Rita

I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved into the Southern California in 1st grade. Though my official first name is "Yi Ju", I usually go by "Rita". Since I am in "engineering-undeclared", I am interested in exploring the various fields of engineering and computer science. Math and science classes have always been my favorite subjects. Rather unsurprisingly, I am involved in my high school's Math Club and Science Olympiad team as the president for both.

Nancy

I come from Shanghai, China. My legal name is Yiqiong Xu,but you can simply call me Nancy. I am now in the College of Letters and Science,with my major undeclared. I love travelling and getting to understand different people and their lives. I was once an exchange student at a famous high school in Paris,France and had a wonderful time exploring French culture. I am good at cooking Chinese dishes and hopefully you can have a try!

Crystal

I have lived in Elk Grove, California for nearly my entire life. I was admitted into Berkeley’s College of Engineering as an EECS major. In high school, I was involved in Mathletes, Science Olympiad, and Art Club. Painting is my favorite pastime and my preferred medium is watercolor. (If Computer Science doesn’t work out for me, I’ll probably become a starving artist.)

Jane

I was born and raised in Shenyang, China. My Chinese name is “Huang Shiyun”, but you can simply call my English name, Jane. I plan to be an Economics and Applied Mathematics double major, but I may also add a computer science minor, if possible. I am really into economic theories; mathematical knowledge and computer skills would help me a lot in understanding and analyzing economic problems.

Elizabeth

I was born in California, but I've lived in Iowa City, IA since preschool. I was admitted into the College of Letters & Sciences and hope to study computer science because of my interest in graphics and animation. My dream is to work for Pixar or become a Disney Imagineer. I’m obsessed with anything related to design, especially the Adobe Creative Suite. In high school, I designed for our magazine, “West Side Story.”

Amy

I was born and raised in the Bay Area my entire life. I was admitted into the College of Letters & Sciences, hoping to do a Computer Science and either a Psychology or Applied Math double major. I love to draw, so you'll probably catch me doodling during a lecture at least once. I am also a huge Nintendo fangirl; if any of you play Super Smash, I'd love to play you. I also play violin and would like to form a geeky quartet playing videogame soundtracks.

Nina

Hi! My name is Nina Partha, and I was recently admitted as an EECS major at UC Berkeley. I have always loved math, chem, and physics, and am very excited to expand my borders in these fields in EECS. A little bit about me: I have lived in Fremont, CA my entire life, but I've traveled to various parts of the world. In addition, I love to play the piano, sing, and of course, solve (or attempt to solve) challenging puzzles.

Anran

I was born in China and moved to the Bay Area when I was six-years old. I plan on majoring in EECS at the College of Engineering. I have previous programming experience with Java and website design languages. In high school, I played tuba in the band, volunteered a lot, competed in technology competitions, and played a few sports. During my free time, I enjoy watching anime, playing board games, listening to K-pop, and drawing. I have a wide variety of interests and am a total computer nerd, so don’t be afraid to talk to me!

Huda

I was born in Baltimore, and grew up in North Carolina, but I moved to the Bay area about a year ago. I currently plan on majoring in Computer Science in the College of Letters & Sciences, but I also am interested in math and linguistics. I am interested in Computer Science because of the computer science classes I have taken. Outside of school, I play tennis and enjoy volunteering, especially tutoring.

Lea

I was born in Wuhan, a big city in China. Though my Chinese name is Li Lu, you can just call me Lea. I was admitted to college of Letters&Science. I haven't declared my major yet but I plan to major in applied math in the future because I’m eager to explore more fields. This program is a great opportunity for me to understand some basic knowledge about computer science and I believe I can benefit a lot.

Betty

I have lived in Wuhan, China for my entire life. My Chinese name is Beidi, Chen, but you can also call me Betty. I was admitted into college of engineering as an EECS major. Both Math and Physics have been my favorite subjects since I was in junior high. In my spare time, I enjoy doing some physics experiments. Usually the failure of the experiments will just push me to try it again and again until I succeed.

Emma

Hi! My name is Emma :D I spent most of my childhood living in different places, such as Los Angeles, Holland, New York, and Texas, but I have lived in San Diego for the past 9 years. I am interested in Computer Science because I love computers and I have been coding since the days of neopets profile pages :). I am a super big nerd and in my free time I love to play video games, watch anime, read, go to conventions, etc, but I also have a very girly side that loves shopping, makeup, and Desperate Housewives.

Kate

I was born in Portland, Oregon and I moved to Carlsbad (about thirty minutes north of San Diego) when I was eleven. I am planning on majoring in EECS at Berkeley. I have zero experience with CS, but in my imagination we all become expert hackers! In my free time in high school I raced sailboats and I am thinking about joining the Cal Sailing Team. I've also been playing the piano for a few years, which I really enjoy. I love running, hiking, traveling, and just being outside.

