Hi! I’m Cheresa, a sophomore at Northwestern University studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Chinese. I love working on hands-on engineering projects (especially anything involving design, fabrication, or sustainability) and I’m really involved in groups like Formula Racing and Special Olympics. Outside of class, I’m usually hanging out with friends, exploring Chicago, weightlifting, or working on creative hobbies such as drawing, machining, and crocheting.

Hometown

Chicago, IL

Major(s)

Mechanical Engineering

Minor(s)

Chinese

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Northwestern Special Olympics Club — Vice President, Athletic Chair & Volunteer Coach Theme Park Engineering & Design Club — Exec Board and Member (Mechanical Design & Build, AutoCAD, Arduino Integration) Northwestern Formula Racing (FSAE Electric) — Operations and Suspension Member

Describe your college experience

My transition to college was definitely a big adjustment at first. I started off in the College of Arts and Sciences, but then transferred to Engineering in my second year. Balancing a heavy engineering workload with everything else going on took time but I’ve really grown into it. Getting involved in hands-on teams like Northwestern Formula Racing helped me find my community early on, and classes have pushed me to think more critically and creatively. Overall, it’s been a mix of challenging and really rewarding, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot both academically and personally.

Tip for future students

Get involved early, even if it feels intimidating—clubs and project teams are one of the best ways to meet people and figure out what you’re interested in. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s from professors, TAs, or friends. I wish I had known how normal it is to not have everything figured out right away. At the same time, it is never too late to get involved with new things!

Favorite class

One of my favorite classes so far has been my design class (DTC-Design Thinking and Communication) where we work on real-world projects for clients. I’ve loved being able to apply engineering concepts to something tangible and meaningful, especially designing with accessibility and user needs in mind—it makes the work feel a lot more impactful.

Career goals

After college, I hope to work in engineering in a global context—ideally combining technical design with cross-cultural collaboration, whether that’s working abroad or on international projects focused on sustainability and innovation.

Ideal way to spend a free night

A perfect night is staying in with friends—playing board games, talking, and just relaxing after a busy week.

High school or secondary school

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools