Current Position

Software Engineer, Microsoft

Major

Computer Science and Economics

Graduating Year

2023

A message from Alina

Even if it's challenging, even if it's uncomfortable, stepping out of your comfort zone always leads to rewards and valuable lessons, and a growth mindset is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. It took me a long time to recognize these things, but what truly convinced me was to simply look around and observe. I saw it play out every day at Wellesley: classmates who reluctantly took difficult computer science courses only to ace them with flying colors, and friends who joined orgs as shy first-years and became self-assured leaders by their senior years. In the workplace, I see early-in-career software engineers conquer imposter syndrome and spearhead projects during their first year of work, and I see shy coworkers present their features and findings confidently in front of dozens of managers and senior engineers (who honestly aren't scary at all once you get to know them!).

Wellesley really is a special place. As someone who did have to slowly unlearn and correct elements of a fixed mindset, being surrounded by so many amazing and encouraging friends and classmates had a profound impact on me. I carried that confidence with me after graduation, and it allowed me to thrive personally and professionally—even in spaces where, as a woman in tech, I wasn't always in the majority. The more you push your own boundaries, the more your radius of comfort expands, until you start being comfortable with the uncomfortable.

Take risks, face challenges, and explore—your future self will thank you! But also remember to slow down and take breaks, even when things are overwhelming, and it seems impossible to do so. And always take the time to appreciate the support network around you: your loved ones, your friends, your hobbies, and everyone and everything else you cherish.

Hobbies and interests

Martial arts, language learning, and piano

Reach out to Alina