The View page displays a submission's general information and data. Watch video
Submission information
Submission Number: 333
Submission ID: 1154
Submission UUID: c8d1a9b3-715c-413e-8b16-2a5b920080ab
Created: Mon, 03/27/2023 - 16:10
Completed: Mon, 03/27/2023 - 16:10
Changed: Mon, 05/05/2025 - 12:56
Remote IP address: 98.53.219.71
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Locked: Yes
{Empty}
Neerja
Akruwala
she/her
Parker
CO
United States
80134
Computer science
English (5), Hindi (4), Gujrati (3), Bengali (2)
I was born in India, but I was not raised there. I grew up in the United States, so going back to India for the first time in ten years was quite an eye opener. This was when I was fourteen.
My father has always been an admirer for engineering. Throughout his childhood in India, he would sit at the train tracks for hours, and break apart his toys just to see the different wires on the inside. When he discovered one of his friends, Hiren uncle, was opening a factory in my grandparent’s city, he knew he needed to take a look during our visit in the summer of 2018.
He took my sister and I along, knowing that we would find more fun in running around a massive warehouse, rather than the days we had wasted hiding from the India heat in the safety of our home AC.
When we first arrived, I was immediately unamused. All I saw was some dusty floors and big halfbuilt machines. As much as I desired to go play, the heat was agonizing, and my father told mys sister and I to try and learn a little before running off. I quickly discovered that I was incorrect. The machines were not half built, but fully functional. They had only a couple of buttons and maybe a wheel or lever on occasion. Uncle said it was for “ease of use,” because most of his workers were unskilled laborers, and this is all they knew how to do.
As our tour of the factory went on, I learned that each of the machines were built in house, without a penny spent on outside materials. This was an eye opener for me. In order to cut costs, Hiren uncle managed to build simpler machines himself. Although they were not as efficient as something one could buy, the innovation amazed me. The workers, along with Hiren uncle, saved so much from simply thinking outside of the box.
I discovered this is what I want to help the world with that day. I wanted to be like Hiren uncle. By creating simpler ways to get the same job done, he saved not only money, but effort. This factory provided jobs to many people in the nearby town, and also provided many goods as well, from fabric to glass. Each item came from it’s own handmade machine as well.
The innovation these townspeople put into the machines they had built was something I had never seen before. “How could someone think of that?” “How does this heat up so much naturally?” I wanted to know the answers, and I did my best to find out.
For the last few hours of our stay with uncle, I asked dozens of questions, and although I did not understand the answers to most back then, I was glad I could experience what I did.
The global engineering program places engineering into a global perspective, and this experience was just one of the possibilities. This prepared me for the global engineering program, and showed me that I want to be part of its future, allowing engineering to spread even farther, while helping the lives of people along the way.
My father has always been an admirer for engineering. Throughout his childhood in India, he would sit at the train tracks for hours, and break apart his toys just to see the different wires on the inside. When he discovered one of his friends, Hiren uncle, was opening a factory in my grandparent’s city, he knew he needed to take a look during our visit in the summer of 2018.
He took my sister and I along, knowing that we would find more fun in running around a massive warehouse, rather than the days we had wasted hiding from the India heat in the safety of our home AC.
When we first arrived, I was immediately unamused. All I saw was some dusty floors and big halfbuilt machines. As much as I desired to go play, the heat was agonizing, and my father told mys sister and I to try and learn a little before running off. I quickly discovered that I was incorrect. The machines were not half built, but fully functional. They had only a couple of buttons and maybe a wheel or lever on occasion. Uncle said it was for “ease of use,” because most of his workers were unskilled laborers, and this is all they knew how to do.
As our tour of the factory went on, I learned that each of the machines were built in house, without a penny spent on outside materials. This was an eye opener for me. In order to cut costs, Hiren uncle managed to build simpler machines himself. Although they were not as efficient as something one could buy, the innovation amazed me. The workers, along with Hiren uncle, saved so much from simply thinking outside of the box.
