Olivia Muñoz

What’ve you enjoyed most about your area of study? Was there a particular discovery, new skill or way of thinking, or insight that you found especially valuable? Please share an example from your favorite class or experience.

I’ve really enjoyed the chance to connect with my culture more deeply and to grow more confident in my Spanish speaking skills. The environment is so supportive, so no matter your level, the instructors really meet you where you are and make sure you succeed. I also love connecting with other Latinos in my courses who are in similar situations. It’s so empowering to share experiences and learn together!

How does the knowledge from this field, or your interest in it, combine with your other major or minor studies at MIT?

Learning Spanish, like picking up a programming language, opens up a whole new way of thinking. It helps me connect with more people and really appreciate the nuances of communication. The consistency and discipline I use to practice Spanish also spill over into my Computer Science work. It’s all about building good habits and sticking with it!

An MIT education includes study in the scientific, technical, social science, arts, and humanities fields. How do you think that wide range of knowledge and perspectives will be valuable to you – for your career success and for your enjoyment of life?

Being confident in more than one language lets me connect with different people and dive deeper into the world around me. Studying both Computer Science and Spanish gives me the chance to blend the problem-solving skills from tech with the cultural and communication skills from language learning, which I think will help me approach challenges in a more well-rounded way, both in my career and in life.

What are your plans for the future?

After graduating, I plan to work as a Software Engineer in New York City!