UPS: (2018-2019)
Package Distribution

I loaded several trucks full of packages per night, scanned them for tracking. Basically developed my Tetris skills in real time with real hardware (packages).

This is where I became interested in tracking solutions and the use of technology to simplify work.

Early Steps, Inc. / FINE, Inc. (2020-present)
Billing/Database

Office job I did while putting myself through college. When I learned the marvels of programming, before ChatGPT, I helped optimize the company’s billing operations to reduce workload on employees while maximizing efficiency. I also helped make an app for field work employees to log their work hours/breaks to comply with state law.

Heavy use of Python and SQL

Norco College/Riverside City College (2021-2023)
Student

This is where I started my academic journey. I met some of the most hard working individuals here and some of best professors I’ve had so far. Some people want to talk about the college experience and missing out; however, this is where you really see the struggle people go through and overcome obstacles to get ahead; no amount of “college experience” will replace personal growth.

IEEE ComSoc club:

I’m a “project manager” in IEEE Communications Society club at Cal Poly Pomona. Whatever that means. I basically try to build radio receivers and transmitters using various modulation and demodulation schemes. My primary motivation here is to build workshops to introduce communications to ECE students and get them ready for one of the last upper division courses of the major.

I’ve been working mostly with analog components; however, I’ve been meaning to switch to digital comms and MATLAB oriented work, but lets be real here, no one gets excited about simulations. I, on the other hand, love sims and intend to pursue it further.

Awards

It seems counter intuitive to write about my own achievements/awards. Getting on the dean’s list is pretty trivial but I’ll include it anyway in case someone cares. For context, I’ve been on that list for 3 years straight but lets be real here, it’s ChatGPT o’ clock and anybody can get on that. What I have noticed is heavy AI prompters on the dean’s list don’t really know how to apply the concepts, this is why I’ve decided to attempt to apply these concepts on my own time and my own dime, which I believe is better than any award.

Cal Poly Pomona (2024-present)
ECE student

I can’t say I’ve enjoyed my time here. The hours are long, the work is thankless, and the personalities are stale. I suppose that’s what engineering does to people. I’m naturally competitive, but the most I was able to see out of this experience was people pretending to know what they’re doing, so I developed a sense to spot BS. I realized very quickly that this school’s catch phrase isn’t “learn by doing”…it’s “fake it till you make it.”

I refused to fake anything, so I’ve dedicated myself learning things on my own. The most I’ve gained from Cal Poly Pomona is an inclination to not rely on people and to be more independent, and for that, I’m thankful.