I discovered this is what I want to help the world with that day. I wanted to be like Hiren uncle. By creating simpler ways to get the same job done, he saved not only money, but effort. This factory provided jobs to many people in the nearby town, and also provided many goods as well, from fabric to glass. Each item came from it’s own handmade machine as well.
The innovation these townspeople put into the machines they had built was something I had never seen before. “How could someone think of that?” “How does this heat up so much naturally?” I wanted to know the answers, and I did my best to find out.
For the last few hours of our stay with uncle, I asked dozens of questions, and although I did not understand the answers to most back then, I was glad I could experience what I did.
The global engineering program places engineering into a global perspective, and this experience was just one of the possibilities. This prepared me for the global engineering program, and showed me that I want to be part of its future, allowing engineering to spread even farther, while helping the lives of people along the way.
The Williams Village halls are where the Engineering students stay during their time at the University of Colorado Boulder, indicating that there are plenty of “nerds,” overachievers, and high ranking students residing there. I already know that, and I know that I will only be an addition to that group if I join the program. Therefore, rather than focusing on mental abilities when it comes to a student living down the hall from me in the dorm, I focus on personality, and mentality. There are two types of people I would desire living across the hall from me in the dorms, either someone exactly like me, or someone who is completely the opposite of me.
The Meyers Briggs Personality Test, or more commonly known as the MBTI test, was created in 1943, and is one of the most widely recognizable personality indicators created. The results yield four letters, indicating one of the sixteen personality types a person has. The four letters yield a broad definition of the personality a person has, ranging from an mediator, to executive. Simply based off of the test, I identify as the far end of an extrovert, an ESTJ, or someone who is an “extrovert, who senses, thinks, and judges.” These types of people are excellent at managing people, thoughts, and time, while being outgoing simultaneously.
In the sixth grade, my teacher described me as an “oversmart extrovert,” and that perfectly reflects my MBTI. My mind is a jumbled, entanglement of thoughts that only I can understand. Others would see my life as a mess, but I am able to understand the knot of thoughts in my mind, and can ensure that things will always sort themselves out in the end. I know everything around me, and see the world as planned out and structured. For example, in the eyes of my mother, my desk is always a mess of unorganized papers which disrupt my learning. However, I still know where every item is, and what each paper means. I may come off as “cocky” and “petty” on some occasions, but I do what I must for my opinions to be hard.
Although I focus on structuring my life, “sensing,” is still a major part of who I am. I may see all the options before coming to a consensus, but the final decision may rely on my emotions as well. I focus on staying analytical, keeping all five senses alert. My priorities lie in taking in my surroundings un order to understand the present. Sensing allows the connection of senses into practical uses, meaning I see detail in the little things, and choose to input that information into my daily life, fueling the way I think.
The greatest part of the ESTJ personality is being an “extrovert.” The dictionary definition for an extrovert is an “outgoing, overly expressive person,” two adjectives that perfectly describe me socially. I enjoy gathering with other people, traveling, speaking in crowds, and dislike keeping thoughts to myself. This allows warming up to others an easy task for me, simply because of the dynamics of my personality.
When it comes to describing someone who I would want in the same building, someone similar to me is a necessity. This person does not necessarily need to be exactly the same as me personality wise, but simply the type of person who is sociable, and keeps their life managed as I do.
The concept of university is to have the ability to experience higher level learning in a specified interest. However, it is also about building connections and growing your bubble. Having something in common with another person is the most effortless way to build a meaningful relationship.
I would have a sense of consensual validation as I enter university. When entering a new environment, meeting someone who shares the same attitude and mindset as you can and will severely boost confidence in one’s own mindset. I would be more open to new opportunities if there is someone who I can guarantee feels the same way I do also taking part in the experience.
