Jamie Y. is a third-year electrical engineering student at UCLA hoping to graduate in 2021, a year ahead of schedule! Hailing from Rosemead, CA, Jamie developed an early love for taking things apart and figuring out how they worked - a passion that continues to this day. Learn more about Jamie and how she plans to eventually combine her engineering skills with a passion for sports (Go Rams!).

How’d you decide to study electrical engineering?

Ever since I was a kid I’ve been interested in building things. I’d start taking something apart and see what’s in it... even today I do that, when I probably shouldn’t! I looked into other types of engineering studies but ultimately chose electrical engineering because it seemed like the most interesting. I was also part of a program in high school taught by UCLA engineering professors, which might have had something to do with it.

What are you hoping to do after college?

I’m hoping to work in sports tech in the future. A lot of sports try to use technology to improve player performance. When you think of sports technology you may think of Apple watches and other wearable tech, but it’s also integrated into other aspects of sports. For example, baseball uses pitching labs - which use tech such as video imaging or whatever other devices - to see the rotation on the ball and how exactly the ball is coming out of the pitcher’s hand, etc. I want to do something like that: create tech to improve player performance. I’d been a little iffy on pursuing electrical engineering, but now I can combine my love for tech and love for sports, and it just so happens this is a big developing field right now.

What would be your dream niche scenario within sports tech? 

My dream would be working in football trying to develop tech for football. but they’re not necessarily the most advanced in their tech pursuits. For example, concussions is a huge issue, but if we develop tech for that we have to admit players are getting hurt. So my goal would be working for MLB. Baseball is such a numbers game - it’s all about stats, and they tend to be more innovative with their tech. They have pitching and hitting labs and other analytics.

How’d you get so into sports? Do you play?

No! And I don’t know how I got into sports because nobody in my family really watches them, but I’m a huge Rams fan. I even had season tickets the year they played the SuperBowl. I just really love watching, being a fan. I love football.

What’s your favorite thing to tutor?

Right now I tutor math. I’ve been tutoring math for a good chunk of time and even Spanish a little. I started tutoring in high school for a nonprofit called Project Neo which offered tutoring one-on-one for elementary-aged kids at risk. Lot of these students were struggling in school for various reasons and being able to help them was really meaningful to me. I remember as a kid struggling with school - I still struggle now! I didn’t necessarily have the help I probably needed so in a way - though I sometimes asked my brother for help with coding! - so I became an older sibling helping other kids. Then I translated that tutoring into college with PCH Tutors. 

What’s the biggest tutoring challenge you’ve faced?

Everyone has a different learning style. The most difficult part as a tutor is that you have to adapt to each individual’s learning style and be creative with teaching. I love it because I know that I’m someone who is really hard to teach. I have an understanding of how, if someone is not responding to how I’m teaching, we just  need to go a different route. 

What’s your favorite part of tutoring?

Seeing improvement, but also seeing the determination students have. Lots of times, especially in math, they’re like, “I don’t want to do this, won’t ever use it.” But then when you see the students who don’t understand - but are completely determined to learn the material - completely understand the next time to the point where they say I can teach it back to a classmate, is rewarding.

In engineering classes, a lot of times they’re teaching us how to think and problem solve for ourselves. I’m not necessarily just learning the material, I’m learning how to learn. That’s something I’ve realized in my own life and want to relate to tutoring.

What’s a mantra you like to impart to your students?

No matter how much you have doubt, you can do it. You don’t even have to know everything, but if you have that belief in yourself it pushes you pretty far. For myself, engineering is so hard and I don’t want to be an engineer necessarily when I graduate, but I have to put myself into the mindset of getting it done. IF you don’t want to do the work, you won’t do it. You have to be in it. 

What are your hobbies?

We also have a great sports/fan culture at UCLA and I love the pride we have. Even if we suck! Aside from watching sports, I actually like knitting. I’m either an old grandma or old grandpa!

Any good books or other media you’d recommend?

I’m not a huge reader but one book I’ve read that has stuck with me is Room. I love seeing other people’s perspectives on things: life, anything. In this book you see a kid’s mind who hasn’t been exposed to much, so you’re seeing the world through a completely different lens.