Why I Teach

Teaching computer science at CMU is a uniquely rewarding but challenging experience due to the incredible diversity of the student body. Each year's class will consist of some students who have been winning programming and math competitions since high school, and some who wrote their first line of code after setting foot in the Gates Center. Some come from families of computer scientists, and others are first-generation college students.

Teaching, especially in such an environment, is more than the act of simply mastering and communicating the material to the students. I believe that teaching is about providing all students the tools that they need to take control of their learning, giving them the confidence that they are capable of succeeding, and inspiring them to do so. I love to teach because I love doing these things.

It is my ultimate goal that through my teaching practices, I can convince any student who wants to study computer science that they are absolutely capable of it, that even if they never did a programming contest, or their parents have never heard of Linux, that they deserve to be here and they have what it takes to succeed.

I am beyond grateful to everyone who has supported me and worked alongside me in my teaching journey. My co-TAs for 15-451 have been the best group of teachers and friends that I have ever had the privilege of working with. Deserving of special credit are Danny Sleator, for always allowing me endless creative freedom to mess with his courses in my attempts to make them better, and most importantly of all, my students, who continuously remind me why I love what I do.