Major: mechanical engineering
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Why did you choose Cornell and/or Cornell Engineering?
I choose Cornell Engineering because that was the only place I got into! In hindsight, I feel pretty blessed to have had the opportunity to be a Cornellian. It has pushed me both academically and socially. It has not only broadened by view of the world but also I find that my lens can be narrowed down to things I want to focus on.

What is your favorite thing about Cornell Engineering?
The people are definitely my favorite thing about Cornell. The people are so awesome; they’ve made me, a self-proclaimed introvert, social. Cornell has also given me the chance to meet professors who have ended up being amazing mentors.

How do you get involved outside the classroom?
Along with a few friends, I was able to work on a seminar to introduce high school students in Ethiopia to the benefits of robotics and AI. Additionally, I am also involved in research with Professor Ruina on improving motor response while taking into account backlash and friction.

How was your experience adjusting to Cornell?
It was hard but also exciting. There were lots of assumptions I had about people that were not accurate and coming here really gave me an opportunity to come out of my bubble and interact with people that had different backgrounds from me.