Kristin

I was born in Singapore. In my entire life thus far, I have been to US once on a holiday but that was many years ago. So I am excited at the prospect of going to Cal to study. Being passionate about Mathematics and Physics, I have been enrolled in the major of Materials Science and Engineering. Besides academics, I enjoy playing the piano and board games.:)

Hojae

I was born in Seoul, South Korea, but moved to Chapel Hill, NC six years ago. I moved to McLean, VA four years ago due to my father's job and attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. I got into UC Berkeley College of Engineering and I am intending to major in Bioengineering. Besides biology, I absolutely love computer science and neuroscience! I'm squeezing in classes for this upcoming semester so I could maybe get a minor in computer science.

Helen

I was born in South Korea and moved to the United States at the age of eight. Currently, I live in San Ramon, CA and have lived in the bay area ever since I moved to the US. I will be a bioengineering major this fall at UC Berkeley, but I also hope to focus my studies in other areas such as psychology and sociology. In high school, I played tennis and flute, and volunteered extensively with various organizations.

Meghana

I was born and brought up in the Bay Area my entire life. I was admitted into the College of Letters & Sciences with a Computer Science major. I have a passion for design and have always loved utilizing my creativity towards my school projects and outside endeavors. My previous experiences include programming with Java, Adobe Photoshop, web designing with Adobe Dreamweaver, 3D modeling and animation with Maya, and 2D motion graphics with Adobe Flash.

Amy

Hello everybody, I'm Amy and I am from Mission Viejo, a suburb in Orange County, California. I am an environmental engineering major but I am certainly open to exploring other fields in engineering. I have many interests and hobbies and some might even call me scatter brained. I was a synchronized swimmer for 5 years during high school and although I will not be continuing this at Cal I still love swimming, the beach and anything aquatic.

Rachel

Hi everyone, I am Rachel from Singapore. I actually hold Malaysian passport but I have been in Singapore since 7th grade, so I consider myself 52% Singaporean, 48% Malaysian. I am currently in College of Engineering as Mechanical Engineering major but I will probably double major or switch major to EECS. At school, I have always enjoyed math and physics classes tremendously. I had experience with computing, but has never taken a computing class, so I really look forward to CS KickStart.

Sangeetha

Coming all the way from the other side of the world, I’m Sangeetha – born and raised in Bahrain. I’m an EECS major and have always planned on being one since I was eleven and had taken a liking to the funny-looking triangular brackets when programming in HTML. Besides fiddling around with source codes and creating multi-coloured marquee scrolls, my other loves are Harry Potter, writing, books - especially hardbound ones with cracking spines- , photography, blogging, animals and dogs in particular, the smell of coffee, sunny days and dessert.

Ashleigh

Hi everyone! My name is Ashleigh and I'm Filipino-American, born and raised in the Philippines. I attended an international school for thirteen years, and now I'm in the College of Letters and Science as an intended Computer Science major. I've been obsessed with computers and coding from a very young age (Neopets!), and since then it's become my dream to work for a company like Google or Blizzard (I'm a complete World of Warcraft geek). I'm also very interested in artificial intelligence, so it's likely that I'll add a double major in Cognitive Science.

Deirdre

My family calls me "hey you!" but everyone else just calls me "Deirdre" though some people have gotten a lot more creative than that. Although I was born in Manila, Philippines I'm a San Diegan at heart. My love for puzzles and mysteries developed my interests in math while this increasingly digital age has pleasantly pushed me into learning more about computers. As of now, I'm currently in the Letters and Science shooting for Business Administration at Haas but if that doesn't work out I'm planning on advancing my interests in Math.

Priscilla

Hello! I am from Victorville, California. I am excited for Berkeley and the CS kickstart program because it will be an entire different perspective for me since I live in the High Desert. I have a strong passion for anything related to computers. I have taken several computer courses in my high school and community college and it is one subject I can study for life. I have no experience in programming, but I am eager to learn. One of my hobbies include making videos by using Sony Vegas Pro 8.0. My intended major is computer science in the Letters & Sciences College.

Ashley

I live in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, which is in Los Angeles County. I plan to major in EECS in the College of Engineering. I don’t have any programming experience, so I’m excited to learn something at CS Kickstart. I’m a dancer, and my favorite style is tap, but I have also trained in ballet and jazz.

Kathleen

I was born in Stockton and I moved to San Leandro when I was in second grade. My intended major is molecular and cellular biology but it is still likely to change because I am interested in various subjects. I enjoy watching tv, hanging out with friends, sleeping, reading/writing, listening to music, and making collages. In high school, I was involved in lots of community service clubs. I was also involved in Book Club. I am very dedicated to anything that I set my mind to and will never give up. I am excited to participate in CS Kickstart and am looking forward to meeting all of you!

Angela

Hi everyone! I'm Angela and I was born in Gui Zhou, China and raised in Beijing, China. My life so far has involved lots of travelling. Since I was young, I have been moving from places to places within China, and later I went to Singapore and attended school there. In my sophomore year of high school, I moved to Mission Viejo, a suburb in Orange County, California. I am currently a computer science major, but I am interested in studying economics as well. In my leisure time, I enjoy reading novels, listening to music, and playing a variety of percussion instruments.

