WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? WHAT WAS YOUR PATH TO CAL?

I am a local kid – I grew up moving around various places throughout the East Bay (Hercules, Vallejo, San Pablo, Richmond, and back to Hercules). I spent many weekends in the shadow of the university visiting my grandmother at work at Alta Bates Medical Center a few blocks away from the school. When I got bored I would walk down Telegraph Ave. and spend my afternoon at Amoeba and Rasputin’s, looking for used ’90s rock and indie CDs. I didn’t plan to go to Berkeley in high school; it was too close to home, but it ended up being my choice.

HOW MUCH PROGRAMMING HAVE YOU DONE (& WHAT LANGUAGES)?

I began with Snap! (I had no programming experience throughout all of grade school). Since then, I learned Python, Scheme, Java, C, and some C++.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?

Recently I have been watching a lot more college football. I love good television – I grew up on Star Trek: The Next Generation (which subsequently indoctrinated me with a humanist disposition), and enjoy fantasy, science fiction, and drama. I used to write a lot of poetry and some short fiction, which I lost the knack for when I entered college. Recently I am trying to get back into a groove with that. When I am at home and I am stressed I break out my electric guitar and play (poorly). I also love discussing politics and philosophy.

WHAT COMMITMENTS WILL BE CONSUMING YOUR CYCLES THIS SEMESTER?

This summer, I will be taking International Law and a Creative Writing class. I am also working as a student assistant at the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity. I am currently working on my senior thesis proposal and conducting political science/cybersecurity research.