I started my first year at Pitt three years ago and have really enjoyed developing as a leader on campus and serving the surrounding communities. I am originally from a small town in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and it has been exciting to experience the wealth of people to connect with and opportunities to embark on. This summer, I conducted research through Carnegie Mellon University’s Program in Interdisciplinary Education Research. I worked in the Hill District, studying the impact of mentorship and educational technology on urban middle schoolers’ learning and motivation. The research was extremely relevant to me as I work as a mentor for Pitt’s BRIDGES Program and Office of Undergraduate Research, as well as a nonprofit called Evolve Coaching, which services college students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the city of Pittsburgh. I also interned at Brookline Teen Outreach, where I built relationships with kids ages 10-18, playing games, doing art projects, and learning about their lives and hopes for the future. For fun, I attend yoga classes at the Stress Free Zone and meetings for psychology and poetry clubs.