize all the powerful strategies that they are capable of.

Notable academic challenge

Though I always knew the phrase ""comparison is the thief of joy"" to be true, I could never stop comparing myself. I'd be over the moon about my improved exam score, for instance, until I overheard my classmate boast their perfect 100%. These sorts of comparisons can become very demotivating and stressful. Over the past couple years, I've discovered new perspectives and thought processes to help mitigate this type of thinking. I still have a ways to go, but I'd be happy to chat with anyone who feels that self-inflicted pressure.

Francisco, He/Him

Francisco, He/Him

Senior, Bioengineering

I'm excited about

I like going to the IMA ! I also tried to get into reading, but I only read 2 books over the summer.

Ask me about

I am from Yakima which is in eastern Washington. I'm a middle child (out of 5) and have a chihuahua. I am first generation, both my parents are from Oaxaca (Mexico), and I come from a migrant working family.

Notable academic challenge

I think one of my hardest challenges here at UW was starting the core classes for my major. They were definitely a step up and required more time, effort, and built a lot on previous knowledge. This was especially difficult as I did not know anyone in my major, so it was hard to find a support system. However, once I found a good group of friends in the major I was able to get help and bounce back to do better in my courses.

Gracie, She/They

Gracie, She/They

Third Year, Law

Project areas

599678481

I'm excited about

When I am not studying (which is all the time) I like to bake, go on bookstore dates with my partner, watch silly TV shows, do and watch ballet and play with my cat Paprika!

Ask me about

As a first generation college student, I believe that students need to support each other and learn from one another. As a success coach I want to create a space where you can share about your academic experiences honestly and learn more about yourself and what success looks like for you.

Notable academic challenge

My most notable academic challenge was during my first quarter of college when I failed 2 classes. These failures were not due to a lack of academic understanding but rather a result of lack of prioritizing myself and my health. Once I focused on my self care and trying out different academic paths I learned what worked for me and was able to get back on track!

Ibrahim, He/Him

Ibrahim, He/Him

Junior, Intended Business (Information Systems)

Project areas

902356642

I'm excited about

Traveling, anything and everything related to soccer, watching YouTube videos

Ask me about

I'm a first-generation college student, and I'm naturally passionate about everything I undertake. Whenever I decide to dive into something, I give it my all, pouring in 100% effort. For as long as I can remember, I've been most drawn to the worlds of business and technology. Fun fact, I ran my own shoe reselling business from middle school until my sophomore year of high school. Beyond my academic and professional pursuits, I firmly believe in the saying, 'It's not about how you start but how you finish.' I've faced more obstacles than one can imagine, but I've reached a point in my life that brings me immense happiness and pride. My goal is to support every student I encounter in achieving success in whatever they set their sights on.

Notable academic challenge

Everyone faces academic challenges, for me one of my biggest ones early on was struggling on exams and tests. I still struggle with this till this day, but I do feel like I have improved after adopting new study strategies and test prep tips.

Jacqueline, She/Her

Jacqueline, She/Her

Sophomore, Education Studies and Philosophy

I'm excited about

Reading, lifting weights, and finding cheap concert tickets!

Ask me about

As an academic success coach my philosophy centers around the idea that every student has unique strengths and challenges. I am passionate about creating a supportive and inclusive environment where students can thrive academically while developing the skills and confidence to navigate college's complexities.

Notable academic challenge

At the start of my first year at UW, I had a hard time keeping up with all of the assignments in my classes. I thought I spent a lot of time "studying" on campus but always seemed to turn things in late. This led to points getting marked off, grades going down, and an overall feeling of being overwhelmed all the time. Later on, I realized that I wasn't using my "study time" wisely. Instead of studying with friends which led to distraction, I studied for a shorter period of time alone but stayed focused and saw my friends later. This all came down to time management which and creating a time schedule which ultimately allowed me to become successful.

Jeewon, She/Her

Jeewon, She/Her

Sophomore, Computer Science

Project areas

902084822

I'm excited about

Tennis, crochet, reading, watching movies, piano, playing with my dog

Ask me about

Hi everyone! My name is Jeewon, and I'm a sophomore studying Computer Science. I'm pursuing a minor in Business Administration and Interdisciplinary Honors, so my degree plan includes a lot of non-CS classes as well! Finding community and a strong support system has been really important to me as a college student and something I hope to offer to others at UW. I'm involved in Allen School leadership, the Honors Program, and other student activities at UW, and I'm happy to talk about how to engage in different ways at UW. For example, something fun I did this summer was study abroad in Vienna working at a semantic AI company! Feel free to schedule a session to talk about classes, studying, extracurriculars, and anything else!

Notable academic challenge

Last spring quarter, I began taking my upper-level CS courses and found that it was a big jump from the intro series. Balancing my course load with extracurriculars, family, and other priorities became difficult, and I struggled a lot mentally because I felt like I didn't belong in the career path that I'm on. A challenge that I continue to work through is committing to too many things because there's a lot of areas that I'm interested in, then feeling overwhelmed when things get busy. Maintaining good time management and being intentional about how I spend my time is how I work through these challenges!

Kate, She/Her

Kate, She/Her

Senior, Education, Communities, and Organizations & Psychology

Project areas

792341074

I'm excited about

Reading, baking, embroider, scrolling through Tiktok

Ask me about

As a person and academic success coach, I am all about compassion and helping a student find what their strengths are so we can use those to work on areas that could use improvement. Being a student at the University of Washington is hard, there are a lot of expectations to manage and I know personally how difficult it can be when you are feeling like you aren't meeting and exceeding those expectations. My hope is to help any student who comes in and is feeling like they are struggling to see that they already have the tools for success within them, they just might need my help bringing them out and learning how to use them.

Notable academic challenge

Up until about half way through my sophomore year I was feeling really down because I was getting good grades but felt like I was missing something. In winter quarter I figured out what I was missing: I was good about memorizing information and then taking a test but I was not actually retaining information. Once I came to this discovery, I became really hard on myself but since then I have been striving to actually understand information instead of just memorizing it for the short term. Ways I have been working on this is using my free time to find more information on aspects of what I am learning that confuse and/or interest me, talking with those around me about what I am learning, and working in study groups. Now, I am actually retaining information that will help me in my future profession.

Nariman, She/Her

Nariman, She/Her

Senior, Public Health-Global Health

I'm excited about

My hobbies mostly revolve around my love for nature. I enjoy spending time in the great outdoors; hiking and sightseeing are my go-to's. There's nothing quite like the feeling of exploring new trails or going for a cool swim surrounded by the beauty of nature's wonders. Recently, I've also embarked on a journey to relearn the violin which has been both fun and challenging!

Ask me about

Hi everyone! I am a senior completing my final year as a transfer student. I am looking forward to making the most out of this year as I continue my academic journey at the University of Washington. I am truly excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to collaborating with like-minded individuals who share a passion for public health and making a positive difference in the world!

Notable academic challenge

One significant academic challenge I faced was in my chemistry prerequisites, where I encountered difficulties that led me to dropping a class and subsequently retaking. This experience taught me that failure is not a roadblock but a steppingstone to personal growth and resilience. I believe as humans we have the incredible ability to learn from our mistakes and persist through adversity in order to find personal success and fulfillment. Embracing these challenges has made me a more determined and adaptable learner, and I believe discussing and normalizing such experiences can inspire others on their academic journeys.

Natalia, She/Her

Natalia, She/Her

Junior, Community, Environment, and Planning

Project areas

795751032

I'm excited about

I love going to museums, watching old movies, reading, journaling, playing the uke, and watching the sunset.

Ask me about

As an immigrant and a first-generation college student, my transition to university was challenging. I struggled to picture myself getting through not only my first quarter but also my first year. However, I was determined to give my best effort to succeed. I learned many valuable lessons during that initial period that I wish someone had shared with me beforehand. This is why I've become an academic success coach. My goal is to support you on your journey in any way I can and to remind you that, regardless of who you are and where you come from, you can thrive here!

Notable academic challenge

During my first year at UW I found it challenging to balance school, work, and being far away from home. I struggled with imposter syndrome and self-doubt. To overcome these obstacles, I decided to get more involved on campus, connecting with smaller communities of like-minded individuals who understood what I was going through. Additionally, maintaining a structured morning and night routine played a crucial role in keeping me grounded. It's often the small daily habits, like making your bed every morning, that can truly make a difference in our lives.

Rahael, she/her

Rahael, she/her

Senior, Sociology

I'm excited about

Journaling, Binging TV series, Reading, and Traveling

Ask me about

As someone who values cultivating togetherness, I have a passion for working with others and community development. In my role as an Academic Success Coach, I plan on implementing my community-oriented mindset into each session. Every student deserves a support system in their corner to help them navigate hardships, access resources, and simply cheer them on which is what I hope each student is able to receive after meeting with me!

Notable academic challenge

I have faced many academic challenges, but one of my most recent obstacles took place spring quarter of my junior year. I had been struggling with overall motivation and I was specifically having a hard time in my Accounting class. I couldn't seem to keep up, and I had become so disheartened I contemplated dropping the course which meant that I would also be dropping my Business Admin. minor. While I had almost dropped the course I decided not to, instead I chose to stick through the course. In the end, I passed but with a beyond-mediocre grade. In the moment I had been a bit disappointed in myself but looking back on it now I am so glad I stuck through with the class, because if not I wouldn't have had the opportunity to continue in my minor. This experience taught me that every obstacle we go through won't always leave us with the best outcome but it is important to view our challenges as growing experiences rather than failures.

Toni, He/ Him

Toni, He/ Him

Senior, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Project areas

901715520

I'm excited about

When I'm not immersed in the world of technology and engineering, I have a few hobbies that keep me balanced: I watch a lot of soccer, I am a big Arsenal fan, I also spend a lot of time with Enzo my lively 90lb German shepherd, and I love trying new dishes and cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Ask me about

I'm a tech enthusiast and I'm passionate about technology and innovation. Beyond the tech world, I enjoy soccer, quality time with my German Shepherd, Enzo, and exploring diverse cuisines. As a college student, I understand the importance of connecting with peers, learning from one another, and continually seeking knowledge. I look forward to sharing experiences, insights, and a passion for technology with all of you.

Notable academic challenge

As an electrical engineering student, I faced many challenges throughout my academic journey. One experience that stands out to me was my experience in the Signal Processing (SP) class. This class covered a wide range of topics, from Fourier transforms to digital filters, and required a deep understanding of both theory and application. In the beginning, I struggled with the complex mathematical concepts involved in DSP. I found myself spending countless hours trying to understand the material and working through practice problems. However, as the class progressed, I began to grasp the fundamental concepts and gained confidence in my abilities.

Yonas, He/Him

Yonas, He/Him

Junior, Education, Communities, and Organizations (ECO), Law, Societies, & Justice (LSJ), and Sociology

Project areas

792397445

I'm excited about

I enjoy playing competitive soccer and watching the Priemer league. I also enjoy reading historical books as-well watching documentaries on historical figures.

Ask me about

I am a first generation student, born and raised in Eritrea. I am passionate about learning deconstructing historic racism towards minorities, In the future I hope with my work ethic, passion, and wanting to build a better world I can help lead a change.   

