Meet Coco Gao, a first year mentee in the CEAS Peer Mentoring Program, studying Computer Science in the Honors Track. As a passionate cake decorator, Computer Science pulls on both her creativity and problem solving skills. Coco finds satisfaction in being able to overcome challenges in this major, while still staying connected with her peers.
As a mentee, she has interacted with many of her fellow peers within the program and developed an understanding of what other STEM majors are like. But it doesn’t stop there though, as she is a Hall Council president on campus, iGEM team member, and participates in CSTEP!
Read more about her experiences below in an interview with CEAS Student Intern Janice:
Janice: Please include a brief self-introduction, along with a fun fact about yourself.
Coco: Hi everyone, my name is Coco Gao, and I am a first-year student studying computer science on the honors track. I came from upstate New York and enjoy baking, drawing, and learning new things. A little fun fact about myself is that I love decorating cakes.
Why did you decide to major in Computer Science? What are you enjoying about this major so far?
I have decided to major in Computer Science because I wanted a challenging program that would be able to teach me the ability to create and incorporate aspects of art through creativity. I enjoy problem-solving and coming up with solutions to problem sets in my major and I find it satisfying to successfully run a program. I also enjoy talking to other people in my major to see what they are doing, including internships, research and extracurricular activities.
What do you enjoy most about being in CEAS Peer Mentoring Program? In what ways has being a CEAS Peer mentee been helpful to you?
I have enjoyed the weekly meetings the most, being in the mentoring program. The meetings offered a time to get to know my fellow peers facing similar challenges and see everyone growing to become better students. Being a CEAS peer mentee has taught me how to balance my time more efficiently, exposed me to various campus opportunities that have led me to meet new people. It has offered a platform to interact with other mentors and mentees to get a glimpse of what the life of another STEM major is like.
What is your experience like as Hall Council president? iGEM team member? CSTEP? What are you looking forward to from your involvement in each of these groups?
My experience as Hall Council president has taught me a lot regarding communication, effective leadership, event coordination, budgeting timeline and team building. I enjoyed the role because I get to help organize events such as Lunar New Year and Werewolfie. I also got to work with RHDs and RAs to gain a better understanding of the behind-the-scenes planning stages and learned from their skill sets that have been helpful. I am looking forward to coordinating the Great Gatsby and Roth Regatta in the upcoming months!
My experience with iGEM is intriguing as we are still in the initial planning stages of the project. I have enjoyed team bonding activities, such as a trip to the hospital and working at the round table for the engineering carnival. We have a very positive and supportive team atmosphere of hard-working individuals, and I am really excited to work with them over this summer and in the fall!
Participating in CSTEP has made me aware of a broadened horizon of opportunities available, including fellowships and scholarships. Recently, I got paired with a mentor, and I am excited to attend new events together.
What do you enjoy about CEAS and Stony Brook so far?
I enjoy the vast number of event opportunities, information sessions, mentor meetings, talking to others, and club events. Stony Brook has created so many platforms to help first years navigate their campus lives and opportunities to branch out to new and old interests that have contributed to making my experience here both enjoyable and memorable. There is still a lot to learn in CEAS and Stony Brook, but I am excited to challenge my horizons.
Meet Karamat Hasan, a first year student in the Area of Interest program for Computer Science. Drawn to problem solving, Karamat enjoys utilizing his knowledge from courses such as linear algebra and data structures.
As a CEAS Peer Mentee, he appreciates being surrounded by fellow goal-oriented students and exposing him to many different experiences. In addition, Karamat is also active in the Stony Brook Robotics Team, AI Community, and occasionally IEEE. Read more about his experiences below:
Janice: Please include a brief self-introduction, along with a fun fact about yourself.
Karamat: I'm Karamat, a freshman in an AOI in computer science currently. Besides being a huge STEM nerd, I play a lot of electric guitar.
Why did you decide on Computer Science? What are you enjoying about this major so far?
I chose computer science because it allows me to make almost whatever I want and solve many problems. I enjoy the insight and tools that the courses I take give me. For example, linear algebra and data structures allowed me to learn a lot of computational physics and computer graphics.
What do you enjoy most about being in CEAS Peer Mentoring Program? In what ways has being a CEAS Peer mentee been helpful to you?
I enjoy that I get to hang around like-minded people who are also goal-oriented in a similar field. Being a mentee allowed me to quickly learn about the experiences in Stony Brook that aren't quite obvious to freshmen.
Are you currently involved in any way in Stony Brook other than the CEAS Peer Mentoring Program? What are you looking forward to getting involved in the future?
Currently, I am a part of the Stony Brook Robotics Team and the AI community, with occasional activity in the IEEE. I look forward to being in higher roles and responsibilities as I learn more as a member of these groups and also look for opportunities to work with professors.
What do you enjoy about CEAS and Stony Brook so far?
I love the freedom I've gained at Stony Brook. I can get so much done on campus and find so many resources to succeed with CEAS. I have all the autonomy I've wanted, and all the support that I could ask for.
Meet Venus Chin, a first year student studying Biomedical Engineering. Powered by her passion to create meaningful impacts on people’s lives through inventions, Venus decided to major in Biomedical Engineering.
With Venus’ involvement as a CEAS Peer Mentee, she has learned about the various resources available to her on campus and developed connections with her peers. Through her volunteer work with the HOPE program, Venus was able to give high school students insight as to what it is like to pursue a STEM major.
Read more about her experiences below:
Janice: Please include a brief self-introduction, along with a fun fact about yourself.
Venus: Hi, I'm Venus Chin and I'm a freshman in Biomedical Engineering. I really enjoy reading and have a strong interest in watching films.
Why did you decide to major in Biomedical Engineering? What are you enjoying about this major so far?
I decided to major in Biomedical Engineering because I want to learn how to create inventions that help others. So far, I’ve really enjoyed learning about 3D print and design.
What do you enjoy most about being in CEAS Peer Mentoring Program? In what ways has being a CEAS Peer mentee been helpful to you?
Stony Brook has offered me a vast amount of information and opportunities. I really enjoy the long lasting connections that I have made through the CEAS Mentoring program. What stands out to me about this program is how interactive and resourceful it is. I’ve connected with so many people and learned a lot about the opportunities offered at Stony Brook.
What is your experience like being a HOPE Program volunteer? What are you looking forward to from your involvement?
It was a great experience being a HOPE Program volunteer. I had the chance to answer questions from high school students considering a career in STEM. Although it was a one-time event, I truly enjoyed engaging and informing the students about the BME major.
The CEAS Undergraduate Student Office is looking to highlight CEAS undergraduate students and their achievements, projects, awards, leadership, scholarships, and more on our website and social media accounts. If you are interested in being spotlighted on the CEAS Undergraduate Website and social platforms please submit the Student Spotlight interest form.