Lucine

My name is Lucine Oganesian and I'm from Glendale, California. I am tentatively a bioengineering major at Cal, and I hope to do a lot of research in the future. I am very much interested in neuroscience and am seriously considering learning another language while in college (either Japanese or German). In my free time, I enjoy reading books, watching movies, practicing piano, taking nighttime strolls, and napping. As of now, I have pretty much zero experience in computer programming, but I really would like to learn (hence why I am so excited about CS KickStart).

Vivian

Hello, my name is Vivian Nguyen and I'm coming from sunny Southern California. I'm not too sure what I'm going to major in yet, so I wanted to give this program a try. In my spare time I read history, browse Reddit, take walks, and ponder about the universe. My guilty pleasure would have to be crocheting. With company, I like to try new foods and learn about new cultures! In high school, I swam and played water polo along with participating in several clubs. I look forward to meeting all of you and sharing wonderful memories.

Sumita

MSE theater-loving math nerd from Elk Grove, California. I know nothing about computer science but those who do say I'd love it, so I'll give it a go. Making stuff is what I like to do, after all - mostly stuffed animals for my friends, but I'll do anything productive. CS sounds pretty productive to me, anyway. Singing is also a hobby. Maybe try and get used to that. Oh, and I love to run.

Serena

Hi! My name is Serena and I'm from Claremont, a small college town near the LA area. I'm an EECS major, but don't have that much programming experience so I thought this would be a chance to find out more and meet some new friends as well! Some of my hobbies include playing piano, tennis, ice skating, reading, baking, and exploring new places. I look forward to meeting you guys at Berkeley (:

Yi-Lin

I am an international student from Taiwan. Although Taiwan is a leading hardware supplier in the competitive 3C industry, I am more interested in the software and applications of innovative technology products. Maybe I can be a bridge between hardware and software, the East and the West, after sharpening my CS knowledge and skills. Innovation and software is the key value embedded in any hardware product. I believe the KickStart will give me a good start for my university life. As for myself, I play piano and cello, enjoy travelling and reading.

Robyn

Hi! My name is Robyn, and I was born in Canada, but I later moved to the bay area and have lived here for the past ten years. I'll be in the College of Letters & Sciences this fall and I'm looking into majoring in Computer Science. I've always liked math and it as well as physical sciences have always been my stronger subjects in school. I hope that at CS Kickstart my interests will be expanded as I further explore the field of computer science. Another area I am interested in is learning new languages—I hope to have the chance to study abroad one day!

Jing

I was born in Seattle, Washington, but I've lived almost my entire life in Sunnyvale, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. I plan to major in mechanical engineering because I love math and physics, especially mechanics. I'm also interested in biology, so I hope to focus my career in that direction in the future. In high school, I was involved in marching band, FBLA, and various community service clubs, and I played piano outside of school. In my free time, I'm typically at the library reading new novels or watching Korean dramas with my friends!

Nisha

I am from San Jose, California and have lived in the Bay Area my entire life. At Cal, I intend to major in Computer Science in the College of Letters and Science but I am also interested in pursuing my interest in the biomedical sciences. Throughout high school, I was actively involved in speech and debate and participated as a Fellow of my school's Math and Science Academy. Academics aside, I enjoy competing in Indian classical and folk dance as well as volunteering. I do not have much CS experience so I look forward to exploring computer science!

Hnin

Hello! My name is Hnin. I was born and raised in Burma, which is located in Southeast Asia. I moved to Rowland Heights in LA County almost six years ago and have never been out of Southern California since then. At school, I was involved in Red Cross, Math Club, Art Club, and CSF. I am recently very interested in cognitive science with concentration on computational modeling. However, I have absolutely no experience in computer science, so I'm very excited to be part of this program! During my free time, I enjoy listening to music, watching TV series, and eating food!

Shana

Hi everyone! I was born in Texas but moved to South Orange County, California in elementary school. I'm an undecided undergraduate in the College of Letters & Sciences looking to double major in sciences and humanities. I have no programming experience, but I'm looking forward to exploring Computer Science and seeing if I like it enough to study it further! In my spare time, I like to read, draw, paint, and play piano.

Kara

I've lived in Manhattan Beach, CA since I was five after moving there from Tucson, AZ. I was admitted into the College of Letters and Sciences, where I plan to take a variety of classes in the sciences, math, and art. In high school I played the flute in both wind ensemble and orchestra, and I was on the swim team and in stage crew at our school's auditorium. In my free time I also practice flute, explore the many capabilities of Photoshop, cook random recipes I find on the web, play various video games with friends, and draw.

Parul

Hi! My name is Parul. I was born in Texas but I was raised right here in the Bay Area. I'm really excited to participate in CS Kickstart and learn more about the importance of computer science in the modern world. I'm currently an Undeclared Engineering major so hopefully this program will help me solidify my interest in EECS. In my spare time I enjoy playing badminton, reading novels, and watching TV shows like Gossip GIrl, Modern Family, or Community. I'm really excited to come to Cal in the fall hope to make many lasting friendships at CS Kickstart!

