Sarah Adzema — Research Award
CBEN
Post-graduation plans: Find a job working in biotechnology!
This award recognizes undergraduate students with demonstrated excellence in research.
What is your favorite memory from your time at CU Boulder?
Looking back at my time at CU, I'm not sure I can pick just one memory. I have loved all the little moments and memories with my friends.
What accomplishment are you most proud of, either academically or personally?
I'm proud of all of the work I put into my research and lab work. I was hesitant to join a lab because I didn't really know what research entailed. I'm so glad I did though as it led to some of the most meaningful work and connections of my undergraduate career.
Tell us about a moment (or moments) when you felt like you hit your stride or felt like you were “officially” an engineer.
I feel like I really hit my stride as an engineer after returning to in-person classes my junior year. I loved being around my friends and like-minded people and really feel like we all connected over our classwork and time at school.
What was the biggest challenge for you during your engineering education? What did you learn from it?
My biggest challenge was finding a balance between school and college life. I wanted to prioritize spending time on school work, but also didn't want to feel like I was missing out on the college experience. This is still something I'm working on, but I've learned to put less pressure on myself academically and to set aside time for other things I enjoy.
What is your advice for incoming engineering students?
My biggest piece of advice would be to find a community or group of friends who support you both academically and personally. I have met some of my best friends through engineering and would't have been as successful or had as much fun without them.