Rui Jing Jiang
Hometown:
Irvine, CA
M&TSI Year:
2013
WHY DID YOU APPLY TO TAKE PART IN M&TSI?
As a result of participating in various clubs and camps, I was very interested in social entrepreneurship in the rapidly evolving tech industry. I thought that M&TSI could help me understand the integration of engineering with commerce in the making of more advanced, accessible, and affordable technologies, and I wasn’t disappointed.
HOW DID M&TSI HELP YOU IDENTIFY FUTURE ACADEMIC OR CAREER GOALS?
Through several labs with Arduino, M&TSI piqued my interest in programming. Seeing the versatility of code translate into physical motion in our prototype impressed me greatly and consequently, I now want to study computer science engineering in addition to business management and finance. The guest speakers and company trips of M&TSI also introduced me to various career paths at the intersection of business and technology, and I now aim to pursue venture capitalism as a future career.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE M&TSI EXPERIENCE?
I definitely enjoyed the intensity of M&TSI, with all of the case study quizzes, lab assignments, interactive lectures, and inspiring company visits and guest speakers— I learned a lot, and I discovered new interests. However, my favorite part of the entire experience was connecting and bonding with amazing people of diverse backgrounds but complete compatibility. I learned just as much from my peers as I did from class, and I loved the sense of community that we forged. It was refreshing to see how easily we shared our intellectual pursuits and hobbies in one conversation, and how we found new insights in each other’s perspectives. We really pushed each other to excel in a wonderfully supportive manner.
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY UP TO?
Currently I am working part-time for the City of Irvine as a High School Youth Action Team Representative. In this capacity, I work with the Community Services Department to organize and execute community service projects, citywide forums, workshops, and creative events for teens. I also serve as the Student Representative on student government, and I represent my peers on the IUSD Board of Education, the School Site Council, and the Parent Teacher Student Association Board. At school, I plan activities for our Academic Decathlon, Youth Action Team, Model United Nations, and Future Business Leaders of America clubs. I am also volunteering as an Exhibit Volunteer for Pretend City, the Children’s Museum, a non-profit organization that has taught me how to use technology and interactive role play to help young children meet developmental milestones.