– Hello! I’m Aleks. –
I’m pursuing a Bachelor’s of Engineering in Electrical Engineering, after which I plan to get a Master’s in Data Science. I’ve been interested in technology and STEM fields since I was young, starting with an interactive toy circuit board that I would use with my Dad when I was 5, and continued now in my academic studies and projects.
– Stevens Institute of Technology –
September 2018 – Present
During college, I spent a lot of time considering what I wanted professionally, academically, personally, and more. I spent my first year trying to navigate college life, reading philosophers like Nietzsche and Wittgenstein, trying to decide on what my goals should be.
I found that the thing that I valued about my High School experience was the sense of community I felt; going forward I decided that I would try to involve myself in the community, which led me to leadership positions in a variety of organizations including the school paper, the Computer Technology Committee, which organized educational workshop for students, and more.
I also discovered that instead of the things I was learning in my classes, I valued far more the things I learned outside it. Independent projects in coding and designing circuitry whet my appetite for bigger and more complex problems. The community that I was growing closer to only helped me as I taught myself about technology; I found myself surrounded by intelligent, like-minded people that I could talk to about the things I was working on.
– Montville Township High School –
September 2014 – June 2018
It was at High School that I first fully realized that I wanted to pursue a career in STEM. As a freshman, I joined the Robotics Team, in which I was elected the Team Leader. I acted as the leader for all four years, during which time I managed a group of 5-8 people, and trained new members.
As an upperclassman, I began working with the Teen Advisory Board, a volunteer organization at the local library which arranged educational events and workshops for students. I was elected Co-President, and during my term our membership skyrocketed from 5 people to ~40 people. This developed an appreciation for community in me that remains with me to this day.
During my Junior year, I participated in a Molecular Biology class, where I confirmed the existence of Casein Kinase 1-like Protein 4 in the duckweed Landoltia Punctata. This was an incredible learning experience for me, and taught me about the scientific process and what it meant to become immersed in my work.