This past semester has been one of the most meaningful ones in my collegiate career. Earlier in the year, I joined Cornell’s Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing where I designed and built two prototypes that induce ultrasonic vibrations to the additive manufacturing process. I learned a lot about the engineering design process, from creating 3D models to actually manufacturing each prototype. This fall, I was finally able to begin testing my prototypes in order to characterize their effects. My research experience has shown me how much I like to design and build machines and how important it is to further my education. After speaking with my advisor, I decided to apply to graduate school at Cornell.

Halfway through the semester, I got accepted into Cornell’s Master of Engineering Program as an early admit. I will be studying aerospace engineering with a concentration in design. I begin my master’s classes this coming spring and will be graduating with my advanced degree in the fall of 2023. Around the same time, I was also accepted into the Cornell Engineering Leadership Program. This is a year-long program that focuses on developing professional leadership skills through a hands-on project, multiple retreats, and two classes where I can practice these skills. Both of these programs will help me with my aspirations to one day hold a high-level position at an innovative aerospace company. This semester I chose to focus primarily on my academics. I attended many different networking events to speak with professors and industry advisors about the benefits of graduate school. Although it has been a challenging semester, it has also been a very rewarding one. All of this has been possible because of the support that MVYouth has given me. I am beyond thankful for everything that you have done.