CSpotlight: Advocating for Representation in STEM

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in computer science specifically at the University of Minnesota?

I chose to pursue a degree here because of the College of Science and Engineering program and how well-known and rigorous it is. I also like where the school is located in the Twin Cities and how much there is to do around campus and all the opportunities that come with it.

How did you become interested in data science?

I’ve always loved to work with numbers and I had my first computer science class in high school. But, I also had a statistics capstone course and I think that’s what made me interested in data science. We got to work with local businesses, including Berkshire Hathaway, and conduct data sampling.Crunching all the numbers down into equations was really fun for me. I just love looking at graphs and trying to figure out a story behind them.

Congratulations on earning the John Feigal Scholarship! How will this scholarship impact your academic and extracurricular work?

First off, it’ll lessen the burden on me and my parents. Last year, I was working three jobs and I definitely tried to take in money as I could to save up for the upcoming year and rent. This year, I will be able to focus more on my schoolwork and less about working as much. I think it’s very special and I feel recognized for the hard work I put into my classes. I am very thankful to have received the John Feigal Scholarship.

Tell us more about your internship experiences.

I have not had any internship experience college-wise, but in my senior year of high school, I had a summer research project with our STEAM director for K-12 education. We did some data analysis surrounding the deprioritization of K-12 education in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was really interesting to learn about how we can make steps towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.) We presented our work at the FALCon International Student Conference hosted by Mishima Kita High School in Japan and discussed ways to better approach international crises with students and faculty from Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, and Japan.

Are you involved in any student groups? What inspired you to get involved?

Last year, I was a student in the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence (MCAE) Kick-Off. We got to move in early and experience an addition to Welcome Week. I was able to go to a tabling event where I saw many multicultural groups on campus, including the Japan Student Association (JSA). Since I’m half Japanese, it connected with me. Now I’m the Intern and Fundraising Coordinator for JSA and I’m also in University Singers. I’m hoping to be more involved with student groups that surround my major this year, so potentially the Association of Computing Machinery-Women (ACM-W) and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) or the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

What do you hope to contribute to the computer science community at the University?

I’m hoping to bring more awareness around representation in STEM fields. Currently I work at Community Outreach, Retention, and Engagement (CORE) at the University. We work with middle school to high school students and we help facilitate weekend events for underserved students and their families. We bring them to the University and hold STEM events where they can do hands-on workshops and learn more about STEM careers. We’ve collaborated with the Association of Multicultural Scientists, the College of Biological Sciences and many other student groups on campus. Being involved with this initiative inspired me to look more into the representation in STEM. I think it’s really fun seeing kids get excited about it and I hope to bring a different perspective because I’m a first-generation student. Most of these students will also be first-generation students if they go to college, so talking to them and being able to connect with them is very rewarding. It’s what keeps me grounded in my major because I see how inspired the students get and that’s definitely what keeps me going and reinforces my choice in my major so far.

What advice do you have for incoming data science students?

Definitely reach out if you’re struggling in classes. I know for some of my STEM classes, I really didn’t understand concepts and I was just having a hard time in general. Sometimes you need to reach out to other friends who may be in the same major or the same class as you and just talk to professors to get a better understanding of things. I took advantage of the Peer Tutoring in Walter Library and went to office hours every week to make sure I understood what was going on in my classes.

What are your plans after graduation?

I hope to become a data scientist or data analyst. My big dream is to work for Spotify or something that combines music with my major because they’re my two main passions. But, it’s still yet to be determined.