Emily

I was born and raised only 40 minutes away from campus in San Jose, California. I applied as an MCB major, but plan to switch to either Chemical Engineering or Bioengineering by the start of my 2nd year. My interest in general engineering acted as a phenomenal impact in my decision to apply to CS KickStart. I wanted to explore the different opportunities given by engineering, and found that even in the subject I consider my "home," bioengineering, I still need CS skills to fully grasp the multidisciplinary concepts.

Katherine

I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but largely spent the first three years of my life living with my grandmother in China. I moved back to America when I was six years old and have lived in northern California since. If I had a free afternoon, I'd probably spend it drawing, reading, or watching random TV shows on Netflix. My other passion is traveling and I would like to study abroad for one semester. I currently intend to study Economics but would also like to do some computer science on the side.

Katie

Greetings everyone! My name is Katie Zheng and I am from Los Angeles, California. I am interested in learning computer programing because it would be a very useful skill to know and computer science sounds like an exciting field. I was admitted as a Civil and Environmental Engineering major in the College of Engineering. In high school, I played on the varsity tennis team and was involved in Science Olympiad. I am also very interested in French language and culture, architecture, marine biology, and ecology.

Joan

My full name is Anne Julliene but I go by Joan. I have an identical twin sister named Jill. I moved to the United States in 2003 from the Philippines. I do not have much experience in computer science, but I have always been interested in expanding my knowledge in the subject. My only experience is from taking an online introductory computer science class. I am thinking about majoring in business, but I want to keep an open mind. I am excited to learn more about computer science!

Ingrid

Hi! I'm Ingrid from Arcadia, California but originally from Taiwan. I am going to enter the College of Letters and Science in the fall and I intend to major in Computer Science. I have never really had much experience with CS but it has always been a fascinating subject to me. One day, I would like to use the inspiration of the seemingly improbably ideas found in science fiction, which I am a fan of, and transform it to reality - except the robots taking over the world part of course.

Jill

Hi there! My name is Anne Jilliane, but you can call me Jill. I was born in the Philippines and moved to California when I was 8. I have an identical twin sister, whose name has a two-letter difference from mine. She is also in this program. I am eager to learn, explore, and gain new experiences. Right now, I am considering going into the business field, but I am open and very excited to try new things. I do not know much about computer science, but I am excited to delve into a world that has countless possibilities!

Mandy

Hey everybody! I'm Mandy and I was born in China and happily immigrated to San Francisco years ago. I will be a Freshman with a tentative Computer Science major in L&S and I'm super excited to become a Cal Bear! My love for computer science has grown a lot in these past few years through different opportunities such as making an Android mobile app prototype and even more through my computer science class where I learned how to program.

Ilakya

Hi everyone! My name's Ilakya and I'm an EECS major! Having never lived outside of a five mile radius from Cupertino, I'd say that my interest in pursuing a career in technology isn't much of a coincidence; I've always been around and fascinated by technology! I come with some technological knowhow (from courses during my first couple years of high school), but certainly hope to build on it during CS Kickstart! Aside from that, I enjoy doodling, reading, gardening, high five-ing, and consuming chocolate. I'm excited to meet you all soon!

Cynthia

I was born and raised in Elk Grove, California my entire life. Currently, I am undeclared in the College of Letters and Science with an interest in computer programming. I'm hoping to explore this field more in depth before declaring a major in CS. In high school, I was involved in Mathletes, MESA, and JNHS. In my free time, I enjoy reading fiction novels, listening to K-pop, and watching romantic comedies. I am incredibly nerdy and I love video games, even though I tend to shriek when monsters appear and attack. I am super excited for Cal and I can't wait to meet you all!

Lilian

I am from Kenya. I am social and making new friends is part of my hobby. My other hobbies are swimming, reading, cooking, visiting friends, eating, watching movies, listening to gospel rock music (Skillet and Fireflight are my favorite bands), taking nature walks and facebooking* - just to mention a few; the list is long. CS KickStart is a great opportunity for me to develop my programming skills and satisfy my thirst for quality programming.

Grace

I come from Los Angeles County, and I'm entering Berkeley as a civil and environmental engineer (but I'm certainly open to change). I love exploring new subjects, which has led to my wide variety of interests. My knowledge of computers and programming is very limited, but I'm eager to learn through CS KickStart. In addition to math and science, I enjoy great food, spending time with family and friends, meeting new people, staying active, volunteering, and just about any artistic endeavor.

Jane

Hey fellow CS Kickstarters! My name is Jane and I'm from right here in the Bay Area. Born and raised in San Diego, I moved to the Marin/San Francisco area in 1st grade and have been living here ever since. My intended major is economics/pre-business, but I am open to exploring my other academic interests for a second major or minor. I am also interested in studying languages and I plan on continuing to learn Spanish so that I can study abroad in Spain one day.