Notable academic challenge

Everyone experiences challenges in different forms. My Academic challenge comes in the form of failing Math 124 my first quarter at the UW. However, we must not let failures keep us retained so one thing I learned was to simply retake the class and try your absolute best.

CLUE Tutors: Biology

Shivi, Biology, she/her

Shivi, Biology, she/her

Graduate/Professional Student, MS in Genetic Counseling

Ask me about

Cooking, trying new coffee shops, practicing yoga, going to the gym, painting, dancing, and exploring new places

Notable academic challenge

Dealing with balancing two jobs, school, and an undergraduate thesis simultaneously during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It forced me to become more comfortable with asking for help from my mentors as well as approach new academic resources at my previous institution.

CLUE Tutors: Chemistry

Nikki (Lead), Chemistry, she/her

Nikki (Lead), Chemistry, she/her

Senior, Biology

I've taken

CHEM 237, 238, 239, 241, 242 & BIOC 405, 406

Ask me about

I love hanging out with my dog, friends, and family. I also like bodyboarding and tap dancing in my free time! I enjoy playing video game on my switch!

Notable academic challenge

CHEM 238 was probably the most difficult class I have taken so far. It was a combination of taking my first chemistry lab (CHEM 241) and the challenging material. I have never done consistently poor on most of the exams even after evaluating my study strategies and talking to TAs and tutors for help (after every exam). I found myself putting a lot of my time and effort in this class. Although I ultimately didn't get the grade I wanted, it helped me to pivot my learning tactics to best fit my schedule. In the next quarter, I took CHEM 239 and it was the best I have ever done in any chemistry class. My experience in CHEM 238 just came to show me that sometimes you have to struggle in order to see the results you want in the future.

Isabelle, Chemistry, she/her

Isabelle, Chemistry, she/her

Junior, Public Health - Global Health

Jeff, Chemistry, he/him

Jeff, Chemistry, he/him

Senior, Biochemistry

I've taken

Chem 237/238/239/241/242

Ask me about

gym, cooking, soccer, getting coffee, and Netflix

Notable academic challenge

In my first quarter as a freshman, I kinda bombed my first Biology exam. That made me realize that there are a lot of study skills and habits that I need to change and improve. Since then, I've been acquiring new skills through trial and error. For example, going to office hours, making my own study guides, and doing practice exams etc. I've noticed a very significant improvement in my grades in time. My advice is to not give up and learn from your mistakes.

Joel, Chemistry, he/him

Joel, Chemistry, he/him

Senior, Biochemistry, Minor:Japanese

I've taken

Chem 237, 238, 239, 241, 242

Ask me about

Reading, Cooking, Playing Music

Notable academic challenge

Time-management

Kyle, Chemistry, he/him

Kyle, Chemistry, he/him

Junior, Chemical Engineering

Ask me about

I love collecting silly cat pictures, listening to newly released music, and playing video games.

Notable academic challenge

I struggle with burnout and exhaustion, especially as the quarter continues. I find it harder and harder to remain motivated, especially near finals week. I have found that during these times, it is important to be gentle on myself, and remind myself that everything is going to be okay. I usually go out more often, such as getting boba, in order to keep myself fresh. Investing in treats and snacks is important! Resting is just as vital as working, and making sure to celebrate the little things is critical to personal success.

Max, Chemistry, he/him

Max, Chemistry, he/him

Senior, Materials Science & Engineering

I've taken

Currently taking MSE 466 equivalent of CHEM 466

Ask me about

I collect Pokemon cards, play guitar, and play games like Pikmin, Diablo, and Minecraft

Notable academic challenge

PHYS 122 was the first class I took at UW early in the pandemic. I felt very overwhelmed by the amount of content and the pace at which we moved. I did very poorly on the first exam and consistently struggled with the homework. I realized that I was not putting in enough effort to succeed and spent some time reworking how I studied and prepared for the course. I managed to turn everything around by the end of the quarter and those new strategies I developed have made the last few years much better.

Mira, Chemistry, she/her

Mira, Chemistry, she/her

Senior, Biology (Physiology)

I've taken

Completed: CHEM 237, 238, 239, 241, 242 In Progress: BIOC 405, 406, CHEM 452, CHEM 453

Ask me about

Guitar, Paddle boarding, programming, & Wikipedia rabbit holes!

Notable academic challenge

About halfway through spring quarter of my freshman year of college, I was given a concussion in a car accident, and I received doctor's orders to stay on brain rest for 2-4 weeks. Communicating with professors was challenging, both because I was still disoriented and because I was determined to finish out the quarter. By finding the time to talk one-on-one with them, we were able to make a plan that we both felt comfortable implementing. Through this experience, I was able to practice self-advocacy and gained an appreciation for knowing your limits, both physically and mentally.

Rahik, Chemistry, he/him

Rahik, Chemistry, he/him

Senior, Biochemistry

I've taken

CHEM 237, CHEM 238, CHEM 239, CHEM 241, CHEM 242, CHEM 452

Ask me about

Chess, Video gaming, Resource Hunting, Football, Badminton

Notable academic challenge

During my Sophomore year, I was feeling an immense pressure due to my course load and major choice. At first, I planned to do Engineering purely because I believed it would be something my parents could be happy about. Then, the feeling of being overwhelmed came. It's very difficult to do something you have no passion towards, and by the end of my 2nd year, I was facing depression. I took a big decision soon after to switch to a major that I was passionate about and after talking to my parents, I realised that they wanted me to pursue something that I loved. I created a barrier for myself and made assumptions that ultimately made my own life harder. Communication and connections are the key to making your college experience great and reaching out for help can truly do wonders for you.