As an extrovert, I would need someone I can easily get along with, a person who I can talk to, and a person who I can relate to. Everyone has had the experience of a childhood friend living across the street, who you would spend hours playing with in the summer. With a person living down the hall who can socialize similar to how I do, I would immediately have that same childhood experience, a decade later. I can meet, collaborate, and simply have fun, without the worry of “if they like me,” or not. With whatever issue I have in my first year, I can be certain that there is a person who I can count on to help me solve it in a way I would be comfortable with due to the similarity in personalities.
A mind complementary to mine would not only benefit my future friendships, but also my life on an academic level. My personality is all about managing different aspects of life, which means having a similar person living down the hall would allow us to keep checks on each other. For example, if procrastination ever got the best of me, this person could set me back on track, and vice versa. My time management, skills, and work habits would be stabilized if there was keeping tabs on me nearby. Not to mention we could share ideas and collaborate extremely effectively because of our like minds. With such similar thought processes, the risk of miscommunication when it comes to school work would decrease, and the flow of ideas would increase. I would have someone who can understand the “knot” in my mind. This would allow me to express myself much easier, and all work to pass much more efficiently with two minds working as one.
The saying “opposites attract” contradicts that point, stating that it is not the similarities that make a relationship work. Although similarities in two people’s minds can facilitate growth, they cannot open pathways to new ideas the way two opposing minds can. Academically, collaboration is important to gain an understanding of other perspectives to reach a common goal. A comparable personality to mine living down the hall will not enlighten all of the other possible pathways in the same way that a differing opinion would. This is why the second type of person I want living down the hall from me in the dorms is a mentality completely opposite that of mine.
Hypothetically, the opposite MBTI to mine (ESTJ), is INFP, an extreme introvert who uses their intuition, relies on feelings, and perceives situations rather than judges. They rely on imagination and are much more open minded and caring compared to my personality type. It is a whole new perspective on the world compared to how I see it.
Each personality can bring something different to the table. Where my personality lacks, the opposite can most likely fill that gap.
Intuition and emotions play a major part in life, and thinking logically is not always the immediate option in various circumstances. Times may arise where all logic must be thrown out, and that is something I struggle with. A person who relies on intuition can take account of a situation, without the necessity for it to “make sense,” allowing for new solutions to issues I did not even think to take into consideration.
Introverts and extroverts are known to work surprisingly well in business, friendships, and life itself. Introverts are able to stay reserved, while still maintaining the ability to step out of their comfort zone when necessary. I tend to get burnt out easily despite being a radical extrovert, and an introvert can give me the time to recharge, without the social pressures other extroverts tend to yield.
The perceiving and judging distinction is the most significant. A “judger,” is more in control of their life, managing it. It is what makes me seem stubborn in the eyes of others. Perceivers on the other hand, are much more flexible, and spontaneous. This difference in operations is what allows the two personalities to work so well together. Judgers like me tend to focus on convergent thinking, limiting possible solutions in order to pick out the one that seems the most beneficial, whereas perceivers use much more divergent thinking. They expand the possibilities, and witness all the options prior to selecting the one they feel is best. By brainstorming together, and sharing their differing ideals, the two can only expand the possibilities, and facilitate learning.
This puts so much more on the table when it comes to engineering, as the creativity can expand much farther with the two contrasting mindsets. A contrasting personality to mine will allow me to grow by understanding new points of view. We could both learn from each other, rather than stay oblivious individually.
My mindset makes up a major part of who I am as a person, whether that includes my stubbornness, or logical way of thinking. A similar personality living down the hall will bring me ease to know there is someone who I can relate to nearby, but the opposite entails new possibilities and pathways I mentally am unable to comprehend on my own. Intellect is not as important when it comes to relationships, so long as the input into the collaboration is constructive to both parties. Both people are greatly beneficial to facilitate my growth and creativity as a future engineer.
I am a very goal oriented person. Scattered around my desk, throughout my walls, monitors, and lampshade are sticky notes of various to do lists with varying expiration dates. From “buy more snacks for school” to “study for calculus exam monday,” each note has a purpose. However, four of them have never left my walls in the last five years. They read “be creative,” “make connections with people in STEM,” “be a computer scientist,” and “work hard, play hard.”