Linda

At heart, I'm an artist, but I recognize that I have other skills that could be honed in order to become a well-rounded individual; an individual who needs guidance to become both technically advanced as well as creative and thoughtful. In short, I think if I study computer science, I can meld the two fields together to create my own unique experience at Berkeley, and I believe this program can help me take a step in the right direction.

Moira Peckham

Hi! I'm from a small coastal town in central California called Morro Bay. I really dig gardening (puns), music, and creating art. My favorite bands are Angels & Airwaves, the Gorillaz, and Vampire Weekend. I love science fiction and watching films. Any film. I will watch it. I'm looking into CS because I know how versatile it is. My interests are incredibly broad so I wanted to explore a subject that could potentially flow into all of the things I'm curious about, things which include space, the environment, filmmaking, art, and biology. I also absolutely love to travel (my favorite two places that I have ever been are Scotland and the Galapagos). Can't wait to be a Bear!

Jenna Huang

Hi everyone! My name is Jenna and I'm from Sacramento. I'm super excited to be attending CS Kickstart and meeting other girls interested in the field of computer science especially at my number one dream school, UC Berkeley! At first I was scared of going into computer science because of my lack of experience in programming, but I knew that my interest in software engineering should overcome my fear. Some little things about me are that I'm very social. My favorite color is mint and my favorite TV shows are The Office, Parks and Rec, Greek, and Modern Family. I love to play volleyball and occasionally tennis, and I'm planning on starting yoga once I get to college. One interesting thing about me is probably that I have the biggest appetite known to mankind, which is a blessing and a curse. All in all, I am so excited to start off my college experience with a program like CS Kickstart!

Morgan Ewing

Hello! I'm from the Monterey, CA area and I'm very excited to be attending Berkeley next year as a possible Computer Science and Theater major in the College of Letters & Sciences. Although I have limited experience with computer science, I hope to find new interests through this program. I love theater, vocal music, and filmmaking and my favorite TV shows are The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Orange Is the New Black. Can't wait to meet you all!

Sreesha Venkat

Hi! I'm Sreesha and I'm from New Providence, NJ. This fall I'll be entering the College of Letters & Sciences as an intended Computer Science major. I've lived in New Jersey my entire life, so moving across the country to California is going to be a big change, but I'm excited to see what opportunities it brings. Being part of CS Kickstart should make the transition a little easier though, especially because it'll give me the chance to meet other students before the school year starts!

Jamie Ni

Hi! I'm Jamie Ni and I'm from SoCal! I will be majoring in Computer Science in the College of Letters and Science. I am extremely excited to attend Cal this fall. GO BEARS! I have always been interested in technology, especially the software side of it, so I thought that CS is a great major for me. I love listening to music, especially alternative, rock pop, and pop. A few of my favorites are The Script, Bastille, ATL, Sara Bareilles, and so much more! I'm really excited to meet all of you this fall!

Nicki Peternel

Hey everyone! I'm an EECS major from Morgan Hill, CA, which is just south of San Jose. I enjoy playing softball, watching Netflix, listening to music (anything from Ed Sheeran to twenty one pilots to The Strokes) and going to Giants games! I've always been interested in computer science but never had the opportunity to learn more about it, which makes all of this so much more exciting. I'm really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing all Berkeley has to offer!

Sabrina Fathi

Hi! My name is Sabrina Fathi, and I'm from Casablanca, Morocco. I spent my senior year studying abroad in Massachusetts, and I cannot express how excited I am to be spending the next four years far from New England snowstorms. As you can tell, I'm not a winter person, and coming from a country where the Mediterranean climate keeps you warm all year round, I've always indulged in outdoor activities such as paddle boarding, horseback riding (You can always find me riding at the barn near my house), and playing tennis. I'm really interested in CS because I truly find it fascinating, and I see myself always pushing the limits of technology when I've graduated. I'm pretty much glued to my computer half the time, programming a bit, and watching one of the many, many TV shows I'm addicted to.

Jennifer Be

Hello! I’m from Santa Clarita, a suburb north of Los Angeles. I’m an intended Computer Science and Psychology major. Computers and the Internet helped me branch out from a shy and timid child, and I hope my contributions to computer science aid in inspiring a new generation of children. In addition, I love that the field is versatile and that I can incorporate it with my interests, which include psychology, baking, community service and design. I also enjoy exploring, ice skating, being environmentally friendly, and watching documentaries! I look forward to getting to know about everyone’s goals and ambitions, and to participate in this wonderful program!

Alice Wang

Hey guys, I'm Alice from the beautiful Monterey Bay, California. I'm aiming for an L&S CS major but I don't have much experience in computers or coding except for a few self-learning attempts and HTML/CSS from Tumblr so I'm thankful for any help I get! I enjoy math/logic problem solving and hopefully computer science will be a possible future career. Some things about me? I love animals, especially cats, I got 2 of them at home. I am an avid listener of all genres of music from Kpop to alternative rock. I love playing video games.. like League of Legends and watching anime.. shamelessly it almost becomes a lifestyle. When I'm not glued to the computer screen, I play piano for fun or go for a run or swim. I am really excited to attend Cal and meet all of you this Fall!

