Gerzain Guttierez
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Stanford University, Paly Class of 2019
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Gerzain is currently a second year student at Stanford University majoring in Management Science and Engineering (MS&E) with a track in operations and analytics, and a minor in Computer Science. We interviewed Gerzain in February 2020 to ask about his Stanford experience despite being in the middle of Covid lockdown. Stanford has not been open for on campus learning this year.
What from your Paly experience has helped you succeed at Stanford?
I learned two very important things. First, to love learning, and secondly but more importantly, I learned how to learn. That second part may sound weird, but it’s true. If you’re always curious and ask questions, and to try to understand why things are the way they are, you have mastered learning and it will be something enjoyable. The teachers at Paly also helped me find my passion for STEM. The Math and Science Departments are great and that was where I really grew to love math, statistics, technology, engineering, and physics. When I got accepted into Stanford, I began researching what majors they offered. Because I was interested in so many disciplines, I was especially intrigued by their interdisciplinary majors. MS&E coincidently happened to tie in all these disciplines that I grew a passion for at Paly.
What has been one of your favorite Stanford experiences?
Overall, I hate to go with the cliche answer, but almost everyone at Stanford will say their favorite thing, or one of their favorite things, about Stanford is the people. Everyone is so amazing in their own way and interacting with them is so special because you gain so much knowledge just off one conversation. It is a real honor to have such classmates. The culture encourages collaboration and as a result everyone benefits. A specific experience that has been my favorite thus far was camping out in White Plaza with the Axe Committee leading up to the Big Game (a Stanford vs Cal football game) and then getting to blow the whistle following a Stanford touchdown during the big game
Your favorite class?
My favorite course at Stanford thus far has been Introduction to Computer Science. I took it because everyone says it’s the must take while at Stanford (also because it is a major requirement), but I ended up loving it and it sparked my interest in the field. I knew nothing about coding before taking this class and I was able to build a really solid foundation by the end of the quarter. What especially intrigued me about the class were the endless amounts of applications of programming.
Career interests?
After graduation, I hope to get a position at a tech company where I will put into use my advanced computer science skills and apply it to meaningful statistical and data analysis for the company to make better informed decisions. After years in tech, I hope to shift my career to the field of sports management with an expertise in decision making heavily guided by data analytics. I hope that by immersing myself in these industries, I will be in a better position to inspire others who have a similar background as me (i.e. underrepresented minorities) to seriously commit to playing a role in vitally important industries. Not only do I want to increase minority engagement, but even better, minority leadership in these important industries I also hope to lead initiatives to promote more equal access in my community to help uplift it. Are you interested in working this summer? If so, what would be the ideal job and how can RTE supporters help you?
Ideally, I would like to have a technical internship where I can learn, grow, and be challenged to think critically. I’m specifically interested in data science and data analytics, but also software engineering, so ideally an internship where I would be doing some sort of coding where I apply what I’ve learned, but also build upon those skills as well as learn new ones. I have no problem working in a team or remotely.
One more question, how is it for you to grow up right here and attend Stanford?
When I’m at Stanford I feel like I am far away from home. Before attending Stanford, I had never been on campus, so everything was new to me. I was lost the first couple of days just like every other student. Many of the worries that I had prior to attending Stanford and that I have while I’m not there seem to somehow go away when I am there. Additionally, I feel that anything is possible when I’m there. I can see my dreams coming to reality when I’m at Stanford.
What from your Paly experience has helped you succeed at Stanford?
I learned two very important things. First, to love learning, and secondly but more importantly, I learned how to learn. That second part may sound weird, but it’s true. If you’re always curious and ask questions, and to try to understand why things are the way they are, you have mastered learning and it will be something enjoyable. The teachers at Paly also helped me find my passion for STEM. The Math and Science Departments are great and that was where I really grew to love math, statistics, technology, engineering, and physics. When I got accepted into Stanford, I began researching what majors they offered. Because I was interested in so many disciplines, I was especially intrigued by their interdisciplinary majors. MS&E coincidently happened to tie in all these disciplines that I grew a passion for at Paly.
What has been one of your favorite Stanford experiences?
Overall, I hate to go with the cliche answer, but almost everyone at Stanford will say their favorite thing, or one of their favorite things, about Stanford is the people. Everyone is so amazing in their own way and interacting with them is so special because you gain so much knowledge just off one conversation. It is a real honor to have such classmates. The culture encourages collaboration and as a result everyone benefits. A specific experience that has been my favorite thus far was camping out in White Plaza with the Axe Committee leading up to the Big Game (a Stanford vs Cal football game) and then getting to blow the whistle following a Stanford touchdown during the big game
Your favorite class?
My favorite course at Stanford thus far has been Introduction to Computer Science. I took it because everyone says it’s the must take while at Stanford (also because it is a major requirement), but I ended up loving it and it sparked my interest in the field. I knew nothing about coding before taking this class and I was able to build a really solid foundation by the end of the quarter. What especially intrigued me about the class were the endless amounts of applications of programming.
Career interests?
After graduation, I hope to get a position at a tech company where I will put into use my advanced computer science skills and apply it to meaningful statistical and data analysis for the company to make better informed decisions. After years in tech, I hope to shift my career to the field of sports management with an expertise in decision making heavily guided by data analytics. I hope that by immersing myself in these industries, I will be in a better position to inspire others who have a similar background as me (i.e. underrepresented minorities) to seriously commit to playing a role in vitally important industries. Not only do I want to increase minority engagement, but even better, minority leadership in these important industries I also hope to lead initiatives to promote more equal access in my community to help uplift it. Are you interested in working this summer? If so, what would be the ideal job and how can RTE supporters help you?
Ideally, I would like to have a technical internship where I can learn, grow, and be challenged to think critically. I’m specifically interested in data science and data analytics, but also software engineering, so ideally an internship where I would be doing some sort of coding where I apply what I’ve learned, but also build upon those skills as well as learn new ones. I have no problem working in a team or remotely.
One more question, how is it for you to grow up right here and attend Stanford?
When I’m at Stanford I feel like I am far away from home. Before attending Stanford, I had never been on campus, so everything was new to me. I was lost the first couple of days just like every other student. Many of the worries that I had prior to attending Stanford and that I have while I’m not there seem to somehow go away when I am there. Additionally, I feel that anything is possible when I’m there. I can see my dreams coming to reality when I’m at Stanford.