I can only describe this summer with one word, exhausting. I never thought I would stand at one point of my life and say, “I really want this summer to end”. Now don’t get me wrong, this summer has been one of the most enriching summers of my life. In two months, I’ve learned much more than I will ever learn in a classroom an entire semester. I am passionate about research, and my heart skips a beat every time I enter a lab. Most certainly, I would not feel as happy and eager to keep on learning anywhere else.

My name is Nadja M. Maldonado Luna. I am a second year Mechanical Engineering major at the University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus. From the moment, I decided to apply for this REU experience I knew that it was going to be an interesting adventure both academically and personally. I knew I was going to have to face some big challenges. The UPR system went on strike early April, so a summer internship would mean for me, to risk finishing my classes to be able to have an experience that would certainly benefit both my present as an undergraduate student and my future as a professional.  So far, I’ve met amazing people, from my fellow REU mates and now friends, to my mentor and advisor. All these people have been making my summer a remarkable one.