Dipsikha Halder

I'm from Cupertino, California (Yup, Apple Headquarters) and hope to major in Computer Science or Applied Mathematics at Cal. Although I’ve been painting for as long as I can remember, I recently started playing around with 3-D modeling and graphics softwares such as Autodesk Maya and Blender. Seeing their applications intersect with what I’ve learned in calculus, physics, and Java first sparked my interest in computer science, especially computer graphics. I also play the violin, am a big fan of Thai food, and love climbing onto my roof to look at stars. I'm so excited to start my freshman year with CS Kickstart—I've heard lots of great things about the program and can't wait to meet everyone!

Sophia Zheng

I am from Santa Barbara, a small beach town on the California coast, and will be attending Berkeley as an Electrical Engineering and Computer Science major. EECS is such a new field and I am excited by the possibilities of where it could go. I have been playing piano since I was four, so it’s safe to say music has been a huge part of my life, whether it be classical music (my favorite period is the Romantic Period) or modern music (Vampire Weekend, AWOLNATION, and Lily Allen are some of my favorite artists). In high school, I became engrossed in mock trial, and I hope to continue mock trial at Berkeley. I love rollercoasters, frozen yogurt, and going to the beach.

Saloni Shah

Hi there! I'm Saloni! I was born and raised in the Bay Area, so naturally, my proximity to Silicon Valley has exposed me to technology at a young age. I'm excited to major in Computer Science because of the endless possibilities the field has to offer. I have some experience with programming, but nothing too advanced. I'm looking forward to CS KickStart, meeting fellow bears and expanding my CS knowledge.

Divine Velasquez

Well, my name is Divine Velasquez. I am from Garfield High School, which is located in East Los Angeles. I am not the most outgoing person, but I do enjoy having long, random conversations about anything that is NOT politics. My hobbies include playing volleyball, drinking an exaggerating amount of water, making witty remarks, drawing, napping, and spending an unacceptable amount of time on the computer browsing the web and watching random cat videos on YouTube. As far as my CS background, I don’t have one, but I am eager to start my CS journey with CS Kickstart! ?

Elaine Zhao

Hi everyone! My name is Elaine and I’m from Mountain View, California. You’ll often find me coming up with (semi-bad) puns, watching Ellen videos on YouTube, and racing in Mario Kart as the coolest driver Yoshi. I’ve been doing Chinese dance since first grade and hope to continue dancing in college (for fun). Regarding academics, I’ll be in UC Berkeley’s College of Letters & Science, where I’m excited to learn new things. Recently I’ve become particularly interested in Computer Science, as it seems to offer endless possibilities for creating things that help our world or are just awesome. I don’t have much Computer Science experience, so hopefully I can learn more about the field and develop some programming skills at CS KickStart. Overall, I’m excited to attend the program and look forward to meeting you all! Go Bears!

Quinn Tran

Hey, everyone! I'm Quinn, from Westminster, California, near Huntington Beach. I'm interested in computer science because I've grown up with a passion for building structures and would love to do the same in a possible career. Also, I like to play video games. I've only started coding senior year in Java and fell in love with it as soon as my programs didn't work. My hobbies include swimming, watching tv, fashion and cosplay. I've cosplayed Nightingale from Skyrim, Yuna from Final Fantasy X, and a wizard from Diablo III (currently). My favorite tv shows are Hannibal, Supernatural, and Parks and Recreation. I'm excited to meet everyone!

Maisha Kabir

Born in the Bay Area, raised in drizzly Washington. My interest in technology started young, but has only developed recently through classes in Java and cryptography. In 2012, I participated in a summer cryptography program at Stanford University. There, I had my first brush with proofs and coding. I walked out of the program knowing that I needed to learn Java or Python ASAP. In these coming years, I hope to study Applied Mathematics and/or Computer Science. I spend my free time sketching portraits, fangirling over Harry Potter, and fighting oppressive social structures.

Allyson O'Malley

I'm Allyson O'Malley and although I was born in California, I spent the majority of my life moving around because of my Dad's work. First Connecticut, then Australia, then DC, Kentucky, Spain and finally back to Newport Beach. In my spare time I enjoy surfing, learning foreign languages, and going to concerts. I have had an interest in computers and programming since I was little and have always hoped that I would attend UC Berkeley one day! I am so excited to experience CS Kickstart, meet new people with similar interests, and major in CS in L&S!

Jessica Kwon

Greetings from Valencia, California! I'm a future L&S student looking to couple a major in Computer Science with possibly a minor in the Practice of Art. I don't have much experience with programming, but ever since job shadowing at Disney Animation Studios, I've been fascinated with computer graphics and animation. My dream is to return to the studio one day and work there myself. You can find me singing with guitar on hand, binge watching movies, making art, looking for a caffeine fix, or exploring niches and new places in an attempt satisfy my chronic wanderlust. I like turtles and look forward to meeting you all. GO BEARS!

