As a second-year student at Amherst College I feel I came into my own. Thanks to the open curriculum at Amherst, I am well on my way to triple majoring in Computer Science, History and Political Science with classes in Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Petro States and Stalin this fall. Over the summer I was awarded an undergraduate research fellowship with an Amherst professor. We studied virtual memory and compression algorithms, which culminated in a large presentation at a college-wide symposium. Over the fall semester, I was a TA for a Data Structures course in the computer science department. While it was certainly a refresher on the material, I really enjoyed teaching other students, and helping them with the material. Next semester I am registered for 20th Century Japan, Collapse and Revolution: Fall of the Soviet Union, New Cold Wars, and a Spanish class to get ready for a Fall 2024 semester abroad in Spain. I continue to be part of Quiz Bowl, Model UN, and Running Club through which I have met so many great people. I reached my goal of running a marathon, placing 4th in the Martha’s Vineyard Marathon in May 2023, and qualifying for the Boston Marathon in April 2024. Then, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2023, coming in 31st overall and 4th in my division in a field of over 14,000 runners. Running means the world to me and helps me manage the academic demands of Amherst with a physical outlet that has proven very positive for my mental health and social life. I’m thankful for MVYouth’s support and confidence in me over the past two years, and can’t wait to see what 2024 brings.

If there’s one word I could use to describe my first semester, it would be adventure. And from classes, to community, to commuting, I’ve been exposed to new experiences, new people, and new perspectives. Students and faculty hail from across the globe, and I’ve met people from South Korea, Spain, Bangladesh, Ukraine, and even mainland China. In fact, Amherst boasts students from over fifty-eight countries!

My first year seminar, Democratic Backsliding, was my favorite class, but I also enjoyed in-depth classes on contemporary Russia and China, opening up my perspective to each nation’s strengths and weaknesses. This fall, Amherst hosted a forum with January 6 committee member Jamie Raskin, while a month later, I witnessed a student government impeachment! It made me feel fortunate to hear from someone involved in government and watch civic procedures up close. And on top of that, I took a computer science class, which jump started a new love for programming, as I delved into coding puzzle games, rudimentary artificial intelligence, and a Super Mario Bros. clone.

But ultimately, I was drawn to Amherst because of its community, and that made my experience special. The college is simultaneously insular and all-encompassing, with a club for every interest. I was involved with Quiz Bowl, Model UN, our outing club, and helped get our running club active. I’ve met several like-minded friends and some of my favorite times have been exploring the many roads and trails in western Massachusetts. I bike every weekend, and discovered the mysterious night-time run! Next semester I am taking: Data Structures, Computer Systems, Religion and Violence in the Roman Empire, and Empires in Global History, and I’m training for a marathon in May. I’m extraordinarily grateful for MVYouth’s support, and I can’t wait for my next semester at Amherst.