Ryan, Chemistry, he/him

Ryan, Chemistry, he/him

Graduate Student, Medicinal Chemistry

I've taken

Equivalent of CHEM 162, 237, 312, 530, 531, 532

Ask me about

Trail running and playing classical piano!

Notable academic challenge

The weekly problem sets in CHEM 530 (Advanced Physical Organic Chemistry) required both creativity and a deep knowledge of organic reaction mechanisms. By working on them with my peers, however, I gained an appreciation for collaborative problem solving that I hope to share with fellow students while at CLUE.

CLUE Tutors: Computer Science

Alicja, Computer Science, she/her

Alicja, Computer Science, she/her

Junior, Electrical & Computer Engineering

I've taken

CSE 373, CSE 414 (currently enrolled)

Ask me about

Swimming, playing video games, getting boba, reading

Notable academic challenge

In my freshman year, I made the mistake of thinking I didn't have to put time outside of class to learn the material. The first couple round of midterms made me realize I made careless mistakes that I would not have made if I spent extra time to really understand all the concepts. After this rough period, I adapted a new study routine that prepares me for all my exams.

Eric, Computer Science, he/him

Eric, Computer Science, he/him

Junior, Computer Science

I've taken

CSE 331 CSE 351 CSE 311

Ask me about

Cooking, reading, writing letters, tennis, lifting weights

Notable academic challenge

Taking 19 credits my first quarter

Shobhit, he/him

Shobhit, he/him

Graduate Student, Information Management, Minor: Data Science

I've taken

CSE 599, IMT 575, DATA 511

Ask me about

Tennis, Pool, Reading, Hiking

Notable academic challenge

I took a course that was extremely heavy on technical writing in my first quarter. I barely kept pace with the class from the outset. Midway through the quarter, I fell sick. To make things worse, the assignment for that week happened to be the toughest one and my previous week’s submission was pending as well. Things got so bad that I got a mail from my professor stating that if don’t submit those assignments soon, I would fail the course. My sickness combined with the pressure of submitting reports of the highest standards made me so exhausted that I almost gave up on it. Ended up getting a 3.9 GPA with the help of a friend.

CLUE Tutors: Math

Charlie (Lead), Math, he/him

Charlie (Lead), Math, he/him

Senior, Biochemistry

I've taken

MATH 207/208

Ask me about

Watching anime, playing the piano, gaming

Notable academic challenge

The honors organic chemistry course was a really great experience for me, since the passion and depth of knowledge that the professors brought into the courses presented many opportunities to reconsider my entire understanding of chemistry. However, the pace that we covered new material and the unique quirks of each professors' teaching styles kept the entire class on its toes - which created an incredible environment of mutual support and studying and really helped me learn how to make the most of my peers as a learning resource.

Evana (Lead), Math, she/her

Evana (Lead), Math, she/her

Senior, Statistics

I've taken

Math 207, 208, 224, 300, 318

Ask me about

Cooking, baking and crocheting, and reading!

Notable academic challenge

For the first quarter of my freshman year I, like a lot of international students, was in my home country, Malaysia, because of covid. The 15 hour time difference really impacted the way I had to plan and study for my classes. And as a freshman, that was really stressful for me. I was not able to make it to live lectures because they happened to be at 3 or 4 am, and I missed deadlines because I miscalculated when they where due. This situation really taught me the importance of time management in college and I think I have become better at it because of that!

Anderson, Math, he/him

Anderson, Math, he/him

Senior, Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering, Math

I've taken

MATH 318, 334/5/6, 394, 407, 409, 441, 464

Ask me about

anything sci-fi/fantasy, piano, cello, random Wikipedia dives

Notable academic challenge

I struggle a lot with balancing my courses with extracurriculars, which usually results in me being super scrambled at the end of most quarters. This is still something that I need to work on generally; but learning to prioritize what was important to me and accepting the sacrifice of the other activities is something that has helped me a lot.

Andrew, Math, he/him

Andrew, Math, he/him

Junior, Math

I've taken

MATH 207, 208, 224, 300, 301

Ask me about

Rock Climbing, Weightlifting, origami

Notable academic challenge

Getting a bad grade in 300 and making it up by studying more for 301.

Dianna, Math, she/her

Dianna, Math, she/her

Senior, Math, Minors: Applied Math & Data Science

I've taken

MATH 207, 208, 224, 300, 318, 327, 340, 394, 402, 407 & 409

Ask me about

Playing the piano, singing and skiing

Notable academic challenge

Balancing numerous final exams and projects all within the same week has been a constant academic challenge for me. The difficulty lies in managing my time efficiently to fully cover all the necessary material. After much practice I have found that reviewing my notes regularly, preparing for exams ahead of time, and creating a meticulous schedule can effectively help me with this difficulty.

Jainish, Math, he/him

Jainish, Math, he/him

Senior, Applied and Computational Mathematical Sciences (ACMS): Mathematical Economics and Quantitative Finance

I've taken

MATH 300, Math 318, Math 407

Ask me about

Enjoy playing squash and basketball in my free time.

Notable academic challenge

Throughout college I have experienced different level of Math courses. The higher level courses require more work in terms of revisiting concepts and practicing more on the problem sets. This was different from calculus level courses that usually have a standard approach to the respective questions. My approach to any higher level course is always stick to the foundations and reread the material to get a better understanding of the subject.

John, Math, he/him

John, Math, he/him

Junior, Mechanical Engineering

I've taken

Math 207, 208, 224

Ask me about

Any sports (SOCCER is the best!), traveling, music

Notable academic challenge

Packed schedule with difficult courses along with jobs. Engineering courses are hard for real.

