The Beginning

Education: San Diego Mesa Community College 2008-2010 (a bunch of Associate’s degrees), University of California San Diego 2010-2013 (B.S. Chemical Engineering), University of California Los Angeles 2014 – 2024 (M.S. Mechanical Engineering 2016, Ph.D. Candidate 2018)

The Basics

My writing is “homegrown”—I don’t use chatbots for anything but formatting. I do this with intention and will elaborate further in my blog posts.

I’m a “first principles” thinker, organically not deliberately. I came to notice that about myself and recently decided to embrace it and be conscious of it as I go.

The Turning Point

The turning point for me in critical thinking was the pursuit of mechanical engineering. I wasn’t a prototypical engineer growing up. The simple mechanisms I came across in everyday life were a mystery to me and I thought it normal that they would remain that way. I found in my college years that I excelled in math and science, subjects fundamental to robotics engineering. At one point I happened to take a course that was hands-on and required me to implement theory I’d learned on a robot I built myself. This was my first introduction to robotics. I was amazed by how much I was able to do with so little background. After spending some time in a robotics lab, I decided to pursue robotics, but found it wasn’t smooth sailing from there. The biggest principles in robotic design and function were lost on me. When I looked at a mechanism it remained in its crudest form; the details and nuances of its purpose were a mystery. I was frustrated but continued to look time and time again, hoping to see beyond the surface. I didn’t give up and after some time, like a foreign language, words that were just sounds began to have meaning. I began to understand them and the power they held when they came together. I learned to be observant, pay attention to detail, and that the simplest components can play incredibly important roles in the overall function of a mechanism. Looking back, I often say robotics engineering allowed me to see the world in a way I never thought possible. It has given me incredible insight; “figurative glasses” to help me see just like my physical ones do.

The Future

I’m interested in the intersection of policy and tech; specifically, how AI will come to shape our world. My blog posts will mainly focus on topics surrounding these issues.

My Interests

I’m a lifelong learner, I might consider learning together with people “quality time.” I love comedy, poetry, and basketball. I’d love to get into some DIY projects if I ever have time…Does this website count? 😎