Why did you choose Illinois and why aerospace engineering?

I chose to study at UIUC because I did an aerospace summer camp there during the summer going into my senior year. I really enjoyed my experience there and already had some idea of what my time there might look like.

I always knew engineering was for me. I enjoyed building things thanks mostly to LEGOs, but also many larger projects like PCs which I built with my grandpa. When I took the PSAT in high school they asked what major you wanted to pursue, and I just said to myself “well space is cool” and ran with aerospace. While that sentiment is still true, I have stuck with it because I think the developments in rockets over the past 10-20 years are super interesting and I want to be a part of that wave of innovation.

What projects helped you gain technical expertise? 

During the better part of my sophomore and junior years I got to serve in a couple leadership positions within the Illinois Space Society’s Solid Propulsion team. Especially because I joined the project near its inception, I learned a TON about rocket propulsion at that time.

I gained a much deeper appreciation for testing as one of my roles had me responsible for developing test procedures. This was something I did not think I would enjoy, yet I ended up really liking finding the best solutions to properly perform engine tests.

What's something you're proud of?

My friends. I feel like I was able to connect with a lot of cool people both in and outside of engineering and I am very proud to have maintained those friendships.

 Did you have any internships?

I have had a couple internships. My most recent internship was with United Launch Alliance right outside of Denver, Colorado this past summer. I got to work on the Dynamic Environments team where I was performing analyses on shock environments on a rocket. They also had an intern rocketry program where all the interns helped build two sport rockets.

What extracurricular experience is memorable for you? 

Well overall, the most memorable extracurricular experiences for me all stem from my time with the Phoenix Improv Company. I’ve been doing improv since sixth grade and it’s something I hope to continue beyond college! But if I had to pick one experience it would be when we got to perform in Foellinger Auditorium as openers for a couple of actors from The Office. It was a very chaotic experience passing a mic around while trying to do improv for such a large audience, but super fun and we got to meet the actors afterwards!

 You ended high school at the beginning of the pandemic and began college while many restrictions were still in place. How did you cope?

Yeah, freshman year was not easy for all the normal adjustment to college reasons but then also adding restrictions made things tough. I was super lucky that I met one of my best friends freshman year who lived one door down. So, I had her as well as a few other folks on my floor to help cope with the isolation. I also tried to get out to study at the local cafes when possible.

I also tried to stay busy with what Illinois Space Society projects were occurring at the time. I think I mostly learned my limits in terms of how much time I can spend alone as there was so much of that. I also learned to just go and try things and be proactive as I think it could have been much worse for me if I just chose to do nothing in my dorm all day.

What’s next for you?

I want to explore the world more and travel somewhere super cool. I want to go watch a large rocket launch (like Vulcan). Getting a masters! I also want to find some sort of creative pursuit (new improv troupe, maybe pick theatre back up, etc.).