Juan Antonio Luera

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.

My favorite parts were meeting people, attending social events, and going to lectures. I enjoyed learning new expressions that don’t directly exist in English. It added a lot to how I perceived the world. My favorite experience was my trip to Taiwan during IAP 2023. It felt like all my work in learning Chinese was coming to fruition.

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

Learning Chinese has shaped my whole MIT experience, because it provided a different perspective and unique learning experiences different from my usual rigorous technical classes. I was able to not only learn Chinese, but also learn Chinese Culture and even compare it to my own Mexican Culture. This provided a way for me to explore my own story, learn new lessons, and help my identity grow in many ways.

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?

Learning Chinese has provided me with immense gratification. I genuinely enjoyed the many cultural events and the welcoming nature of the professors in the MIT Chinese department, and the great friends I made from Chinese classes.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to move to Washington State and work for Microsoft as a Software Engineer starting next August.