“Champions have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” - Muhammed Ali. 

Arguably the greatest athlete of all time - not only respected for his accolades but also his accomplishments outside the ring - Muhammed Ali’s wisdom about skill and will is a source of inspiration I often enjoy pondering on. As a sports junkie (I’ll watch anything that keeps a score of some sort), I find my work and journey as a creative resonates with the determination and grit of athletes and champions alike. What do I mean by that? 

You see, in sports, athletes and teams are constantly refining their craft and strive to become the best version of themselves day in and day out. Needless to say, this comes with success and failures, introspection and revision. As a designer, my creative process is similar. I never enjoy being idle, and as such, constantly seek to improve my skills and knowledge of the game. For me, that passion and interest lies within industrial and product design - specifically sports and footwear (yes, I am definitely a sneakerhead). Aside from skill, however, I find that there needs to be an innate drive and “x-factor” to propel any amount of talent - natural or developed. Without that “will”, the skill is simply asking to be killed. Personally, my mission as a creative is two faced. Pertaining to design specifically, I am compelled to observe and understand the intersection between function and expression. On a more thematic and abstract level, I’m driven to analyze and integrate the role diversity and perspective plays in design, specifically within the objects and spaces we interact with. 

While I may appear to have a very creative-centric mindset, I never want to only be labeled or dismissed as a designer. Whether it’s pursuing entrepreneurial interests or working with technology to create new and improved solutions, I’m always driven to be challenged and exercise the adaptability of my skills even in settings I’m not familiar or initially comfortable with. In my free time, I absolutely love watching sports (if I haven’t already mentioned that), playing and listening to music, spending time with nature, gaming, cooking, and so much more - don’t worry, we can sit down for coffee and I’ll tell you all about it!

Major:
Product Design

Other Academic Interests:
Professional Sales and Business Development & Programming and Computation

Extracurricular Activities:
Longhorn Racing, Industrial Designers Society of America, Texas Convergent, "Our Tower: The Next 100 Years" Gift Project, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Golconda Inc.

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
If you haven't already noticed, the Forty Acres Scholars Program is arguably the most prestigious scholarship group at UT - and I hadn't heard anything about it until two days before the application deadline! When I first received an email invitation to apply, I had largely dismissed it - I mean what were the odds I'd get a full ride scholarship to college? I even thought it was a phishing scam for a few minute...but it was my mother who convinced me that I had nothing to lose and might as well give it a shot. That eventually led to Finalist Weekend, which was the ultimate deciding factor that I wanted to commit to UT and FASP.

The sheer size and quality of the alumni network was extremely attractive, offering a glimpse into future connections and relationships I would be able to cultivate. Moreover, the plethora of opportunities, resources, and activities within the program was also extremely compelling. And of course, the financial support of the program was very appealing as well, taking care of nearly all expenses and working towards financial independence upon graduation. However, the most unique factor that stood out to me was how tailored and personalized this program is. Everyday, I'm extremely grateful for the support, care, and individual attention I receive from our amazing advisors, donors, staff, alumni, etc. I distinctively remember what I said to myself after I signed the scholarship contract amid college decisions: "Here, I'm celebrated for who I am. There, I'm just a number".

Favorite FASP Memory:
My favorite FASP memory so far was our cohort's freshmen retreat. It was an incredibly enjoyable experience connecting with my fellow scholars as well as participating in the activities and events at the resort!