“As engineers, we were going to be in a position to change the world – not just study it.” This quote from Henry Petroski resounds greatly in my heart. All my life, I had always wanted to be in a position in which I could contribute to solving some of this world's greatest problems. My character has been forged and shaped over the years turning me into a very resolute and diligent person. Although I had many struggles, through grit and determination, I have learned from many mistakes and have become a better student and person. I am very observant and critical. I would not take anything at face value. I always try to understand concepts and the big picture. I love learning new things. When it comes to dedication, I try to always give everything I can. I have grown to like people and collaborate with them. I have also come to develop very good presentation skills. I do have some weaknesses; I stress myself a lot. But this is something I am currently working on, managing my time so I can get enough rest to be super productive. One thing that stands out for me is my passion for problem-solving. I love to break down problems into smaller parts and solve them one after another. The joy I feel after solving complex problems is just incomparable. During my undergraduate years, I set out to tackle one of society's emerging issues: a mental health epidemic. Together with a friend, we brainstormed to see how we could use computer engineering to help tackle depression, one of the leading causes of suicide. After careful deliberation and thought, with counsel from our supervisors we set out to use artificial intelligence to detect depression from the very onset. Through perseverance and teamwork, we were successful in our endeavor. After my undergraduate studies, I applied to be a teaching and research assistant even though I had other lucrative opportunities. Helping others has always been my passion and life's goal. I saw the research and teaching assistantship as a way I could be of good use to society, helping lecturers to shape the upcoming batch of engineers and also contributing to research that could impact society positively. I was among the two nominated for the outstanding TA of the year from the faculty of engineering. I received lots of positive feedback from students, filled with lots of gratitude from students whom I spent time helping to understand very complex subjects. I remember I could spend lots of time with students in lecture halls going deep into the night just so they come to understand concepts and also solve questions with them.