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Reza Talieh

Chemical Engineering, Class of 2018

Hometown: Ripon, California

College Activities: Merit Research Program, Viterbi Fellows, SCOUT, USC Solar Car

Why USC?

The social atmosphere…the surprisingly impressive campus food, and my peers made college an immensely entertaining and sleepless place. USC always offers me a never ceasing variety to my schedule, with events in McCarthy Quad just outside my dorm window every day and an email box inundated with faculty and students reaching out for me to come and join. I came in thinking I wouldn’t have much time to spare seeking a Chemical Engineering degree, but now my biggest challenge is deciding what new activities to choose with the time and opportunities I’ve found for myself.

How would you describe your passion?

As far as I can remember, I’ve always had a passion for energy and the abundant alternative energies we have at our disposal. I became enamored with solar energy in my early teens, and applied to chemical engineering programs across the country with the hope of bringing cheap and clean energy to my growing community.

How has adjusting to college been?

I quickly realized that an Engineering Degree is more hours than the schedule shows. I realized that skipping meals or losing sleep only made the problem worse despite me trying to get ahead, but gradually I found my rhythm.