Tina Zheng

Hi everyone! I'm Tina from Southern California. I'm currently undecided in the College of Letters and Science, but I'm interested in pursuing a major in computer science or economics. I have pretty limited programming experience, but I'm excited to learn from CS Kickstart and from my time at Berkeley! In my free time, I like to hike, collect stationery, and watch Grey's Anatomy. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you! :-)

Katharine Sen

RAWR Cal bears! I am Katharine, greeting you from Oakland, California (few minutes drive away from Berkeley)! I am interested in applied mathematics, architecture, politics, and environmental protection, which is no wonder I can't decide on a major. Now I am about to add computer science to the list. I have no experience with computer programming, but I am psyched to participate in CS KickStart. I use Google and my phone apps everyday without understanding how they were created. I want to understand programming and computers overall through CS KickStart. I love to read manga, watch criminal shows and cartoons, listen to dubstep, doodle, bake sweets, and eat. Fun Fact: I'm a leap year baby! Can't wait to meet you fellow bears! :D

Nancy Chang

Hi! My name is Nancy Chang and I'm from Cupertino, California. Yes, "hella" does occasionally appear in my vocabulary, and I have a crazy obsession with pearl milk tea and dogs. I just recently became interested in CS because I realized how much bigger the world becomes when you have access to computer knowledge. I'm planning to major in Computer Science in the College of Letters and Sciences. Along with the many hours of studying Berkeley will surely require, in my free time, I plan on continuing my passion for bhangra, a Punjabi folk dance, playing badminton, sewing and fashion design. Something interesting about me, I guess, is that I'm exactly 5 ft tall, so I like to wear really high heels to make up for my height! The only experience I have with CS is the few lessons I took on codecademy.com so I'm looking forward to everything the CS Kickstart program has to offer!

Chrystabelle Ramirez

Hello everyone! My name is Chrystabelle Ramirez and I am from the Palm Springs area. This fall I have intended to double major in Computer Science and Spanish Literature. I love to dance and go out on adventures, whether its hiking and exploring or trying a new restaurant I love experiencing new things! I have no programming experience but I am eager to learn and meet people with a commom interest!

Grace Lightner

Hey everyone! I'm Grace, from Mill Valley in the SF Bay Area, and I'm an incoming EECS major. I'm interested in CS because I love creative problem-solving, math, and physics, but apart from the odd HTML editing for tumblr themes I have very little programming experience. I love drawing, both with a pencil and digitally through Photoshop, and I tend to doodle on things that aren't supposed to be drawn on. I also like reading (basically anything, but I love sci-fi/fantasy), Netflix, Comic-con, Tegan and Sara, and run-on sentences. Looking forward to meeting you all :)

Kathleen Gomez

I am excited beyond words to be able to be awarded this incredible opportunity. Coming from San Gabriel in SoCal, my main interests were in the arts and languages, right until I took one Web Programing class that ignited my interest in CS. It wasn't until now however that I have really gotten the chance to pursue that interest. As the first in my family to go to college its difficult to take a deep breath and plunge into fields that for one, I haven't had much experience in, but mainly, don't quite resonate as they aren't predominately women or much less hispanic. I hope at CS Kickstart I will find that solidifying realization that CS is definitely for me and that I will build a foundation that will keep me a strong CS contender in my years at Cal.

Elena Herbold

Lived in sunny San Diego all my life, so I can't wait for the Berkeley weather! I'm an EECS major, but I love the arts as well - I play violin with a number of groups, and hope to become fluent in another language and study abroad my junior year. In fact, I'll be in Japan until the 21st of July! I'm also a cat person, so if any of you want to hit up a San Francisco Cat Cafe, you know who to call.

Judith Syau

Hi! I’m Judith from San Jose, California. I grew up in Portland, Oregon and I moved to the Bay Area a few years ago. I’m an incoming EECS major without much programming experience, but computer science fascinates me because of its applications to graphics and design. I also have an affinity for foreign languages and I hope to explore linguistics during college. In my free time, I enjoy long distance running and arts and crafts. Sewing is one of my biggest passions and I like to refashion and design my own clothes. I look forward to meeting you all!

Tracy Chen

Hi! I'm Tracy. I'm from Fremont, California and I am an EECS major. I became interested in computer science after I attended a video game design summer program four years ago. Although my experience in programming is very limited, I am excited to be explore my interests through kickstart and learn more about the field of computer science! In my spare time, I like to visit new places and try out new restaurants. I also love to sing, travel, and meet new people. I look forward to meeting everyone this fall!

