Katelanny Diaz (she/her)
Class of 2026, Wiess College
Major: Computer Science
What is something you’re proud of this year?
I’m most proud of the learning I got from my experiences this year. While studying abroad in Madrid, I got to experience a new culture and see the world from a new lens. I improved my Spanish a lot and was challenged in taking a computer science class in Spanish. Another experience that taught me a lot was my Data Science capstone class. From making a product that an external partner is going to use to advance their research to learning a lot about team dynamics. This experience taught me a lot and was rewarding at the end when my team won Second Place at the Rice D2K showcase.
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
I would say to my freshman self to not be afraid of experiencing new things. At first college can be intimidating but getting out of your comfort zone is one of the best things.
What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?
An accomplishment that I achieved this year was earning a research position at the Bartel Lab on campus.
How have you utilized the RESP office this year? How has RESP been beneficial for you this year?
I have utilized RESP this year by meeting consistently with my advisor, which has been really useful in talking through many challenges and changes that I experienced this year.
Any advice for other students?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help whenever you need it, there are so many people who are willing to help peers and students. Similarly there are many great resources on campus that people forgot about that are made to assist students at any given moment.