Year: Second

Major: Computer Science

Minor: Security and Risk Analysis

Involvement: Co-chair, Brandywine Events and Activities Student Team (B.E.A.S.T.); assistant director, Brandywine Benefitting THON

Brandywine: What was your deciding factor in coming to Penn State Brandywine?

Noti: I decided to come to Penn State Brandywine because of its proximity to home. I have younger brothers who were a year old when I committed here, and I wanted to make sure I could still be around for them in their first years of life.

Brandywine: How did you choose your major?

Noti: I’ve always been interested in computers and different kinds of technology. Growing up, I was learning more about computer science and stumbled upon coding. I realized it’s actually pretty fun! I took every single coding language class my high school offered, like JavaScript, Python and HTML.

Brandywine: What challenges have you faced at Brandywine, if any?

Noti: The biggest challenge I’ve faced was learning how to manage my time between my schoolwork and social life. Also, a lot of my friends went to college all over the place — some stayed local while others went to New England and California — so I had to deal with the challenge of being so far from my friends.

Brandywine: Who at Brandywine has supported you, and how?

Noti: My friend, Om Trivedi, has supported me a lot. We have the same major, so we’re in the same classes and we’re able to study and do homework together. We’re also going to University Park together next year through the 2+2 program, and I’m really excited to have him as a roommate next year.

Brandywine: What made you interested in joining Brandywine Benefitting THON? What do you enjoy most about it?

Noti: When I was in high school, we had Mini THON, and I really enjoyed it. In 12th grade, my friends and I stood for six or seven hours during Mini THON. It was a lot of fun, and I also liked the idea that we were giving back to kids battling cancer. My experience with Mini THON made me interested in joining THON once I got to college.

What I enjoy most is, as I said, giving back to kids battling cancer. Having two younger brothers really put things into perspective for me, because what if they were fighting cancer? I wouldn’t want them to go through that, and I don’t want any child to go through that.

Brandywine: What advice do you have for students who are looking to get involved?

Noti: Put your name out there and go for it. You can always back out of a club if you realize you don’t like it, but you’ll never know if you don’t try. Dip your toes in the water and see how it goes.

Brandywine: With your involvement at Brandywine, how has your time on campus been impacted?

Noti: As a commuter, I’m not on campus too much, but when I am, I enjoy being with my friends and just taking in the scenery of the campus.

Brandywine: What's your favorite memory you've made at Brandywine?

Noti: Last academic year, we had a Mini THON to get ourselves prepared for THON weekend, and it was a lot of fun. We did karaoke, played different kinds of games, and were just able to have fun with each other. Also, I really enjoyed going up to University Park for THON last year. The experience was breathtaking. There were so many people there, and seeing so many people coming together for a common purpose was amazing to see. This year, I want to be one of those people who stands for 46 hours at THON.

Brandywine: What has been the most valuable lesson you've learned at Brandywine?

Noti: Although Brandywine is a small campus, it’s a community. The size of the campus doesn’t matter; it’s about what you make of it. Being involved in Brandywine Benefitting THON and B.E.A.S.T. allows me to attend so many events and activities, and it makes this campus feel like a community.