Becoming A Grand Challenges Scholar:

The GCSP program has been a fundamental part of my Experience as an ASU student. Through GCSP, I would not have discovered my interest and desire to help make the world a more Sustainable place. Beyond mere technical proficiency, the program has provided a structured lens through which to view Engineering Ethics and Global Systems. Through my interest in the theme of Sustainability, I have transitioned from a localized "code-first" mindset to a systemic "impact-first" approach.

COM 263 and POS 300 taught me about how interconnected the world was. Whether it was through the controversies of Foreign Aid or the multi-facted discriminations individuals face. It made me think about how engineering could bridge gaps between people who have different cultures or face various challenges due to geographic locations. Even seemingly "positive" things like Foreign Aid come at a cost of dependency on other nations and may not be as helpful as one thinks. It taught me about carefully allocating resources to those in need by researching about their culture, environment, and even geography instead of throwing resources and money at them and expecting development.

FSE 150 and GPH 314 taught me about Interdisciplinary concepts necessary for the program. Though FSE 150 was my introduction to GCSP, the Future Solutions Project, the culminating experience of the class, taught me about Stakeholder Awareness and Creative Thinking. My GPH 314 class taught me about how the Earth works and how various systems of the planet are affected by human life. It was a very useful class as it taught me about various environmental processes and gave me the technical knowledge needed for technology with widescale real-world impact. Most importantly, I learned about Engineering Ethics, which made me reflect on how to develop sustainable solutions and not harm the planet for engineering.

For Talent, I am using my two semester Capstone project. This project was pleasantly very relatable to Sustainability (I was expecting a purely technical SWE assignment). But the very fundamental concept of my work at Inventrade, which is selling leftover/surplus industrial supplies to other companies who need it is one of the fundamental concepts of repurposing and reducing waste with companies. This project allowed me to become more familiar with version control, AWS, and SQL on a technical basis. It also helped me learn how to talk with sponsors/industry members to develop a good product. 

I also completed two semesters of EPICS. This was one of my favorite experiences at ASU. I worked on two different projects for the semesters. My first project was with the EPICS: Online Database (SQL) for Study Abroad Projects in Vietnam which recorded the water content and pH level of the soil in Vietnam. Though we didn't do any physical work or coding, the research/writing skills necessary for the project(developing front and backend) helped me later in my research for my Capstone work. My second semester was with Hydration Station, which was much more practical. It involved me coding sensors, developing prototypes, and working on a tangible product. Both of these experiences were invaluable to me as they felt like they had real world impact and gave me a strong sense of responsibility. The most important lesson I learned was the importance of the User-Centric Design in creating comphrenesive sustainable products that anyone can use.

Finally, for Entrepreneurship, I had to develop a product of my own through a series of Evidence Based Pitch Deck. Using my minor in Statistics, I developed a Pinterest-like app to help remember formulas. I learned a lot from this class, including how to make products people will actually use, how to interview potential stakeholders and customers, and how to refine ideas with information, logic, and risk taking. I learned how to analyze product market-fit and gauge customer/test feedback to refine the projects and take risks.

GCSP was a fantastic experience and the best way to experience ASU and engineering. It made a me a well rounded engineer focused not just on technical skill, but tangible impact. As I enter grad school and the professional market, I will definitely use what I've learned in this program to be a more responsible engineer, and a better human being.