Ryan Burt, He/Him

Director

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

Assistant Director

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

CLUE Program Manager

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 graduate school 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. I graduated from UW in 2024 and am excited to be working with CLUE in a more permanant role.

In my role at Academic Support Programs, I support the entire CLUE team and work closely with our Subject Lead Tutors. Stop by if you want to chat or have any questions!

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!

Amina, She/Her

Senior, Food Systems, Nutrition, & Health

I'm excited about

I enjoy playing video games, reading books, and baking.

Ask me about

I am a transfer student from Seattle Colleges. As a student who has taken a slightly nontraditional route to education, I understand that the transferring experience comes with a lot of positives, but also a good amount of challenges. It is my goal to support you on your journey and help acclimate you to a new learning environment!

Notable academic challenge

My main academic challenge is time-management. I often feel like I don't have enough time in a day. As a result, I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out ways to utilize the time I do have, from creating routines to trying various strategies.

Ana Luisa, She/Her

Senior, Biology

I'm excited about

Some of my hobbies include watching horror movies, learning languages and drawing. I also enjoy going to the beach and soaking in the sun.

Ask me about

Being raised in another country, transitioning to the academic life in the U.S was a challenge that I knew I wanted to take even with the hardships it brought. After continuing my college journey here, I found a profound interest in helping other students going through similar experiences so we can all have a successful academic career. I wish to help students remember that we can overcome obstacles no matter how hard they may be at first.

Notable academic challenge

One of the challenges that really pushed my academic journey for the better was failing my first class ever during sophomore year. As a student who had never failed any classes, I took it really hard because I had pressured myself into thinking that I could not fail, especially as a STEM student. I came to realize that that failure didn't equal to me failing my entire career, as it only let me know that there were some areas I needed to work on and once I started working on that it made other "failures" easier to overcome.

Erica, She/They

1st year Masters student, Master of Library Information Sciences (Undergraduate Major: English Literature and Language; Minor: Law, Societies and Justice)

I'm excited about

I love reading and will always want to know what your favorite book is! Legos are some thing I enjoy doing with my family and friends. Zine Making is for when I'm trying to let out some creativity either by using old magazines/books or digitally on Canva.

Ask me about

I was born and raised on the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. I had the great pleasure of attending UW as an undergraduate and now I'm coming back as a first-generation graduate student.

Notable academic challenge

My very first class at UW was BIO 180 in Kane 130 where there were twice as many students in this one lecture than there were in my entire graduating class. Right off the bat I was intimidated, but still hopeful. The first exam came around and I thought I did well, but when I saw my score and found out I was below average it felt like I was in over my head. It made me doubt myself and wonder if I had come all this way just to fail and disappoint my loved ones. However, after doing some crying I realized that I still had future chances to improve my grade and now it was a matter of planning and preparing for the next exam. I realized I needed help and sought out resources, collaborated with peers more, and learned new study habbitts. Test scores don't reflect your worth, but how you choose to address a problem and move forward make all the difference.

Esther, She/Her

Sophomore, Computer Science, Linguistics

I'm excited about

I jump between this and that, but recently I've spent my time crocheting, learning electric guitar, working out and playing video games.

Ask me about

I failed my first quarter at UW. No excuses—too much ego and not enough good habits taught me the hard way what I needed to succeed in my academics, social life, and extracurriculars. These challenges ultimately led me to discover the countless resources and opportunities available at UW, helping me turn things around. I became an academic coach to help others avoid the same mistakes I made, and to provide the guidance needed to navigate college life. Whatever stage you're at, I'm here to give you the confidence and knowledge you need to succeed.

Notable academic challenge

I caught COVID-19 twice this spring, once during midterms week and once during finals week. Initially, I panicked, but I coordinated with my professors to make sure I had the time to recover fully and still perform my best on exams. As someone with a chronic health condition, this experience emphasized how important it is to balance my health with my academics. It wasn't easy, but I now know how to manage setbacks and stay on track, even when things don't go as planned.

Genevieve, She/Her

Senior, Finance and Information Systems

I'm excited about

I love traveling, reading, fashion, and watching anime. I'm obsessed with solving puzzles. Fun fact: I once played Sudoku for 10 hours straight on a flight! I’m also getting back into playing the organ.

Ask me about

I was born and raised in Vietnam. I care a lot about student success and social justice, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support. With experience working with both international and domestic students, I’ve developed a broad understanding of the diverse challenges you may encounter. I’m eager to get to know you better and work together to help you succeed.

Notable academic challenge

I occasionally struggle with staying motivated (and I am a certified procrastinator), but I make it a point to seek assistance whenever I need it. I believe that having a strong and reliable support system is crucial. And above all, ALWAYS believe in yourself! Understanding who you are and recognizing what you deserve is fundamental to achieving success.

Madison, She/Her

Senior, Microbiology

I'm excited about

Cooking, Snuggling with my cats, Hiking, Crocheting, Singing, and Reading

Ask me about

I am a hardworking, caring student who came to UW from Massachusetts to pursue my interest in microbiology. Since starting UW, I have learned more than I imagined, and have had countless invaluable educational opportunities. My dedication to life-long learning drives me to continue to grow my study, time management, and test taking skills for success. I am passionate about creating personalized plans for academic success that also emphasize social and emotional well-being, and helping students navigate the vast resources at UW.

