Introduction

        Hello everyone! I am William Joel Sandoval Casas. I grew up in Colombia & Puerto Rico and have lived in Pittsburgh the past eight years. I am a first-year student in the Swanson School of Engineering and Frederick Honors College, and I am pursing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and minors in Computer Science and German. As I advance into my departmental studies, I am interested in acquiring the Autonomous Systems concentration and joining the Engineering Accelerated Graduate Program (EAGr) to acquire my sought-after master’s and bachelor’s degrees in five years. As a fun fact, I speak Spanish, English, and German; in my free time, I enjoy skiing and working out.

        At the University of Pittsburgh, I am a member of the diversity program, EXCEL, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). This year, I had the opportunity to serve as one of SHPE’s Freshman Chairs. In this position, I was granted exclusive insight on the planning of various events and was able to forge close bonds with my fellow members. To highlight an event, the other Freshman Chair and I co-planed a General Body Meeting (GBM), whose purpose was to help SHPE’s members relax before finals through fun interactive activities. Purchasing items and coordinating the GBM was a logical challenge, however with teamwork, anything can be done! I am excited for next year, as I tackle unique financial challenges and victories as SHPE’s newly elected Business Manager.

        Academically, I am enrolled in and about to successfully complete all of my first-year courses. Of all the classes I took, my top two favorite were ENGR 0711, Honors Engineering Analysis and Computing, and ENGR 0712, Honors Advanced Engineering Applications. In ENGR 0711, the professor, Dr. Irene Mena, showed the class the workings of MATLAB and C through interactive assignments, group projects, and quizzes. ENGR 0712, on the other hand, focuses on harnessing previous coding knowledge to develop programs that tackle abstract problems. With the help of this course, I was able to collaborate with peers and analyze data relevant to the current issue, which was quite enjoyable. These two courses allowed me to meet new, outstanding people, who I quickly became close friends with. Assignments from both of these courses can be found in the “Additional Information” section at the end.

        In terms of career, I have accepted experiential offers with Red Alpha and Zoll for the 2024 summer and 2025 spring terms, respectively. First off, I will working alongside exceptionally talented individuals at Red Alpha as a Software Engineering Intern. In this position, I will be able to immerse myself in Python, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and AI. At Zoll, I will be part of an effort to save human lives through the development of the LiveVest, a portable pacemaker. Being an Embedded Software Coop, I will be able to work on the technological upgrades of the LiveVest over an extended period of time, perfecting my skills of C++. I am excited for the future and the opportunities I have been granted.

        Without further ado, I am happy to announce that I will be studying abroad in South Korea this summer through the University of Pittsburgh’s multidisciplinary Plus3 program. In a cohort of 24 students and two instructors, Minhee Yun and Christopher Kirchhof, I will be able to visit various sites in Korea, expected to increase my cultural and professional awareness of the peninsula. I am excited to be a part of this experiential journey and expand my knowledge of smart systems, applicable to my future endeavors as a computer engineer.

Goals and Aspirations: South Korea

        As an individual determined to analyze how different communities tackle problems in technology, being in a technological hub, such as that in Seoul, will grant me a wealth of knowledge—applicable to my future classes and objectives. Furthermore, my experience in Korea will allow me to gain a unique understanding of computer hardware and software from a foreign lens, enhancing my innovation of future projects and endeavors.

        Apart from academic aspects, however, traveling to South Korea and interacting with industry experts will provide me with a better understanding of the international and professional scene regarding computer engineering. In addition, meeting with company representatives, from prestigious corporations, like Samsung, Hyundai, Eaton and Oracle, to name a few, will expand my ever-growing network, helping me acquire a full-time position in a competitive job market after college. Thinking ahead into the future, living and interning in Seoul would drastically boost my engineering experience by covering topics and techniques exclusive to the Korean work environment.

        During the non-instructional time, when students are allowed to roam and explore the capital city of Seoul, I will be fearless and actively attempt to interact with locals, maintaining a conduct representative of my Pitt community. Further, I will contribute to a global community by describing and answering questions about life in the US; I find it truly rewarding to provide personal anecdotes about America, especially to people abroad who may be interested in various aspects of life here. In preparation for my thrilling journey abroad, I have begun learning Korean on Duolingo and currently stand at a 78-day steak, planning on reaching day 100 before departure to Korea.

        Overall, I am looking forward to the opportunity to experience Korean culture, the people, the food, and the language, all while boosting my knowledge of smart systems. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to be on this trip and serve as a group leader, aiding my team at every crossroad. To conclude, I would like to share with you a quote that motivates me daily.

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint”.

Angela Lee Duckworth. “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.” Ted. 04|2013. http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance

Additional Information:

www.github.com/sandoval-williamj: 안녕하세요! www.linkedin.com/in/wjs-c/: 안녕하세요!

감사합니다!