Activities: University Choir (President), Rutgers West Coast Swing, Rutgers Swing Dance Club, Honors Mentor, Honors Ambassador
What attracted you to Rutgers University and the Honors/Scholars Program?
The Honors Program is what originally attracted me to Rutgers because of its ability to turn a huge state school into a smaller academic and social community. With the SASHP, I was able to have the benefits of a larger research institution while still having the support of a smaller program. I appreciated that the deans take time to answer your questions or point you in the direction of someone who can, and I always felt like I had the right resources to succeed at my fingertips.
Why did you choose your major and minor?
I had chosen computer science before I got to college after I took a couple of courses in high school, but I decided to stick with it because the subject matter continued to interest me in college. For my minors, I had a bit of a change when I arrived at Rutgers—I originally planned to major in French with a concentration in French Linguistics, but eventually decided to separate the two so I would be able to take more linguistics classes since I was really enjoying them.
Tell us a little bit about what you're doing now. What was your first job after Rutgers? Where you do you live?
Currently I’m a software engineer at Bloomberg LP in New York! This is my first job out of college, and I’m really enjoying the start of my professional career. I live in the Upper East Side in Manhattan.
What has been your greatest professional and/or personal accomplishment since you graduated Rutgers?
Moving to the city and adjusting to a new life here was a pretty big challenge, but I’m proud of myself for doing well so far. The idea of starting over almost completely was a bit intimidating, but I’ve found that I love my job and coworkers and have been able to build a social circle here that makes me feel supported.
Was there a class and/or experience at Rutgers that led you to pursuing your current career?
While I didn’t decide on my career path through my classes, they still informed my general interests so I could make use of Rutgers Career Exploration & Success (formerly University Career Services) resources to kickstart my job search. Through this office, I was able to find an internship with Capital One, and then the following year I found Bloomberg—and my job!—at the career fair. This office at Rutgers definitely had a significant impact on my career.
What three words describe your experience at Rutgers and the Honors/Scholars Program?
Happy. Productive. Supportive.
How has your Rutgers and Honors education benefited you in your post-Rutgers life?
Since I had leadership experience through the honors program, clubs, and my on-campus job at Career Services, I had the professional skills to seek out mentors and become a leader on my team despite the fact that I have limited work experience. As a new grad, it’s important to network and maximize your professional growth, and my time at Rutgers helped to sharpen my communication skills.
What advice do you have for our current SAS Honors Program students?
Try out new things you wouldn’t otherwise do every year! At Rutgers, I made it a point to join a new club, take on a new leadership task, or change up my social circle to stay engaged and grow more. Your time at Rutgers is limited, so make the most of it!
Are you a Rutgers Honors alum? Be featured in an upcoming Honors Alumni Spotlight by completing our online submission form.
