By Zisi Blades ’26, dual major in business and management and psychological science 

If my college application essay was my intro to RPI, this is my outro. Three years ago, I was a freshman beginning my journey — taking those daily walks across the bridge to class and trekking up to ECAV for practice, then stopping at BARH or Commons to grab food with my friends before a nighttime study session.  

I knew RPI was going to challenge me both athletically and academically, especially from a quantitative perspective. That technical rigor is partly what drew me, and I think many of us Engineers bond over it. During my recruitment, I asked my future assistant coach if anyone on the team was double majoring. He told me no one currently was and, while possible, it would probably be challenging while also playing basketball. And he wasn’t wrong. During the season, college basketball is like a part-time job. Between visits to the training room, lifts, practices, walk-throughs, and film sessions, I spent around four hours a day in ECAV, at least five days a week. That was before games and weekend travel.  

Instead of minimizing what was on my plate, I kept trying to add more. By sophomore year I was double majoring in business and management and psychological science, with a concentration in finance. By junior year, I was treasurer of the Epsilon Delta Sigma honor society, vice president of the RPI Cricket Club, and on the e-board of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). By senior year, I was a captain of RPI men’s basketball and president of SAAC. I don’t say this to brag, but to reflect on what I gained from a schedule that never slowed down.  

Basketball is a game of rhythms — the bounce of the ball, the cadence of a player’s footwork as they catch a pass, a change of pace on a fast break, the cheers of fans as a team gains momentum. My days, weeks, and months at RPI had a rhythm too. Following that rhythm pushed me way out of my comfort zone — taking a computer science course freshman year with no prior coding experience, making friends from around the country and around the world, rekindling old interests like philosophy and zoology, and discovering new interests like psychology. That rhythm took me to an internship at a startup for Summer Arch where I was tasked with real work that shaped the future of the venture. It led me to a full-time job offer after graduation, and it pushed me to 77 career wins. 

During halftime of a close game, you can almost guarantee RPI Basketball Coach Mark Gilbride will say something like, “It’s not going to be easy, but if we follow our keys to the game, we’ll have a great shot to win.” I learned that the same applies off the court. During my time at RPI, I was learning constantly and surrounded by intelligent, hardworking people every day. Balancing classes, practice, interview prep, studying, and extracurriculars wasn’t always easy, but I knew if I kept at it, it would all be worth it in the end. I believe the rhythm of my time at RPI shaped me into the person I am today. Someone ready to change the world for the better in the best way I can.