Bello! I’m Sara and I traded suburban life in Alabama for the organized chaos of New York City, and I’ve been exploring ever since! At Columbia, you can usually find me researching cryogenic pellets for fusion, building things with Formula SAE or Columbia Space Initiative, or attempting to improve my Chinese. I also spent a semester studying abroad in Cairo, Egypt, which only made my love for exploring new places, cultures, and ideas even stronger. Outside the classroom, I’m a pickleball enthusiast, café hunter(and critic), and firm believer that there is always a new food, drink, or corner of NYC worth trying. I love a good skyline view and an even better conversation, especially after a long day of engineering classes. My college experience has been a collection of experiments, adventures, friendships, and plenty of wrong subway exits, and I’d love to share some of it with you!

Hometown

Auburn, Alabama

Major(s)

Mechanical Engineering

Minor(s)

Economics; Chinese

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Columbia Space Initiative (Micro-G): Prototyped and designed a mechanism for a NASA competition. Columbia Formula SAE: Contributed to the frame design of Columbia’s Formula-style competition car. Columbia Fusion Research Center – Pellets at Columbia: Conduct research on cryogenic ice pellet technologies for fusion applications. Columbia Study Abroad in Cairo, Egypt: Studied at the American University in Cairo through Columbia’s study abroad partnership. Reformed University Fellowship (RUF): Active member of Columbia’s Christian student community. Urban New York Trip Leader: Lead Columbia-funded student trips to Broadway shows and other New York arts experiences.

Describe your college experience

Coming from a suburban city in Alabama to New York City was definitely a big transition, and truthfully, there was so much to take in at once. At first, I struggled a bit with finding my community and settling into such a different environment. But as I found my people, became more involved on campus, and built new experiences, Columbia and New York began to feel like home. Since then, I’ve had so much fun challenging myself, meeting people from different backgrounds, exploring the city, and growing into a more confident and independent version of myself. My college experience has really taught me the value of embracing unfamiliar situations and making the most of the opportunities and people around me.

Tip for future students

Be open to new ideas, people, and experiences, and don’t be afraid to be adventurous. College and your early twenties are such a unique time. You have the youth, energy, and creativity to explore, take chances, and discover what excites you. Say yes to things outside your comfort zone, meet people you never expected to meet, and live vivaciously; some of your best experiences will come from the things you never planned.

Favorite class

Chinese, because the class is so immersive (taught in Chinese from the start), and I've been able to pick such a difficult language with fun and ease!

Career goals

After college, I hope to enter the workforce in a role where I can combine my mechanical engineering skills with creativity and hands-on problem solving. I’m especially interested in the automotive and aerospace industries, where I can help design and build technologies that are both innovative and exciting.

Ideal way to spend a free night

There is always something new to try in New York City, and I firmly believe that if you don’t go out and explore, you miss out on so much of what the city has to offer. My ideal free night would be trying a new drink, food, or dessert spot, then finding a beautiful view of the city to sit, talk, and have an introspective conversation with the people I’m with. For me, it’s the perfect combination of exploring somewhere new and slowing down enough to appreciate it.

High school or secondary school

Alabama School of Math and Science

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot on campus is the small, secluded courtyard in front of Schermerhorn that faces the side of St. Paul’s Chapel. I especially love it at night, when the warm glow from inside the chapel illuminates the stained glass and spills into the courtyard, surrounded by brick and trees. There’s something about that little corner of campus that feels removed from everything else; it’s one of my favorite places to sit, think, and enjoy a moment of quiet in the middle of such a chaotic city.