Each week, the Record (using a script in R) randomly selects a student at the College for our One in Two Thousand feature, excluding current Record board members. This week, Mayreli Tejeda-Rodriguez ’29 discussed finding her friends, participating in the Summer Science Program, and her love for embroidery. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Dihan Pagalilauan (DP): You’re about to finish your first year at the College. What’s one of the best things that has happened to you this year?
Mayreli Tejeda-Rodriguez (MTR): There’s so many great things, but I think one of the best things that happened to me this year was finding my friends.
DP: Is there anyone you want to shout out in particular?
MTR: Camilla Lowe [’29]. She lives on my floor. I still remember the first time we studied together in my common room. It was late at night and we didn’t want to study anywhere else, so we were just sitting in my croom and it was really fun.
DP: Looking back, what was one of the hardest things you’ve done in your first year here?
MTR: Honestly, CHEM 101 Lab. I hated chemistry labs. The lab reports were rough.
DP: Yeah, I think we’ve all been there. We were talking earlier about your participation in the College’s Summer Science Program (SSP) — what impact did SSP have on you before starting your first year?
MTR: It definitely got me used to the pace of things here, and the kind of lecturing styles professors have. I know every professor has their own way of teaching, but I realized that a lot of science professors also have similarities. SSP also helped me place into CHEM 101 instead of CHEM 100 in the fall. There was definitely a steep learning curve, but I’m really proud of myself for doing it.
DP: That’s awesome. Looking back, who’s a professor that’s really made an impact on you so far?
MTR: Definitely a couple of my fall semester professors, particularly Professor [of Chemistry] Christopher Goh and [Associate Professor of Biology] Pei-Wen Chen. They’re great, I love both of them. Professor Goh normally has late office hours around 7 p.m., and he brings treats for everyone. That’s really fun.
DP: Coming from Texas to Williams, what are some differences you’ve noticed?
MTR: The snow. Oh my gosh, the snow. My skin being super dry all the time, and the skin on my fingers and knuckles cracking. My lips being chapped all the time. I hate feeling like a marshmallow in thick sweaters. Winter is just crazy here, I hate it. I do love it, but I hate it.
DP: Real. How do you spend your free time here?
MTR: Most of my hobbies here don’t really involve clubs, but I really like hand sewing and embroidery. I’ll be in the FabLab, but not as often as I used to because I haven’t had the time. I’ve also recently taken on climbing and bouldering at the MRC [Multipurpose Recreation Center].
DP: That’s so cool! What’s something about you that a lot of people don’t know?
MTR: I think my close friends know this, but when I get super tired, I kind of get a little delirious, and I just laugh at everything. And then some people go, “Why the fuck are you laughing?” I’m just like, “I don’t know.”
DP: What do you hope to do after you graduate?
MTR: I think I’m definitely going pre-med. As a physician, one of my long-term goals is to work with Doctors Without Borders. I don’t think it matters where I go for medical school, just whichever one gives me the most financial aid.
DP: By the time this issue comes out, most admitted students will have already confirmed their decision to come to Williams. What’s a piece of advice you have for incoming students?
MTR: Explore as much as you can. I went to a high school that didn’t really have any extracurriculars except for soccer. So when I came to the College, I just did whatever. If my friends were involved in something, I would ask about it and check out what they were doing. I think my year turned out great.
DP: Great advice. What are your plans for the summer?
MTR: I’m really homesick, so I’m probably going to head back home. I’m probably gonna get ahead on my volunteer hours, because to be competitive for medical school you need hundreds. Then, I’ll probably get a part-time job because I’m broke, and then probably work on getting my phlebotomy certification.
DP: That sounds great. Last question: There’s been talk about who next year’s Spring Fling artist should be. If you could get any performer to come to Williams, who would it be?
MTR: Bad Bunny. I enjoy him, and I know a lot of people would too. Also, Arctic Monkeys.
