By Ryan Cheng ’26, psychological science major

I came to RPI as a biology major. This was mostly out of circumstance, in all honesty. I was directionless, and biology seemed like a catch-all for me to figure out what I wanted to do. Not to discount any biology majors out there — it is hard work. That first year was one intense wake-up call, and when I got my transcript back at the end of freshman year, I was devastated. I thought I was done for.

But, I kept going. I took time to reflect. I talked to close friends, professors, and eventually realized there was something else I wanted to pursue, so I became a psychological science major. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made. It allowed me to combine my interests in science and creativity in new ways, helping me learn about myself and what I want to do. 

While the change in majors did little to lighten the workload (we RPI students pride ourselves on that), I found that doing work that I enjoyed, in subjects that I enjoyed, gave me a new drive to keep going. I was finally doing something I felt confident in and loved, regardless of the difficulty. If there's one thing you will learn at this school, it's how to fall and pick yourself back up. 

That lesson extended far beyond academics. Writing had been a dream of mine since childhood – one that was often met with gentle skepticism. I understood why. People who cared about me wanted stability for me, not uncertainty. But the desire never left. I kept writing in small ways, nurturing a quiet belief that someday it might lead somewhere. 

My 10th grade literature teacher was the first person to truly encourage my passion. He recognized something in my work and encouraged me to put it out into the world. I entered a school writing contest almost on impulse and to my surprise, I won. The prize was a chance to publish my own book through school. I had a grueling senior year, but through my own efforts and the support of my teachers, I got it done. That one moment gave me hope that perhaps one day I would achieve my childhood dream. 

Then college came and my dream quietly slipped into the background. I fell into the belief that writing was secondary to everything else — a hobby, nothing more. It was only after my first year at RPI that I was able to see that belief for what it was: something I had constructed myself. The resources and people had been there all along. Over the last two years, through RPI’s humanities courses, I have met some of the most brilliant and wonderful people —  people who have shown so much support for me and my work, and who have taught me how to both be a better writer and person. 

That is what a school that prides itself on STEM and engineering did for my writing: it gave me a supportive working environment, excellent faculty to learn from, and peers who helped me believe in myself again. 

So if you ever ask me whether I have any regrets — whether, given the chance, I would go back in time and choose a different path — my answer would be no, every single time. By the end of this journey, I think my peers and I can all say we got exactly what we put into this experience. For all its imperfections, I wouldn't be who I am today without it.