Hello, prospective engineering students! As we jump into the spring semester, I thought it would be important to check-in with one of our first-year engineering students to learn more about how he began his engineering journey and where he is now. A BEST Scholar passionate about social justice issues, Angel Jesus Cruz Salvador is now entering his second semester at Tufts. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Bridge to Engineering Success at Tufts (BEST) program, I encourage you to read this interview with senior (!) Kimmee Dao.
Angel! Can you tell our readers about yourself?
Howdy! My name is Angel Jesus Cruz Salvador, freshman at the School of Engineering, and I am from Durham, North Carolina. My parents are immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico. A fun fact about me is that I accepted academic awards while dressed up as a minion!
How was your high school experience?
Believe it or not, I went to an arts high school. Crazy, I know. Inside the classroom I spent more time fighting over the last tube of blue paint than any actual engineering. Outside the classroom, I spent most of my time in extracurriculars. I was in XC, although not very good, along with the Debate/Philosophy Club. However, with a lack of STEM in school, I flourished in the STEM related clubs outside of school. I was president of Physics Club, Varsity Member of Science Olympiad, and member of Mu Alpha Theta (or as I called it: the math club). These gave me enough exposure to make me realize I wanted to be an engineer because of my passion for math and helping others.
Did you always know you wanted to study engineering?
I actually did not know I wanted to study engineering until my senior year of high school. I wanted to major in film, arts, philosophy, and more. However, across the street from my school, a gas leak led to a café exploding, resulting in many casualties. I will never forget being under lockdown in my school, which itself was falling apart due to old age and lack of funds. The fear of our school collapsing was all too real, and it is something no child should ever feel in a space they go to everyday. Learning more about the decaying infrastructure of America was horrifying. In our dream for a better future, rarely do we consider fixing the mistakes of our past. If no one was going to do something about it, then I will.
Did you only apply to engineering programs? How did you narrow your college search?
I initially applied to civil engineering and architecture programs to ensure I had a wide range of schools. However, as acceptances started rolling in, I began to prioritize “fit”. Sure, a school may have a great engineering program, but do the students spend all their time doing homework? Is the school in the middle of nowhere? Did the school give good financial aid, and by implication, valued you as a person? Thankfully, Tufts was everything I wanted! The courses were rigorous, but not suffocating. Tufts is in a small town, but only a ten-minute ride from Boston. And the financial aid was super generous! In the end, the thing that made me immediately want to enroll was the BEST program, which ensured I would thrive at Tufts!
What has the BEST community meant to you?
I could speak in vague optimism, but I feel like there is one moment which best encapsulates the BEST community. Speaking as a true freshman, I wanted to cram in material the three days leading to my physics final. Knowing I struggled to stay focused, I asked some BESTies to study with me for a few hours. I was surprised not only that they agreed, but in that they were also enthusiastic about studying! By some miracle we reviewed every single chapter in our textbook with excruciating detail. However, what began as a small study session turned into an overnight adventure.
I played music in the background, but by midnight we were all too distracted to work. I was playing artists like Frank Ocean and Ryan Beatty, and the other BESTies got really into it. This one song titled Bruise was one of my favorites, and to my delight the other BESTies knew it too! They even started to get teary eyed. The BESTies and I closed our eyes and started swaying to the sound of soothing harmonies, forgetting the stress of our physics final and bathing in the warmth of each other’s presence. For the next few hours, we began to unravel each other's lives, goals, passions, and stories. Before I entered freshman year at Tufts, I already had a family.
How would you describe your engineering experience at Tufts?
A myth about engineering is that you will not have any time for anything else. At Tufts, this is a complete lie! On campus, I am a part of ALAS (The Association of Latin American Students), SOLES (Society of Latinx Engineers and Scientists, of which I am also on the E-Board), UIJ (United for Immigrant Justice), ISOT (Indigenous Student Organization at Tufts), and BEST (Bridge to Engineering Success at Tufts). Off campus, I am a part of Thrive Scholars, Scholars on Campus, and Matriculate! What I love about Tufts is that the engineering workload allows me time for advocacy, especially for increasing diversity in education.
What advice do you have for high school students that are considering applying to engineering programs?
First, it is completely okay to be undecided! Technically all engineering students are undecided until the spring semester of their first year at Tufts. Second, numbers do not define you! Tufts does not admit numbers, they admit human beings. One of the best things about Tufts is that every student is hand-picked to create a wholesome, warm, loving community regardless of what they are majoring in.
Finally, research and fall in love with Tufts! Learn about the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach, the BEST program, and the Center for STEM Diversity. What I love about Tufts is that there are not only resources to support you, but resources you can use to support others, whether it be as local as the cute Medford community or a country on another continent. Tufts is here to support you on your journey to changing the world for the better.