Kamiar, Math, he/him

Kamiar, Math, he/him

Senior, Mechanical Engineering

I've taken

MATH 207, MATH, 208

Ask me about

Playing guitar, watching movies, and hiking

Notable academic challenge

The notable academic challenge I faced during packed and busy quarters was time management. I had to plan and dedicate adequate time to excel in my classes, participate in the social groups I was part of, and ensure I had enough time to rest and refresh to avoid exhaustion.

Matt, Math, he/him

Matt, Math, he/him

Alumni, Math

I'm excited about

Abstract Algebra, but I enjoy going full nerd on anything from unit conversion to Laplace transforms.

I've taken

MATH 207/8/9,224,300,301,318,327,394/5/6,402/3/4,407,424/5/6,427/8,441/2/3,504

Ask me about

Hiking, Biking, Kayak, Snowboard, Running

Notable academic challenge

I consider my greatest failure as not going to graduate school. I would like to have learned more computer science; that gap in understanding pursues me in my professional career.

Nina, Math, she/her

Nina, Math, she/her

Graduate/Professional Student, Medical student, BS and MS in biomedical engineering

Ask me about

Backpacking, skiing, watching basketball

Notable academic challenge

I struggled at the beginning of AP physics back in high school and almost dropped the course. My professor convinced me to stay and eventually became my reason for loving physics and pursuing engineering.

Sarah, Math, she/her

Sarah, Math, she/her

Junior, Math, Data Science minor

I've taken

MATH 207, MATH 208, MATH 224, MATH 300, MATH 327, MATH 402, MATH 424

Ask me about

I love hiking, pressing flowers, and space!

Notable academic challenge

I have always struggled with time on exams. Timing myself doing past homeworks and practice exams has helped me learn to pace myself during exams.

Steven, Math, He/Him

Steven, Math, He/Him

Junior, Math/Applied Math

I've taken

MATH 327, MATH 402, MATH 403, MATH 407, MATH 444

Ask me about

Badminton, piano, reading

Notable academic challenge

Balance study time

Tina, Math, she/her

Tina, Math, she/her

Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering

I've taken

Math 13x (which include content in Math 207 & 208)

Ask me about

Hand-crafting, gardening, puzzles of many kind, reading, brain-storming about interesting ideas

Notable academic challenge

Studying subjects with my second-language (English) have been a great academic challenge for me for the past few years. I would usually have to spent longer time in understanding the concept due to the language barrier (which is quite frustrating back then). Learning to manage time well, reaching out for help, developing good note-taking habit, and asking effective questions have helped me greatly in building strong foundations in several subjects.

Tyler, Math, he/him

Tyler, Math, he/him

Senior, Math & Computer Science

I've taken

MATH 207, 208, 209, 300, 318, 327, 394, 395, 402-404, 424, 462 (461 is in the works)

Ask me about

I like playing games with friends and reading, but I'm open to new things (especially if it's with people I know).

Notable academic challenge

MATH 424 was, by far, the hardest class I've ever taken. It was the type of hard that makes a class feel like enduring a storm instead of actually learning. To put things in context, the majority of the class got somewhere 0%-25% on the midterm - that's not a happy place to be. While I'm proud to have persevered and earned a good grade, it's the type of grade that says "I did better better than average on a few tests" more so than "I really learned the material well". What I've learned from MATH 424 is this: the grade you get in a class and what you actually get out of a class are not the same (for better or worse). As much as GPA's matter, they're not everything and they're not worth sacrificing everything for (e.g., your mental health) because academic success is more than just a number. I now see grades as both a gauge and a reward: they provide feedback to guide growth, but don't fully capture what is learned along the journey. While it is admirable to aim high, perfection is often unhealthy; learning to appreciate "imperfect success" as "success with room to improve" is an invaluable skill, especially when it comes to learning. I strive to help students develop a similar resilient mindset, focusing on understanding while pursuing excellence.

Travis, Math, he/ him

Travis, Math, he/ him

Junior, Math

I've taken

MATH 207,208,224,300,318,327,342,394,395,402,441,424 (Currently taking: 425, 442, 491)

Ask me about

Swimming, Hiking and Cooking

Notable academic challenge

Learning Math 441: Topology

Zikun, Math, he/him

Zikun, Math, he/him

Junior, Computational Finance & Risk Management: Data Science

Ask me about

traveling & sleeping

Notable academic challenge

time management & fight against laziness

Hemkesh, Math, he/him

Hemkesh, Math, he/him

Junior, Computer Engineering

I've taken

MATH 206, 207, 224

Ask me about

Keyboards, Computers, Reading

Notable academic challenge

I would say it has been the transition into higher level CS courses where I was surprised by the difficulty increase and time commitment I needed, but near the end I was able to settle in a bit more.

Ziyan, Math, she/her

Ziyan, Math, she/her

Senior, Applied Math & Art

I've taken

Math 207/208/224

Ask me about

crochet, drawing, cooking, baking

Notable academic challenge

Time management has been a huge challenge for me over the past two academic years because I have been taking 18 credits almost every quarter in order to complete my double degree in four years. Using a planner and rating the difficulty of tasks on a scale from 1-5 has been very helpful to me.

Sriram, he/him

Sriram, he/him

Graduate/Professional Student, Mechanical Engineering

Ask me about

Badminton, Photography

Notable academic challenge

Time management and focusing for long hours.

CLUE Tutors: Physics

Jonathan (Lead), Physics, he/him

Jonathan (Lead), Physics, he/him

Senior, Applied Mathematics & Biochemistry

Ask me about

Reading, running, hiking, biking.

