Hometown: New York, NY
Anticipated Major: Cognitive Science
I've always been drawn to the ways technology can support people who think and experience the world differently. Through both interest and personal experience with neurodivergence, I've become increasingly frustrated by how often society expects people to conform in order to fit in. I want to help build systems that meet people where they are and recognize differences as a strength rather than a problem to be fixed.
My interest have guided a lot of the work I've done so far. During an internship in a research lab focused on addiction, I helped develop a game that explores how behavioral patterns might leave someone vulnerable to substance use. I've also trained as a Wilderness First Responder and EMT, aiming to better understand the human body and mind.
Outside of academics, I love the outdoors and spend as much time in it as I can. I grew up in Mexico, where most of my free time was spent in the ocean or wilderness, and have worked as a surf instructor and volunteer with programs that help people with disabilities experience the water. I'm also a self-taught coder, always curious about how technology can make the world a little more human.
