Vincent Pham

He/Him
Class of 2025
Major: Computer Engineering
Minor: Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Hometown: Catonsville, MD

What motivated you to become a ClarkLEADER?
As an undergraduate teaching fellow for 3 semesters, a former engineering orientation advisor, and a rising senior, I thought this opportunity was perfect for me. Now that I've grown and matured throughout the engineering program at UMD, I believe that I have some wisdom to share with many students, especially those who are going into the UMD Clark School of Engineering. I hope to motivate others to embrace their dreams as well as be a proud member of the Clark School community!

What are some organizations or extracurricular activities you think new students should know about?
Some clubs I've been involved with are Terps Racing, Gamera S, Leatherbacks, Vietnamese Student Association, Thai Student Association, Japanese American Student Association, Taiwanese American Student Association, Filipino Cultural Association, Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, and Cybersecurity Club. I'd recommend any of these clubs to new coming students.

If you attended ClarkLEAD as a first-year student, what did you enjoy most about the event?
I think the ability to socialize with some other fellow engineers was an important moment during my time at the event. It helped me build connections from the start and maintain them till today!

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with new Maryland Engineering students?
The first few years may be a rough time, especially when it comes to subjects like Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus II. Someone once told me, that you need to do the boring stuff before getting to the *cool* stuff. I say keep on moving, never give up, and once you get past obstacles you may or may not like, eventually you will start to see things you enjoy. Be optimistic and stay passionate.