Christine Baker

She/Her
Class of 2027
Major: Bioengineering
Hometown: Waldorf, Maryland

What motivated you to become a ClarkLEADER?
The first year is such a transformative period -- it's exciting, but it can also come with a lot of questions about the unknown. I wanted to join ClarkLEAD to give back what the event gave me: to help future students by sharing advice I wish I knew coming in. My goal is to make each student feel supported, confident, and set to succeed as they enter the engineering program!

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with new Maryland Engineering Students?
Remain resilient. Always remember that the failures that you face in life do not define you. Every experience, good or bad, is an opportunity to grow and improve, so never let setbacks discourage you from reaching your goals. Stay organized, build grit, be ambitious, nurture your curiosity, take risks, and most importantly, do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

What are some organizations or extracurricular activities you think new students should know about?
One amazing thing about our school is that no matter how niche your interests are, there's probably a club or event for that on campus--- and if not, you can most certainly start your own! Engineering-wise, definitely check out Engineers Without Borders, iGEM, Terps Racing, professional Greek life, Technica, your respective majors society (For Bioengineering, that would be the BMES, the Biomedical Engineering Society), or look into getting involved in research by joining a lab. Elsewhere, I highly recommend joining intramural sports, learning bachata with the Latin dance club, reaping the free gourmet coffee from Coffee Social club, and cultural organizations such as the Filipino Cultural Association or the Multiracial Student Union!

If you attended ClarkLEAD as a first-year student, what did you enjoy most about the event?
I loved meeting other incoming students. These peer connections quickly became helpful for having a familiar face to study with in my classes.