Notable academic challenge

As a freshman, I was utterly overwhelmed in the lead-up to my first set of finals. My progress on essays slowed, and I was often too stressed to do practice problems. Eventually I found that breaking down each of my assignments into many smaller goals really helped me improve my time management and productivity. Completing four or five of these smaller goals in a day felt like a much bigger accomplishment than making moderate progress toward one large goal, and this change in mindset was just what I needed to get over the finish line of my first quarter.

April, Physics, she/her

April, Physics, she/her

Senior, Physics, Astronomy, Math

Ask me about

Fountain pens, art, video games

Notable academic challenge

I really struggled with the online format due to the pandemic - my Freshman year was the first year where everything was online due to Covid, and I felt like my experiences on campus were extremely limited (such as research, clubs, etc.). I only recently, in my Junior year, started getting involved with all those opportunities, and while I do still wish I was able to earlier, I hope to make the most out of it in the time I have left.

Benjamin, Physics, he/him

Benjamin, Physics, he/him

Senior, Computer Engineering & Applied Physics

I've taken

PHYS 224, 225, 227, & 228

Ask me about

Mechanical keyboards, Bouldering, Listening to music, Hanging out with friends

Notable academic challenge

Managing my time between my classes, friends, and hobbies my Freshman year. I soon realized I had to be more organized so I started keeping a planner of what I was going to do everyday and it helped me greatly to succeed!

Henry, Physics, he/him

Henry, Physics, he/him

Graduate Student, Materials Science and Engineering

Notable academic challenge

In my senior year of undergrad I had several challenges outside of school and made it very difficult to work on the senior research project needed to graduate. With the help and understanding of my advisor, however, I was able to turn it around and have my report submitted in time to allow me to continue on into my graduate studies.

Lauren, Physics, she/her

Lauren, Physics, she/her

Junior, Physics, Applied Math minor

I've taken

PHYS 224, 225, 227, 228 

Ask me about

Baking, hiking, pottery, reading

Notable academic challenge

PHYS 123 was the first real college physics class where I was learning brand new material. When I got to the first midterm, I realized that I hadn't learned any of the material very well and had to relearn everything in a few days. After that, I spent time adjusting my note taking and studying habits, and made sure to find out about all the resources available to me.

Selena, Physics, she/her

Selena, Physics, she/her

Senior, Electrical Engineering

Ask me about

Cooking, drawing, bouldering, snowboarding

Notable academic challenge

I really struggled with staying motivated when all classes were remote during the pandemic, and I felt that the new virtual classrooms stunted my ability to learn. After I got used to those, in person classes returned and I had to adjust again. Having experienced both silent breakout rooms and noisy lecture halls, I now can say that each academic setting has its pros and cons.

Senna, Physics, she/her

Senna, Physics, she/her

Senior, Aeronautics and Astronautics/Experimental Physics

I've taken

PHYS 224 & 225, PHYS 231 (currently enrolled)

Ask me about

Reading, Rowing, Rugby, Hiking/Backpacking, Music

Notable academic challenge

Through my first year and a half of college, I struggled to fit classes and studying alongside a major extracurricular activity (varsity rowing). The mental and physical energy that it took to manage both academics and athletics was incredibly taxing, and as a result I often felt like I was slipping. My performance on my first math tests, for instance, left me disappointed—though I was confident I knew the material, I couldn't seem to find the time to study, and the results showed it. But, as with anything in life, the practice and experience that I gained in managing my time led to better and better academic performance through the year. At the end of the day, we all take some time to adjust to college life, and it's important to show ourselves grace during that process.

Victor, Physics, he/him

Victor, Physics, he/him

Junior, Electrical Engineering

I've taken

PHYS 225 (currently enrolled)

Ask me about

Playing Rugby at UW, hiking, biking & open water swimming

Notable academic challenge

A tie between jumping straight in AP Calc BC my junior year and trying to wrap my head around the tricky concepts introduced in PHYS 122 (E&M) during a pretty overloaded winter quarter.

CLUE Tutors: Exam Review

Makayla (Lead), Biology, she/her

Makayla (Lead), Biology, she/her

Junior, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, minor: Bioethics

I've taken

BIOL 355, currently taking BIOC 405 and GENOME 361

Ask me about

I love baking, playing video games, reading, listening to music, and exploring new cafes and restaurants! You'll probably find me eating somewhere new every weekend.

Notable academic challenge

I found BIOL 200 to be the most challenging of the intro series and that affected my confidence in pursuing my major and career. Although I did better in the following quarter, I continued to question my decision until taking BIOL 355, Foundations in Molecular Cell Biology. The class reminded me why I wanted to specialize in MCD biology and why I love what I study. The intro series can be difficult in many ways, but I think the best solution for me was to just stick it out and find that passion again. There are also tons of resources (like CLUE!) that I wish I had utilized, so definitely don't be afraid to reach out!

Sahiti, Biology, she/her

Sahiti, Biology, she/her

Junior, Biology (Molecular, Cellular & Development), AMATH minor

I've taken

BIOL 355, GENOME 371, BIOC 440

Ask me about

I love exploring new places in Seattle! Additionally, I like to cook and play the violin

Notable academic challenge

I struggled with studying for exams for the intro bio series, as the practice exams would often not be representative of the material and the lectures would not provide the depth required for the exams. I found that study groups, online resources, and CLUE were all helpful!

Emily, Chemistry, she/her

Emily, Chemistry, she/her

I've taken

I have a BS in Biochemistry from WSU so I’ve taken the equivalent of the General Chemistry series, Organic Chemistry series, General Biology series, Physics series, and 1.5 years of Biochemistry.

Ask me about

In my free time I enjoy hiking, backpacking, climbing, yoga, and paddleboarding. I also like cooking, baking, and doing crafts.

