Jason Ma

Payback

It starts off with a simple “Hello” or “How ya doing?”, but quickly the conversation becomes a bit deeper: your interests, your hobbies, your past “home”s. You realize you share a lot of similarities and you get along well, but then someone comes along and introduces you as one of the youngest guys in your year. For me, that’s been the case wherever I go throughout my education process, and immediately, upon hearing that, a barrier is created. For a lot, they are happy being known as the youngest because it gives them comfort to know they are one of the “smartest”. However, I’ve come to realize that book-smarts contribute minimally to success, but rather the climb, the struggle, the uphill path that led to it makes us who we are; it doesn’t matter your age or your IQ. And for that, I’m glad I came to college, especially one as diverse as CMU, and met a group of very diverse individuals I call friends, because they help me realize who I am.

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering (May 2012)