Reflecting Upon My Transistion from Boston to Silicon Valley and My Next Steps

As an electrical and computer engineering student, I have the pleasure of being able to develop all kinds of high-performing technology as part of my professional life. Before graduating summa cum laude from a 5-year program located in Boston in three years, I developed software for a variety of applications such as underwater networking, radar applications, biomedical signal processing applications, and autonomous vehicles. I have been published for my work on underwater networking using acoustic modems.

My software development experience has led me to pursue a master’s degree in electrical engineering with a concentration in software systems. In this pursuit, I am about to make a major leap not only academically but also geographically. I have never lived on the West Coast and now my passion for technology has sent me all the way to the heart of Silicon Valley. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity and all the changes that will come.

Despite my excitement, I am reminded that there are real world burdens that come with pursuing my education. The cost of living in Silicon Valley is one of the highest in the country, and the prohibitively high cost of travel back to my home will effectively prevent me from coming home more than once a year. Additionally, my graduate university does not provide any financial aid to accepted students in my program. Therefore, it is important to obtain as much independent funding as possible in the time leading up to the start of my studies. Ultimately, it will create a path towards optimal focus on academics and research.