WiNK

My second Alumni interview was Daniel Michael who graduated from Wooster in 2018. He is now a Junior attending Stanford University majoring in computer science and math.

Are you studying online or on campus?

Due to COVID, I've been studying online since March and most likely won't be on campus until September 2021.

What is life like as a student at Stanford University, especially during these strange times?

I've been grateful that my computer science and math courses are quite conducive to remote work, but, overall, Stanford students have had a variety of experiences depending on their courses and home environments. Being spread across the globe makes it difficult to feel a sense of community, but I've been pleasantly surprised by the ability of student groups and classes to remain engaging despite the virtual setting.

What have you been doing outside of studying?

I spent a little too much time watching Netflix over break, but on the bright side I picked up chess after watching The Queen's Gambit. I also enjoy going for a walk every day.

You were a great part of our cross country team when you were in high school and as a part of your SIS project you even ran a marathon. Have you continued running since?

I do run a bit but not as much as I used to in high school. One of my life goals is to run the Boston Marathon, and I definitely plan to run more marathons in the future.

What is one of the most exciting opportunities you have had as a student at Stanford?

I recently began conducting research with the Stanford Machine Learning Group under Prof. Andrew Ng, the co-founder of Coursera. The group focuses on applying artificial intelligence techniques to healthcare, so I'm super excited to have this opportunity and work alongside some of the world's leading machine learning researchers.

What was your favorite part about Wooster?

The teachers. I truly admire the dedication of Wooster teachers to their work, and many of my fondest memories from Wooster involve the teachers who helped shape me as a student, thinker, and person. Especially in college, where some of my classes have hundreds of students, I greatly appreciate the opportunity I had to work so closely with Wooster teachers.

Do you have any advice for our current students?

Be open-minded about the direction life might carry you in. In high school, I never imagined I would attend college in California, and, in middle school, I never imagined I would join the cross country team or run a marathon. Don't be afraid to try something new, and if you love it, run with it.