The first is a reminder, to never stop allowing my mind to explore, and to apply my creativity to better my future. The second and third are goals, and they lie one below the other in that order specifically as I must first do one, before I can attempt the following. The notes keep me going, and are my long term goals in life. When the hodgepodge of other sticky notes on the walls begins overwhelming me, one look at my goals gives me the motivation that sets me back on the right track. The Global Engineering Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder is the best start for me to accomplish these goals in the future.
Throughout highschool, I have chosen to partake in classes which would grant me a solid academic foundation, preparing me for the hardships I will have in higher education. Pre calculus and AP calculus expanded my critical thinking and problem solving. By taking AP biology and AP chemistry, I could understand how the world was connected at microscopic levels, and create my own experiments, similar to how technology is interconnected today. History and Social Sciences have allowed me to understand how to grow from mistakes, and how nuances in the mind affect behavior. I partake in multiple clubs from FBLA and TSA, showing me real world experience in the business and technology worlds, as well as societies such as the National Honor Society, which teaches me about the community. Outside of school, I have competitively played the piano, granting me increased memory and concentration skills. With the range of courses I have taken throughout my highschool career, I am able to apply my knowledge into a variation of different scenarios, from art to engineering.
In the Global Engineering Program, I can be certain that I will be able to apply all that I have learned throughout highschool, and add onto it with new information, while still leaving room for creativity. I will have access to research and other mindsets, different from mine that will grant me skills which I can apply in a variety of future streams. The hands-on education that advanced programs offer is something that is not available in many courses, and I find that a necessity to not only allow my creativity to flow, but also in order to simply understand the skill based world, outside school learning, without the commitment of a job.
The Global Engineering Program is one of the few unique opportunities one has in life, where creativity truly can flow alongside academic excellence. These Programs are made to be difficult in order to challenge its participants to demand for that excellence. One of the best ways people stay successful is by maintaining a goal oriented mindset, and that is exactly what I have. I know what type of environment I can succeed in, and the Global Engineering Program is the perfect combination of academic pressure and creativity. By maintaining a strict, yet still flexible learning environment, I know I will be able to see the skills I gain flourish.
Creativity is one of the most significant places where I am at my best. Hands on learning is extremely beneficial to the way I understand concepts. This does not mean complete control however, but simply the ability to witness things in person in order to comprehend how they work. The Global Engineering Program is full of these situations. Under the guidance of professors, and help from people from a wide variety of cultures and mindsets, I will be able to witness the background of an undergraduate degree of computer science at CU Boulder, gaining me an understanding of how technology has evolved from the past, and how it can be changed for the future.
The second sticky note was the final one to be placed upon my wall, yet is still what I consider to be the most important of the three. “Make connections with people in STEM.” I initially placed it there because my father told me, after a long lecture before my first days in highschool of how it was impractical to keep a goal, without any idea of how to reach it. When my sister won an acceptance into an internship, I did not think much of it, until I saw all that came after it was over. She was able to meet so many people who currently work in the real world, who are giving her opportunities at their workplaces, future internships, and simply offering a helping hand for after she graduates. This is when I realized the importance of making connections.
“Teamwork makes the dream work”, and through the Global Engineering Program, I will have the ability to learn with people who have all different types of learning and thinking strategies, that are on my level. As an extremely extroverted person, I work much better with more people. I believe in the idea that in order to reach success, one must be surrounded by successful people. The CU Boulder engineering halls are filled with the top ranking students in the engineering fields, meaning every person living there will be fueling off of each other's ideas, motivations, and lifestyles. I thrive in the areas where ideas are shared, and value is created through the compromise of thoughts. The program will grant me the ability to confer and brainstorm with others on a global perspective.