Jenny Li

Hi! I'm Jenny and I hail from sunny San Diego, California. I'm beyond excited to enter Cal this fall as an EECS major as I've always been enamored with technology and how it impacts our society. With the endless possibilities that come with computer science, I hope to continue expanding my programming knowledge and build some awesome projects. Currently, I'm especially interested in augmented reality devices like Google Glass and their effect on the way we interact with each other and the world around us. In addition to communicating in the language of computers, I also love writing and storytelling in all forms of media, from music to graphic design to film. I'm eager to explore the artistic as well as the technical side of CS and can't wait to see what Cal has to offer. Go Bears!

Ivette Flores

Hi, my name is Ivette Flores and I come from a small school in Inglewood, California. I've lived in Southern California my whole life and have an aversion to the cold. I'm not 100% on my major, but I'm leaning very strongly towards CS. My hobbies include watching Teen Wolf, spending way too much time on tumblr, reading, and playing tennis.

Melody Valdez

Hello everyone! My name is Melody, and I am from San Jose, CA. I have always considered myself a STEM girl ever since I started playing Internet games (e.g. Club Penguin and Neopets) when I was little. From then on, I continued to develop my interests in math and technology throughout middle and high school. During senior year, I took an introductory computer science class, which sparked my interest in programming and designing software. Although I only have limited experience with HTML/CSS and JavaScript, I can’t wait to expand my CS knowledge at UC Berkeley, starting with CS KickStart. Outside of STEM, I was very active in Key Club, a community service organization, and I would love to continue volunteering throughout college. I also live up to my name, since I enjoy playing piano and participating in my church’s youth choir.

Revati Kapshikar

Hi everyone! I'm from Fremont, California, and I’m going to be a coming into Berkeley this year as a EECS major. I don’t have much programming experience but I’ve always thought that computer science would be an introduction into an exciting and abstract way of reasoning. In high school, I’ve been actively involved in Speech and Debate and DECA, which is a business and marketing club. I’m interested in public policy as well, especially the intersection of government and science as it pertains to national security. At Berkeley, I hope to join the Ultimate Frisbee team and audition for the Mock Trial team. Some of my favorite TV shows include Psych, The West Wing, and House of Cards. I’m incredibly excited to be starting off my Berkeley experience with KickStart!

Deborah Yang

Hi! My name is Deborah, and I’m from the San Francisco Bay Area. I will be in the College of Letters & Science this fall, where I plan to major in Cognitive Science, and possibly double major in Computer Science. Computer science interests me because of its versatility—how it can be used in so many different fields. I hope that by gaining computer science skills I will have the ability to work in and explore many different subjects and disciplines. My other interests include reading (especially novels, manga, and news articles), human geography, learning new languages, playing piano, singing, watching movies (particularly espionage movies), and cooking. I’m really excited for CS Kickstart and UC Berkeley, and I look forward to meeting everyone!

Mavey Ma

Mavey (MAY-vee), 17 years old. Born within San Jose, raised by San Francisco, China, New Zealand, Oakland, San Leandro, Salinas, and now expanding my horizons at Berkeley. Some life goals include making Computer Psychology a “real” major, joining the Google team, and studying abroad in outer space. Would you believe me if I told you I was more excited when I learned about CS Kickstart than I was when I received my UC Berkeley acceptance letter? Computer science is like martial arts and poetry; self-defense and self-expression. I feel like a superhero in training to save the world, acquiring the ability to defend myself and others in the technological universe. I think my fondness of poetry enhances my curiosity for coding. They are cousins in writing, requiring muse, creativity, and overcoming writer’s block. As a wordsmith of both worlds, it makes me happy to practice an art form I enjoy.

Karen Lu

Hello, my name is Karen. I'm from Bakersfield, CA. I am EECS major with some interest in double majoring applied mathematics. I am intrigued by computer science because I believe how computer works somehow correlates to how the world works. Plus I like the title "Hacker" (not I want to be involved in privacy infiltrating, Hacker just sound cool). I read more about computer history than work on programming. I play video games, watch cartoons/anime (Avatar TLA,FMA Brotherhood...), and I am a big fan of Chinese history/Wuxia Universe.

Angelica Delzompo

Hello lovely people! I am from a not so far off land called Murrieta, which is right in between San Diego and Los Angeles in SoCal. Currently I am in the College of Engineering, but I am undeclared so I am hoping CS Kickstart will provide me with some clarity. I also have no programming experience whatsoever, but I am ready to jump in head first. Some of my favorite things are cookie dough ice cream, long walks on the beach, and Led Zeppelin. I also play alto saxophone and have an undying love for Mock Trial. For now, I am just stoked to meet you all! Go Bears!

Jenny Guo

Since we can’t go through wormholes or black holes just yet, let’s build the future the realistic way, code by code. Excuse me, I’m “a little” obsessed with cosmology that kind of stuff: time travel, higher dimension, and multi-universe… Besides being a cosmo-worm, I also love dancing. Mainly ballet, but I also like hip-hop, jazz, and ballroom. I believe that the road to the future is paved by CS, that’s how important CS is. I might look quiet, but you can tell me if that’s how I really am once you get to know me.