Books: The Power Broker; The Death and Life of Great American Cities; Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.
Podcasts: 99% Invisible; The Ezra Klein Show (episodes on urbanism); Odd Lots.
Websites/Journals: CityLab; The Regional Plan Association (RPA.org); The Economist; St. Louis Fed Data portal.
Museums/Exhibits: The New York Transit Museum; The Skyscraper Museum; The Queens Museum’s Panorama of the City of New York.
Documentaries: My Brooklyn; Citizen Jane: Battle for the City.
Music: The score from Koyaanisqatsi by Philip Glass.

Growing up in a multi-generational household, dinner conversations were a masterclass in navigating different perspectives. My grandmother, a first-generation immigrant, debated politics with my Gen-Z sister, while my parents mediated. I learned to listen not just to words, but to the experiences that shaped them. This taught me that disagreement doesn't have to mean division; it can be a bridge to understanding.

At Columbia, I want to bring this skill to the vibrant discussions of the Core Curriculum. I see myself fostering dialogue in study groups for Contemporary Civilization, ensuring every viewpoint is heard and respected. My experience has shown me that collaborative learning isn't just about finding the right answer, but about appreciating the value in every perspective along the way. I hope to be a bridge-builder in a community that thrives on intellectual diversity.

When my father’s hours were cut, I took a weekend job at a local diner to help with bills. Suddenly, my 40-hour school week became a 60-hour work-and-school week. My biggest obstacle wasn't the exhaustion, but the challenge of maintaining my academic standards. I had to become ruthlessly efficient, transforming scattered free periods into focused study blocks and mastering the art of the five-minute power nap.

This experience taught me resilience and a level of time management I never thought possible. I learned to prioritize what truly mattered and developed a grit I now apply to every challenge. At Columbia, where the academic rigor is intense and unpredictable, I know my ability to adapt and persevere under pressure will be one of my greatest assets, allowing me to thrive no matter the obstacle.

I'm drawn to Columbia's culture of "action-based empathy." It’s a community that doesn't just discuss injustice but actively confronts it, a value I deeply admire. I followed the student-driven Columbia Prison Divest campaign, not just because of its success, but because it showed how students can hold their own institution accountable. This spirit of engaged activism is something I want to be a part of.

Beyond the classroom, I envision myself contributing to this culture. I’m excited by traditions like the annual Tree Lighting ceremony, which fosters a sense of shared identity and belonging. For me, Columbia isn’t just an elite university in New York; it’s a community that forges leaders who are as compassionate as they are tenacious, and I am eager to contribute my voice to that legacy.

My fascination with artificial intelligence began when I built a simple chatbot to help my non-English-speaking grandfather navigate local services. Seeing his confidence grow as he used my tool, I realized AI’s potential for creating assistive technology. I want to build on this at Columbia.

I am particularly excited by the research at the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab, and I hope to take Professor Shih-Fu Chang’s course in machine learning to deepen my technical skills. Columbia Engineering’s emphasis on interdisciplinary projects would allow me to collaborate with peers from other departments to design AI that is not only powerful but also equitable and accessible. I want to move beyond theory and build tools that empower people, and I believe Columbia provides the perfect ecosystem for that mission.