Notable academic challenge

In undergrad I struggled to keep a balance between school and extracurricular activities. While my grades were excellent, my well-being was taking a hit. I hope to not only help students with their chemistry knowledge at CLUE, but also promote a well-balanced lifestyle since I believe that is the overall key to success.

Ian, Chemistry, he/him

Ian, Chemistry, he/him

PhD Student, Bioengineering (Undergrad: Biochemistry major, Math minor)

I've taken

Courses in Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry

Ask me about

Photography, Cooking, Biking, Reading

Notable academic challenge

Starting graduate school in a new city at the peak of the pandemic, I struggled initially navigating through that period of isolation after I was abruptly displaced from the community of mentors and peers that I built over years in undergrad. Even the small setbacks felt difficult to overcome, since I couldn't turn to anyone for support easily. As I met more people and invested more time in activities outside of my program, I gradually found a stronger sense of belonging and a resiliency to tackle failures that often occur during research.

Joy, Math, she/her

Joy, Math, she/her

Senior, Chemistry, Biochemistry

I've taken

Math 207 & 208

Ask me about

I enjoy listening to music, watching YouTube content (VLOGs, nature views, ASMRs), sleeping, working out, and occasionally hiking.

Notable academic challenge

I encountered a major challenge during my first quarter at UW when I received a lower-than-expected grade on my initial MATH 124 midterm, despite having prior knowledge of the material from high school. To enhance my performance, I fully engaged in virtual lectures, participated in CLUE exam reviews, and utilized all available online resources, ultimately achieving an excellent grade. This experience underscored the significance of persistence and seeking assistance when necessary. Please remember that a single low grade shouldn't deter you; maintaining a positive outlook and staying actively involved can result in improvement!

Zareef, Math, he/him

Zareef, Math, he/him

Junior, Computer Science/Math/Data Science

I've taken

Math 318, Math 300, CSE 312 (Probability), Math 224, AMATH 301

Ask me about

Running, Gym, Playing Smash

Notable academic challenge

Struggling to stay motivated after midterm 1 in Math 125

Damon, Physics, he/him

Damon, Physics, he/him

Senior, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mathematics

Ask me about

Play LOL, Watch TV, Listen Music and Read Books

Notable academic challenge

The most significant academic challenge occurred during my first year at UW. As an international student, I quickly realized that I couldn't always keep up with lectures and complete a substantial amount of homework on time. I struggled considerably during that period. However, I am grateful for the support and encouragement from my friends and parents, which helped me overcome this challenge. Additionally, I found CLUE to be a valuable resource for learning and reviewing course materials during that time.

Sagnik, Physics, he/him

Sagnik, Physics, he/him

Sophomore, Bioengineering

I've taken

Math 207, Math 208

Ask me about

Soccer, Clarinet, Anime, Sleeping

Notable academic challenge

Taking Phys 141 in my first quarter at UW was probably my toughest academic challenge. I took algebra-based physics in high school, and calculus-based physics at UW was an entirely different beast. I totally bombed my first midterm, but I was able to change my study habits and salvage my grade in the end. I cruised through Phys 142 and 143 afterwards because of what I learned in Phys 141.

CLUE Tutors: Writing Center

Jada (Lead), Writing, she/her

Jada (Lead), Writing, she/her

Senior, English and ECO

I'm excited about

I really enjoy reading and writing in their simplest form- for fun! The subject of English is exciting to me in that it encapsulates what is genuinely cool about these activities, in part this is words and linguistics. Words are beautiful, so much fun to use, and can be used to express so many different things. I am excited by the idea that they shape our cultures and realities. I like to treat their usage like art and I am so excited to help others have fun with this too!

I've taken

ENGL 202 ENGL 258 ENGL 302 ENGL 346

Ask me about

I like to run and also lately trying almost any type of new sport, collecting books and clothes, music, all types of foods, watching movies and spending time with my friends. Hiking, biking, reading, writing poetry, baking

Notable academic challenge

I actually feel like my one technical failure was that I did not get a A in drawing class, but that this was not really a failure because I really learned so much!

Ariel, Writing, she/her

Ariel, Writing, she/her

Junior, Business Administration & HR (intended)

I've taken

ENGL 297, ENGL 202, ENGL 285

Ask me about

I enjoy cafe-hopping, painting/attempting Studio-Ghibli-esque pieces, listening to a wide variety of music, karaoke, fashion, poetry, and going on picturesque runs

Notable academic challenge

In my freshman year, I had a lot of trouble adjusting to the quarter system because I had no idea how to efficiently organize my time, especially during winter quarter when the gloomy weather caught up to me. Some mornings I couldn't tell whether it was day or night, and I started seeing lectures as 'optional' and opted to watch them later, which caused my academic performance to plummet. And while I still don't have a definite solution for this year's upcoming winter season, I plan to make a personal daily routine, study more in groups, and reward myself with tasty winter treats (hot chocolate!).

Harini, Writing, she/her

Harini, Writing, she/her

Sophomore, Microbiology

I've taken

ENGL 131, CHID 206, HSTAS/JSIS 317, currently taking ENGL 202

Ask me about

I love reading, listening to podcasts, learning new instruments, sudoku, crocheting, and rewatching classic sitcoms!