Notable academic challenge

In Winter 2024, I had a flare up of my chronic illness that caused me to be in the emergency room and eventually miss so much school that I had fallen significantly behind in my classes. In the 6th week of an 18-credit quarter, I came to the realization that if I tried to catch up in every class, I would end all of them with grades I would not have been happy with, and likely would not have been able to allow my body to properly recover. I made the difficult decision to drop one of my classes, taking a registrar drop, and focus on the other classes that I believed I could catch up in. Thanks to that decision, I was able to finish my classes with good scores, and heal. This situation was an important reminder that balance is key in undergrad and reminded me of my resilience, both as a student and as a person.

Natalia (Lead), She/Her

Senior, 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.

Vy, She/Her

Senior, Public-Global Health

I'm excited about

Crafting, painting, reading, thrifting, taking walks, and general city exploring!

Ask me about

Hi ! My name is Vy (Vee) and I am a senior in the Public-Global health major! I am passionate about uplifting student voices and promoting environments that are inclusive, diverse, and engaging. A lot of my time at the UW has been dedicated to roles that help first-year students find their footing at the university. I am more than excited to help all students develop successful academic strategies with Academic Support Programs (ASP) and I hope to grow and learn with all of you as well.

Notable academic challenge

My first quarter at the UW I quickly learned that I needed a better system to organize my assignments, both large and small. Being a part of a school that runs on a quarter system means that things can move very fast, especially near the end of the quarter. I learned this the hard way when I forgot to turn in one weekly assignment for a class which did end up hurting my final grade for the class. I was very upset as I felt like this mistake should not be such a large reflection of how I did in the class. Ultimately, I learned that it is okay to make mistakes because mistakes help you build better habits.

Yonas (Lead), He/Him

Senior, 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.

Shivi (Lead), 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.

Clara, Biology, she/her

Senior, Biology (Molecular, Cellular, Developmental)

I've taken

GENOME 361, BIOL 280

Ask me about

Audiobooks, hiking, cooking, embroidery

Notable academic challenge

When classes went online during winter of my freshman year, I *really* struggled to keep up with material and stay engaged because it felt so isolated. For me, the social aspect of learning is super important and figuring out how to incorporate that into my studying has been a lifesaver.

Kyle (Lead), Chemistry, he/him

Senior, 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.

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.

Ethan, Chemistry, he/him

Junior, Bioengineering

I'm excited about

Reading, running, sailing, bouldering, D&D, video games

I've taken

General chemistry, organic chemistry, 241, 242

Notable academic challenge

Struggling to get help when I need it in larger classes (looking at you Phys 122)

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.

Alicja, Computer Science, she/her

Senior, Electrical & Computer Engineering

I've taken

CSE 373/374, EE 241/242/342

Ask me about

Swimming, playing video games, and 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

Senior, 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

Andrew (Lead), Math, he/him

Senior, 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.

Hemkesh, Math, he/him

Junior, Computer Engineering

I've taken

MATH 206, 207, 300

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.

Kamiar, Math, he/him

Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering

I've taken

MATH 207, 208, 224

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.

Sarah, Math, she/her

Senior, Math, Data Science and Applied Math Minors

I've taken

MATH 207, MATH 208, MATH 224, MATH 300, MATH 327, MATH 381, MATH 402/403/404, MATH 407/408/409, MATH 424, MATH 461

Ask me about

Hiking, thrifting, and food

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.

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.

Travis, Math, he/ him

Senior, 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

Senna (Lead), 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.

Lauren, Physics, she/her

Senior, Physics, Applied Math minor

I've taken

PHYS 224, 225, 227, 228, 322 

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.

April, Physics, she/her

Senior, Comprehensive Physics, Mathematics

I've taken

(Almost) all of the 200 level classes, E&M (321-323), Quantum (324-325), Electronics (334, 335), Phys 329, Phys 431

Ask me about

Drawing, birding, skiing, and video games! (and the cat I’ll hopefully have)

Notable academic challenge

Definitely Covid - my entire freshman year was online, and it was hard to adjust with coming back on campus during my sophomore year.

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.

Sagnik (Lead), Physics, he/him

Junior, 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.

Sahiti, Biology, she/her

Senior, 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!

Trevor, Biology, he/him

Senior, Biology (General) / Business

I'm excited about

Hiking, skiing, or playing spikeball with friends. Reading fantasy books. Going to concerts, and exploring new places in Seattle.

I've taken

BIOL 350, BIOL 446, BIOL 469

Notable academic challenge

I struggled a lot with the transition into college during my first year and developing study strategies that worked for me. I did really well with the rigidly structured schedule of high school assignments, and having more flexibility without as many assignments made it difficult for me to study effectively. I've since learned many strategies to be academically successful in a college environment, and would love to share them through tutoring.

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.

Zareef, Math, he/him

Senior, 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

Julie (Lead), Writing, she/her

Senior, 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.

Hayley, Writing, she/her

Senior, 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!

Yoojin, Writing, she/her

Graduate Student, Linguistics

I'm excited about

I like to explore coffee shops, play piano, watch movies, and spend time with family and friends!

Notable academic challenge

Writing was my worst enemy for a long time--I was a second language speaker of English and essay writing was almost fearful for me. But in high school, I took AP Language and Composition and AP Literature to strengthen my weaknesses. Doing so forever changed my attitude towards writing. With the right organizational skills and motivated mindset, writing became so much approachable and somewhat enjoyable! Eventually it became one of my strong suits and here I am in a Ph.D. program, writing all the time!

Ariel, Writing, she/her

Senior, Business Administration & HR

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

Junior, Microbiology, CHID

I've taken

JSIS 317, CHID 250,  ENGL 316, CHID 485

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!