Alumni Stories
The first generation alumni profiled in this section have kindly shared their stories with us and look forward to connecting with you.
Melanie Adams ’13
Graduation Year: 2013
Program: Materials Science and Engineering
I grew up in Brooklyn, NY in a community very representative of the West Indian upbringing my parents received.
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Billy Caruso ’18
Graduation Year: 2018
Program: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Trajectory: New Jersey -> MIT
I was born and raised in Toms River on the Jersey Shore where summers are full of beach, boardwalk and everything local. Since middle school I was fascinated by Apple - both the company culture and their amazing products. It was then that I knew I wanted to study computer science.
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Carina Letong Hong ’22
Graduation Year: 2022
Program: 18: Mathematics and 8: Physics
Trajectory: Canton (Guangzhou)/Teoswa (Chaoshan), China -> MIT
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Alexis Oriole ’18
Graduation Year: 2018
Program: Mathematics
Trajectory: North Carolina->MIT
Going to MIT was a big decision for me because nobody from my high school had ever gone there. However, my family and friends provided so much encouragement that I knew going to MIT would be the right decision.
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Tina Pavlovich, ’20
Graduation Year: 2020
Program: Mathematical Economics and Spanish Language & Literature
Trajectory: New York -> MIT
I was born and have lived in New York my whole life. My parents are both Croatian immigrants, so my childhood was filled with rich food, travels back to the motherland, and beautiful culture.
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Crista Falk, ’23
Graduation Year: 2023
Program: 6-9: Computation and Cognition
Trajectory: Idaho -> Boston
Now: Ph.D candidate in Cognitive Science at Tufts Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
I was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and moved to Boston in 2019 to attend MIT. I am a Questbridge scholar and a first generation college student. In my free time, I played the oboe in musical groups such as the MIT Wind Ensemble and Video Game Orchestra. I am also passionate about FLI advocacy and representation on campus and served as the Executive Director of FLI@MIT for one and a half years.
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Eren Shin, ’23
Graduation Year: 2023
Program: 6-7 Computer Science and Molecular Biology; 9 Brain and Cognitive Science
Trajectory: Long Beach, CA -> MIT
I am a Questbridge scholar and first-generation/low-income student originally from Long Beach, CA. At MIT, I'm interested in exploring the intersection between computer science, neuroscience, and biology. In my free time, I like playing the cello, listening to music, learning new languages, and reading books.
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