Major: Cognitive Science

Award: Woodrow Wilson Fellowship

I wanted to do undergraduate research because I wanted to get my hands dirty discovering new things and studying what interested me, and the Wilson fellowship allowed me to design a project completely on my own to be whatever I wanted it to be. 

My entire project changed as I advanced: I had the mission of helping students with dyslexia the entire time, but the way I went about it constantly evolved over the years. I committed to working ten hours a week for research. 

Challenges and Gains

The most challenging part of this research project for me was that it’s completely independent, so it was hard to stay on track without external reminders while juggling work and classes. I gained so much knowledge that will benefit me as an educator in the future, as well as made contacts with a great network of people in various fields. I never expected to learn that my project could help more than just dyslexic students but also adults with and without learning disabilities; I even use it to read my course materials. 

Post-graduation Plans

After I graduate, I’ll be working at an Americorps program where I’ll be tutoring and mentoring students in a low performing school, with the goal of becoming a teacher.