1. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or an idea.

What prompted
your thinking? What was the outcome? (500 words)

Growing up, I was constantly told I had to be something great. I vividly remember one
particular incident when someone referred to me as the "golden ticket," bestowing upon me the
responsibility of changing the lives of everyone in my community. From then on, every decision
I made about my education was based on the opportunities it would bring for me to later help my
community, my family, and all those who helped me along the way. Success, to me, meant
making everyone proud, helping everyone, and saving them. The weight of this expectation
drove me to excel in school, and eventually, it led me to attend a university on the other side of
the world, nearly 13,000 km from home.
But when I arrived at New York University Abu Dhabi, I was surrounded by people who,
like me, wanted to change the world somehow. It seemed like everyone had the same expectation
for their life, and I began to feel like my definition of success was inadequate. They wanted to
save the world, and I just wanted to help my own people. Sitting in classrooms with them, I
realized how much they knew about the world. They even knew more about the U.S. than I did,
even though I had lived there my whole life. I felt like I could never compare to these individuals
who not only knew more but also wanted more out of life. As I began to compare myself to my
peers and base my definition of success on them, I realized I’d done this before and what I
thought was my definition, was never my own.
Reflecting on success, I realized helping others was ingrained in me, but questioned if it
was my passion or imposed externally. Upon further introspection, I realized what I truly wanted
was the agency to define my path. Even if I still wanted to help others, it is how I would like to
help them that allows me to define success for myself. This realization prompted me to reassess
my goals and aspirations and to define success for myself. I started to explore different
opportunities that aligned with my values and interests and took the time to reflect on what truly
mattered to me. I found that what I am truly passionate about is education, more specifically,
education access and equity. Despite many telling me I was capable of being more than just a
teacher, or educator, that was what I wanted, how I wanted to help others, even if the field is not
highly regarded.
This journey has taught me valuable lessons about the importance of authenticity, self-
reflection, and the power of agency. Through my experiences, I have learned success is not just
about achieving external accolades or fulfilling others' expectations, but about creating a
fulfilling and meaningful life on my terms.
2. What are your expectations of the MSc Program in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie
Mellon University, and how will this degree help you to achieve your immediate and long-
term career objectives? (450 words) -

In fifth grade, I took a trip to the NASA Space Center in Houston. Upon entering the
Rocket Park, I was amazed by the towering spacecraft on display. I remember feeling a sense of
wonder and curiosity I had never experienced before. As I gazed up at the rockets, I knew right
then and there I wanted to be an astronaut, but as I grew older, I became increasingly fascinated
with the inner workings of the spacecraft themselves. I pursued an undergraduate degree in
Mechanical Engineering to explore the technical aspects of space exploration.
My undergraduate studies provided me with a foundational understanding of mechanical
design and additive manufacturing in space exploration. I joined the Smart Materials Processing
Lab, where I was able to gain experience with liquid crystal smart elastomers to contribute to
direct-write additive manufacturing research. My experience in the lab solidified my interest in
the field of mechanical engineering and its applications in space exploration. Fortunately, I was
able to intern with NASA as a polymer engineer researching thermal analysis for in-space
additive manufacturing self-healing polymers. These experiences have allowed me to develop a
deep understanding of the importance and impact of additive manufacturing for future space
missions.
In pursuit of my passion for additive manufacturing, I am eager to join Carnegie Mellon
University's Mechanical Engineering MSc Research program. The university's state-of-the-art
facilities for additive manufacturing and cutting-edge research make it the perfect place for me to
continue my academic journey. Specifically, I am excited to work under the mentorship of
Professor Sneha Prabha Narra in the Engineering MaterIals for Transformative technologies
(EMIT) lab. Her project investigating two-color thermal imaging method for wire-arc additive
manufacturing is an area of particular interest to me, and I am confident my contribution to this
project will be impactful.
Had it not been for my fifth-grade trip to NASA and mentors throughout my education, I
would not be on the path I am on today. Outside of research, I would like to give back to the
Tartan and Pittsburgh community by joining Women in MechE and Classroom Outreach to learn
from and empower the next generation of engineers at Carnegie Mellon and in schools
throughout the city.
I am confident Carnegie Mellon's Mechanical Engineering MSc Research program is the
perfect place for me to continue my academic journey. With the guidance of faculty and the
opportunity to collaborate with other researchers, I am eager to deepen my understanding of
additive manufacturing and its potential applications in space exploration. This degree is only the
beginning of my contribution to additive manufacturing research, and I am committed to
pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering to continue pushing the boundaries of this field.