Hi everyone! My name is Aileen Pineda, and I am a junior living in Cabot House. My family and I currently live in a small town in Arkansas, so coming to Harvard was definitely a big change for me. I double concentrate in Computer Science and Government in hopes of finding ways in which we can use technology to enhance the way in which we think of policy matters.

When I’m not in class, I dedicate my time to Model UN, Harvard Computer Society (HCS), Women in Computer Science (WICS), and I love to attend many cultural events around campus such as Latinas Unidas festivities and performances hosted by the Asian American Dance Troupe. I also take on a variety of jobs on campus with my favorite one being at The Harvard Shop where I work as a sales associate and get to hang out with my coworkers and friends.

As a little girl, I dreamed of going to Harvard. Whenever I told someone this goal, they looked at me as if I was crazy, like I could never make it. Throughout high school, I worked hard at the things I was passionate about, and I showcased that throughout my application. Today, I look at my future knowing that I will one day graduate from this school as the first person in my family to go to college, from a low-income Hispanic household, I made it. That is what Harvard strives to be—a place that is accessible to everyone of all different backgrounds.