Growing up, my mom used to tell me that the more knowledge one has, the more meaning one finds in the world around them. Although I did not understand her then, now this is something I live by. Seeking answers to obscure questions in my mind and learning the concepts behind basic things motivates me to take advantage of any opportunity I find. I aspire to make the most of everything CMU has to offer, from its unique classes and dynamic research opportunities to its extracurricular activities and clubs.
The cognitive science program stands out with its comprehensive knowledge on all aspects of cognition and the array of classes available, such as " Neurobiology of Disease'' and "Neural Computation," uniquely align with my interests and allow me to delve deeper into my area of focus on psychiatric diseases. Additionally, I aim to work alongside Professor Marcel Just to further his research on the biological bases of human thought and activity. I am particularly eager to witness his use of neurosemantics in identifying the neural basis of concept representations. In addition to research, I envision starting a club at CMU where cognitive science students can come together to present and discuss new research papers in the field, sharing the latest findings with one another. Drawing from my internship experience, where we read and presented research papers during lab meetings, I found it to be a highly effective method for acquiring new knowledge, and I genuinely enjoyed it.
A successful college experience, in my eyes, is one where you can look back without any regrets. By learning everything, fostering connections, and utilizing opportunities, I aim to ensure that I won't look back and think I did not give my college experience my utmost effort.