Notable academic challenge

Recently, I've had a difficult time figuring out the right career for myself. I have a lot of interests, and it's been super difficult trying to narrow down only one or two to dedicate my life to, especially since I don't know whether I'll be happy in the future with the paths I choose. Figuring out what to minor or potentially even double-major in has been a very tricky process, but one great piece of advice I've received from my friends and family is to just allow life to happen! College is a time for exploration and discovery, whether it be learning more about who you are as a person or trying out new passions, hobbies, or career fields. Though it's still stressful for me to accept that I can't know exactly where I'll end up in the future, allowing myself to focus on my interests in the present has been a lot more gratifying than falling into a spiral of anxiety. I hope that by giving myself the space to make mistakes and explore this year, I'll have a better idea of where I want to go in the future!

Hayley, Writing, she/her

Hayley, Writing, she/her

Junior, Linguistics, Data Science, Music

I've taken

ENGL 289, ENGL 298, LING 461, LING 462, LING 203, COM 200, SOC 225, SOC 360

Ask me about

I love listening to music, making Spotify playlists, memorizing lyrics, and obsessing over film scores and soundtracks! I also enjoy spending time outdoors, building legos, singing, doing puzzles, going to concerts, being around kids, taking pictures, analyzing movies, and hanging out with friends. I'm looking forward to meeting new people this year!

Notable academic challenge

In high school and coming into college, I struggled with narrowing down my chosen career path, being interested in and involved with both humanities/social science and STEM related fields, courses, extracurriculars, etc. It was difficult to confine myself to one area of study and commit to a binary that could not encapsulate everything I wanted to do. This made it harder to focus on one specific aspect to pursue. However, college is the best time to expand and explore, as well as take advantage of all of the outlets and opportunities we have available, and so with the help of campus resources, I have been able to embrace the dichotomy and manage taking all the classes I want to. The versatility of my various programs allows me to feel like I am tackling more subjects pertinent to me without spreading myself too thin to still maintain a good balance with the rest of college life!

Julie, Writing, she/her

Julie, Writing, she/her

Junior, Informatics

I've taken

ENGL 131, ENGL 281, PSYCH 209

Ask me about

I love traveling the world, shopping for clothes and random items, trying new things, making friends, reading, watching tv and helping others. I also love discovering new music and going to concerts.

Notable academic challenge

Throughout high school, I was convinced that I wanted to be a business major at the University of Washington. I took summer courses, participated in programs related to business and pursued positions in organizations that pertained to my goals. When decisions came out, I was accepted into UW, but not direct-admit into the Foster School of Business. Originally, I was devastated, viewing this as a failure and created a plan to apply again later. However, I took a few classes related to other majors, out of curiosity. Over the course of the next two quarters, I realized that business wasn't my true passion, and that informatics related much more to my interests. In Spring quarter, I applied and got in, and now I am confident in my educational journey. This academic challenge showed me that college is a time of exploration, and that you will find your path if you keep persevering.

Lane, Writing, she/her

Lane, Writing, she/her

Senior, Public Health- Global Health

I'm excited about

Writing can be immensely personal, no matter the genre or purpose. An author's voice is what makes or breaks a piece, their view of a topic what drives it. I look forward to helping students best infuse their voice into their work and getting to learn about each of their unique perspective through the process.

I've taken

English 131, English 111, English 284 & 285

Ask me about

I love playing rugby, trying new food, reading, and going on hike/nature walks

Notable academic challenge

When I first enter the university I was convinced I was going to be pre-med; I had basically mapped out all of my required courses and electives to graduate on time and fully prepared. However, taking the chemistry series and starting biology really changed my perspective. I found that the I didn't so much enjoy learning about the basic building blocks of life or chemical processes as I did discovering how the healthcare system works and the social aspect of medicine. This left me with a great academic challenge: do I stick out my current major of biology even though I have no passion for it or do I step outside of my comfort zone and try a new path that allows me to explore my new curiosities? I went with the latter and applied for the Public Health major, taking the statistics and epidemiology classes that go with it. In doing so, I have found a major I love and began to feel more in place here at UW.

Maya, Writing, she/her

Maya, Writing, she/her

Junior, Music and Law Societies & Justice (LSJ)

I'm excited about

I love listening to music and discovering new songs and artists! If you have any recommendations, please let me know! I also love traveling, shopping, and meeting people.

I've taken

LSJ 200, LSJ 322, POL S 201, POL S 368, LSJ 377, LSJ 375

Notable academic challenge

After high school, I was convinced I was going to work in the medical field. However, after taking an introductory chemistry class, I realized I didn't want to continue on the pre-med track. I then decided to register for LSJ 200, and that served as a catalyst for my interest in law, criminal justice, and human rights. I took POL S 368 and LSJ 377, and both of those classes only solidified my interest in the law, societies, and justice departments. I am now double majoring in music and LSJ, and I'm excited to see where this takes me!

Sophie, Writing, she/her

Sophie, Writing, she/her

Junior, History

I've taken

ENGL 198, HSTEU 234, HSTAFM 151, HSTCMP 284

Ask me about

I love backpacking & hiking, skiing, knitting, reading, thrifting, listening to music & going to all the great concerts in Seattle!

Notable academic challenge

I have a difficult time staying organized and focused in many areas of my life, and with the increased responsibilities and independence of college academics learning different techniques to stay on top of school, work, and social commitments has been both challenging and valuable.

Xinlei, Writing, she/they

Xinlei, Writing, she/they

Senior, English & Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies & Anthropology

I've taken

ENGL383, ENGL384, ENGL302

Ask me about

I like reading books, especially poetry and dystopia novels. I also like Kpop and French musicals.

Notable academic challenge

As an ESL (English as a second language) international student majoring in humanities and social science, I am always the person in the class who has lack in expressing myself both in-class and in assignment. Entering my fourth year in UW, on one hand my English did improve a lot, but on the hand I have found my way to express myself with non-perfect English and see it as my strength of having my own voice instead of the barrier that stops me from communicating myself with others.