Hi! I'm Frankie, a Bioengineering major from South Africa. I am super passionate about all things neuroscience, and the outdoors. When I'm not working in the lab or in class, you can almost certainly find me outside. I love running, climbing, hiking, and just soaking up nature around campus. I also love writing and playing my own music, most often at casual late-night campus open mics, friendly spaces with friendly faces. Through and beyond both of these, I've found so many unexpected and wonderful communities outside of academics here! Stanford was the first place to truly give me the room to explore all of these. I love this place. I love the people, the energy, the sheer range of cool things happening at any given moment. And I am endlessly excited to share it with peers and prospective students! What is so striking about this community is how genuinely passionate everyone is, about their research, their art, their sport, or their desire to build for others. That energy is contagious. I can't wait to share the campus and its magic with you. Bring any questions and all your wonder!

Hometown

Johannesburg, South Africa

Major(s)

Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering

Minor(s)

Environmental Systems Engineering

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Stanford Women's Rugby, Stanford Debate Society, Redwood Club (hiking and adventure club), Stanford Hillel (Jewish organization), Stanford Greek Life

Describe your college experience

I came to Stanford from South Africa as a low-income student, fully expecting the transition to be difficult. I was moving further from home than I ever had, into a completely unfamiliar environment. Instead, I had an overwhelmingly incredible introduction to college life. I very quickly found a fantastic community of peers who shared my interests, and became lasting friends. I was in awe of the world-class education and opportunities I couldn't have imagined back home, all against the backdrop of sunny California. Campus groups made it easy and affordable to try new sports and social experiences, and to explore California itself in ways that would otherwise have felt out of reach. Looking back, it has been less of a difficult transition and more of an unexpected expansion of what I thought was possible.

Tip for future students

You don't have to have it all figured out! College can feel super intimidating, but the truth is almost everyone around you is a little unsure, and that's great. It means you have room to try so much more, and figure out what you truly care about. That said, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of amazing opportunities. My biggest tip is to pace yourself, because oversubscribing means you get a little less out of each thing you're a part of. Pick a couple things that really excite you and go all in, instead of spreading yourself thin across everything that sounds cool.

Favorite class

Quantum Computing! I took an Introduction to Quantum Computing, and it completely blew my mind. This was one of the first classes I took at Stanford, and the combination of beautifully elegant content and getting to tour my professor's one-of-a-kind lab truly drove home how incredibly lucky I was.

Career goals

I hope to pursue a career in neuroscientific research and biotech, ideally at the intersection of the two. I'm majoring in Bioengineering, and what fascinates me most is the question of consciousness. I'd love to dedicate my life to chipping away at it through brain-related tech and research.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal free night starts with a drive to Half Moon Bay to catch the sunset over the water. From there, it's dinner down on University Ave in Palo Alto, trying out a new restaurant with friends before catching a student performance happening somewhere on campus, anything from a dance showcase to theater. We'll end the night winding down with a cozy movie night in one of the dorm movie rooms, homemade snacks include. It's the kind of night with a little bit of everything.

High school or secondary school

St Mary's School, Waverley

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot on campus is Meyer Green. It's a wide, circular lawn right in the heart of campus, often with students sprawled out studying, chatting between classes, or just soaking up sun. It's rarely empty, and usually alive with the sounds of nearby fountains, and happy chatter. It is always a peaceful reset, surrounded by community and gorgeous architecture.