Why Purdue?

Choosing a college is a big decision, and for me, the choice was clear. My parents both attended Purdue University, so the school had always been a part of my family’s story. My mom’s side is from Lafayette, and I grew up hearing about the traditions, history, and pride associated with the university. It wasn’t just my parents who went there—several uncles did as well, which made Purdue feel like home even before I set foot on campus.

My dad played a huge role in shaping my connection to Purdue. Growing up, he would take me to football and basketball games, where I developed a real love for the excitement and energy of Purdue sports. One of my favorite traditions was when he included me in his annual ritual with his friends to attend the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry game against Indiana University. It wasn’t just about the game itself—it was the shared experience, the community, and the pride in being part of something bigger that made those memories so special.

While Purdue’s history and traditions played a big part in my decision, I also chose Purdue because of its excellent Computer Science program. When I started high school, I thought I wanted to go into the hardware side of technology. I enjoyed seeing how things worked and how they came together. However, my experiences with FTC Robotics helped me discover my true passion: programming. I realized I loved the challenge of writing code to make the build come alive and perform tasks.

This newfound interest in programming led me to spend my free time in my friends’ AP Computer Science class. I found myself participating in the class work and really enjoying it, even contributing to a funny "Justice for Sanford" bit they started in class about the right to my education. My enthusiasm grew, and I became confident that I wanted to pursue a career in programming.

At one point, I even asked my school counselor if I could skip all the introductory computer science classes and go straight to the AP Computer Science class. My reasoning was that the AP course would teach Java, a programming language that the introductory classes didn’t cover, and I was confident I could handle it. To my delight, I did well in the AP class, and it reinforced my desire to pursue computer science further.

Given my deepening interest and the solid foundation I had built in the field, Purdue seemed like the obvious choice. Its reputation in computer science, combined with its strong academic rigor and the connection to my family and the traditions I cherished, made Purdue the best fit for my future. I felt like I could thrive both academically and personally in this environment, and I’m glad I made the choice to be a part of Purdue’s legacy.