University of California, Irvine — Applied Mathematics

Saturday mornings, instead of sleeping in, I'm hitting refresh on WolframAlpha in the Principal’s office. Each dataset can bring change. Together, Mrs. Razdan and I scan complex attendance and performance metrics graphs across screens. In those moments, data becomes more than numbers; it transforms into stories about students, their challenges, and their potential.

Last week, excitement struck when we uncovered a link between afternoon classes and lower engagement among students with ADHD. The thrill of making a real difference energized me. Our proposal to restructure the timetable was bold, yet we believed it was worth the risk. With nervous anticipation, we proposed and implemented a new timetable with interactive post-lunch sessions by Friday. Watching the initial results—a more lively, engaged classroom—was immensely rewarding.

This collaboration isn't just number-crunching; it's an exchange of ideas. Mrs. Razdan, through guidance and experience, provides invaluable context from her years in education. When I suggested using machine learning, she challenged me to consider ethics and privacy, leading to a thought-provoking discussion on AI in education – broadening my perspective on responsible technology implementation. Her questions didn’t stop at feasibility; they nudged me to explore the deeper implications of my solutions, pushing me to innovate responsibly.