College is all about networking, and I desire to gain that experience through people experiencing the same things as me, and the perfect place for that is the Global engineering program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Whether it is computer science, biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, or mechanical engineering, they all have something in common, and that is the desire to create something innovative for the future. My desire to maintain creativity in the future only follows this fact. By joining the program, I will not be limited to peers in the same major as me, and the possibilities are endless once multiple fields of engineering combine, and I want to be part of it, making it the most suitable choice for how I spend my university career.
Connections to peers is not the only significant characteristic of the Program, but also the access to mentors. Professors, alumni, teaching assistants, and all other sorts of mentorship are immediately available, at the higher level that I desire. Mentors are not meant to see ahead and walk me to my future, but simply help in creating a path towards my final goal. With smaller classes and more specified training, I can get the mentorship I need down to a personal level which is defined for my style of learning and abilities only.
The Global Engineering Program is the biggest network of people who will be attending these STEM careers as soon as they step out of university, and people currently in the job industry. Being part of that network is the greatest way I can showcase my skills for the future. It is a fit for me simply because I will also be joining the industry as well. By creating higher level connections in college, I will have the ability to join internships, and have opportunities waiting for me the moment I step off the campus for the final time. I can fuel my ambitions while also learn a great amount at the same time.
Through connections with peers from differing majors, mentors who can help me personally, and the job market, the ability to gain skills that help to make me stand out is the true reward that I can see.
I believe the program is a good fit for me because I thrive in these types of competitive, yet collaborative environments. Not only will I gain the chance to showcase my skills in order to be one of the best, but I can also gain skills that may not put me on top, but rather allow me to stand out from the crowd. I see no other program that gives STEM students as many opportunities to expand knowledge and gain experience at the level that this program permits.
The third sticky note on my wall is the grand finale, the indicator that I have been successful in my life, and the greatest accomplishment that I will gain through the knowledge I gain from the Global Engineering Program. The Global Engineering Program is a foot in the door to collaborate with hundreds of people, allowing me to showcase my skills, and understand the mindsets of others in the program as well. It is the beginning of my future, and something that I truly desire to be a part of.
The first is a reminder, to never stop allowing my mind to explore, and to apply my creativity to better my future. The second and third are goals, and they lie one below the other in that order specifically as I must first do one, before I can attempt the following. The notes keep me going, and are my long term goals in life. When the hodgepodge of other sticky notes on the walls begins overwhelming me, one look at my goals gives me the motivation that sets me back on the right track. The Global Engineering Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder is the best start for me to accomplish these goals in the future.
Throughout highschool, I have chosen to partake in classes which would grant me a solid academic foundation, preparing me for the hardships I will have in higher education. Pre calculus and AP calculus expanded my critical thinking and problem solving. By taking AP biology and AP chemistry, I could understand how the world was connected at microscopic levels, and create my own experiments, similar to how technology is interconnected today. History and Social Sciences have allowed me to understand how to grow from mistakes, and how nuances in the mind affect behavior. I partake in multiple clubs from FBLA and TSA, showing me real world experience in the business and technology worlds, as well as societies such as the National Honor Society, which teaches me about the community. Outside of school, I have competitively played the piano, granting me increased memory and concentration skills. With the range of courses I have taken throughout my highschool career, I am able to apply my knowledge into a variation of different scenarios, from art to engineering.
In the Global Engineering Program, I can be certain that I will be able to apply all that I have learned throughout highschool, and add onto it with new information, while still leaving room for creativity. I will have access to research and other mindsets, different from mine that will grant me skills which I can apply in a variety of future streams. The hands-on education that advanced programs offer is something that is not available in many courses, and I find that a necessity to not only allow my creativity to flow, but also in order to simply understand the skill based world, outside school learning, without the commitment of a job.
