As a first-generation and transfer student, I assumed it was going to be difficult to navigate the ways of college. My first year at ASU, I switched my major from Biochemistry to Biomedical Engineering. I became involved in many clubs and extra-curricular activities, including the Grand Challenges Scholar Program. At first, I was drawn to the program due to recognition from the National Academy of Engineers (NAE), however, I quickly began to understand the importance and value this program has. Through various courses I have exposed myself to new experiences, where I have met people from other disciplines with various backgrounds and have different ideas. Not only have I been able to network with these individuals, but I have also been able to grow my personal and academic goals by expanding my knowledge and technical skills. This program has benefited me in many ways because it has encouraged and supported my journey as a student involved in many organizations.

 

For instance, I have been able to flourish in the five competencies of: Talent, Multidisciplinary, Viable Business/Entrepreneurship, Multicultural, and Social Consciousness while focusing on the chosen theme of Health. As noted below, I enrolled in a course for each competency. To fulfill the entrepreneurship requirement, I enrolled in FSE301, where I developed a business pitch and proposed the idea of a mobile app for individuals interested in connecting exercise practices with the outside world. For the interdisciplinary section, I enrolled in FSE150 and ASB462, where I explored various disciplines within the field of engineering and identified the overlap between public policies, law, ethics, human behavior, and medicine. Furthermore, I showcased my capstone research in partnership with Mayo Clinic to represent the talent category. I also became involved in FSE404 to develop a project based on engineering principles to make a meaningful impact within a specified community.

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While each of these experiences were identified as separate courses, they all strongly relate to one another. They each have allowed me to further my knowledge and understanding of engineering principles while applying them to real-world scenarios. Overall, becoming a participant of the Grand Challenges Scholar Program has allowed me to become a more well rounded student, a better engineer, and more self aware of the world around me. I am grateful to have participated in this program, and am honored to be recognized by the National Academy of Engineers (NAE).