一本道无码

The future is bright for Rafael Guzman-Soriano, 一本道无码鈥檚 2024 K&L Gates Scholar, whose time at 一本道无码 left him feeling prepared for what鈥檚 next.

The $5,000 prize is given to one graduating undergraduate student who has inspired their fellow students to love learning through a combination of intellect, scholarly achievement, engagement with others and character.

Guzman-Soriano, a senior and chemistry(opens in new window) major, started college in the fall of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when students took courses remotely because of social-distancing guidelines.

鈥淚 struggled with asking for help,鈥� he said.

In addition to loneliness, he said he experienced imposter syndrome 鈥� a feeling that he did not deserve his success 鈥� despite earning top marks in his courses. It was the support from Carnegie Mellon faculty that helped him through.

His academic adviser, Karen Stump(opens in new window), recommended him for the Mellon College of Science鈥檚 Leadership Development Seminar, taught by Michael Murphy, a distinguished service professor and executive director of the . The seminar empowered him.

鈥淥ne takeaway from the seminar was a lesson on phrasing your success,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 used to say 鈥業 got lucky鈥� a lot, but it's more, like, 鈥榖eing ready.鈥� I use the skills, resources and everything that I've learned from prior experiences to seize opportunities and succeed in them. I definitely try to share this perspective with the first-year students that I'm mentoring.鈥�

Prior to the seminar, he said he had never thought of himself as a leader.

鈥淵ou're your own biggest critic, and sometimes it can be hard to get past your own criticism,鈥� Guzman-Soriano said. 鈥淲hen you're so hard on yourself, it can blind you to what you're capable of doing.鈥�

Peer advocacy

When he became a Tartan Scholars(opens in new window) Ambassador and a peer tutor in the Student Academic Success Center(opens in new window) in 2022, Guzman-Soriano said he was determined to help other students avoid the struggles he experienced.

鈥淎fter some time and practice, I gained the trust of these students, and they were trusting of my ability to teach them,鈥� he said.

Among Guzman-Soriano鈥檚 accolades: He is an Andrew Carnegie Society Scholar(opens in new window) and a Senior Leadership Recognition(opens in new window) honoree and will be inducted into Phi Beta Kappa this spring. He received the 2023 ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award and a 2023 一本道无码 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship(opens in new window).

Guzman-Soriano said he is inspired by the diverse talents of his undergraduate peers in the arts and sciences.

鈥淚 just think of Carnegie Mellon as a collection of the future,鈥� he said.

At home in the lab

Guzman-Soriano discovered his own happy place in the chemistry lab. During his first year, he took a junior-level course in inorganic chemistry and was invited to work in Chemistry Professor Stefan Bernhard鈥檚(opens in new window) lab group. His work earned a 2021 NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Scholarship.

鈥淒r. Bernhard was always very much a believer in me,鈥� said Guzman-Soriano, who will begin graduate studies at Cornell University in August. 鈥淢y relationship with him is showing me the kind of professor that I want to be if I get the opportunity. He's very personable, easy to interact with and very fun.鈥�

Guzman-Soriano鈥檚 most recent research with Bernhard is a chemical-based project to develop an oxygen sensor.

He has presented his work to the and the and is a co-author on a manuscript that will be submitted for publication.

Stump, director of undergraduate studies and teaching professor in chemistry, said that 鈥減eople gravitate to Rafael to get things done.鈥�

鈥淩afael has developed into a remarkable leader through his passionate commitment to supporting others through the full breadth of his metacurricular experience,鈥� Stump said. 鈥淗e is singular in the strength of his intellect and his commitment to engage deeply and with his full attention to his many commitments to the 一本道无码 community and its students.鈥