The Global Engineering Program is one of the few unique opportunities one has in life, where creativity truly can flow alongside academic excellence. These Programs are made to be difficult in order to challenge its participants to demand for that excellence. One of the best ways people stay successful is by maintaining a goal oriented mindset, and that is exactly what I have. I know what type of environment I can succeed in, and the Global Engineering Program is the perfect combination of academic pressure and creativity. By maintaining a strict, yet still flexible learning environment, I know I will be able to see the skills I gain flourish.
Creativity is one of the most significant places where I am at my best. Hands on learning is extremely beneficial to the way I understand concepts. This does not mean complete control however, but simply the ability to witness things in person in order to comprehend how they work. The Global Engineering Program is full of these situations. Under the guidance of professors, and help from people from a wide variety of cultures and mindsets, I will be able to witness the background of an undergraduate degree of computer science at CU Boulder, gaining me an understanding of how technology has evolved from the past, and how it can be changed for the future.
The second sticky note was the final one to be placed upon my wall, yet is still what I consider to be the most important of the three. “Make connections with people in STEM.” I initially placed it there because my father told me, after a long lecture before my first days in highschool of how it was impractical to keep a goal, without any idea of how to reach it. When my sister won an acceptance into an internship, I did not think much of it, until I saw all that came after it was over. She was able to meet so many people who currently work in the real world, who are giving her opportunities at their workplaces, future internships, and simply offering a helping hand for after she graduates. This is when I realized the importance of making connections.
“Teamwork makes the dream work”, and through the Global Engineering Program, I will have the ability to learn with people who have all different types of learning and thinking strategies, that are on my level. As an extremely extroverted person, I work much better with more people. I believe in the idea that in order to reach success, one must be surrounded by successful people. The CU Boulder engineering halls are filled with the top ranking students in the engineering fields, meaning every person living there will be fueling off of each other's ideas, motivations, and lifestyles. I thrive in the areas where ideas are shared, and value is created through the compromise of thoughts. The program will grant me the ability to confer and brainstorm with others on a global perspective.
College is all about networking, and I desire to gain that experience through people experiencing the same things as me, and the perfect place for that is the Global engineering program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Whether it is computer science, biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, or mechanical engineering, they all have something in common, and that is the desire to create something innovative for the future. My desire to maintain creativity in the future only follows this fact. By joining the program, I will not be limited to peers in the same major as me, and the possibilities are endless once multiple fields of engineering combine, and I want to be part of it, making it the most suitable choice for how I spend my university career.
Connections to peers is not the only significant characteristic of the Program, but also the access to mentors. Professors, alumni, teaching assistants, and all other sorts of mentorship are immediately available, at the higher level that I desire. Mentors are not meant to see ahead and walk me to my future, but simply help in creating a path towards my final goal. With smaller classes and more specified training, I can get the mentorship I need down to a personal level which is defined for my style of learning and abilities only.
The Global Engineering Program is the biggest network of people who will be attending these STEM careers as soon as they step out of university, and people currently in the job industry. Being part of that network is the greatest way I can showcase my skills for the future. It is a fit for me simply because I will also be joining the industry as well. By creating higher level connections in college, I will have the ability to join internships, and have opportunities waiting for me the moment I step off the campus for the final time. I can fuel my ambitions while also learn a great amount at the same time.
Through connections with peers from differing majors, mentors who can help me personally, and the job market, the ability to gain skills that help to make me stand out is the true reward that I can see.
I believe the program is a good fit for me because I thrive in these types of competitive, yet collaborative environments. Not only will I gain the chance to showcase my skills in order to be one of the best, but I can also gain skills that may not put me on top, but rather allow me to stand out from the crowd. I see no other program that gives STEM students as many opportunities to expand knowledge and gain experience at the level that this program permits.
The third sticky note on my wall is the grand finale, the indicator that I have been successful in my life, and the greatest accomplishment that I will gain through the knowledge I gain from the Global Engineering Program. The Global Engineering Program is a foot in the door to collaborate with hundreds of people, allowing me to showcase my skills, and understand the mindsets of others in the program as well. It is the beginning of my future, and something that I truly desire to be a part of.
{Empty}