* The SOP is meant to a stream of text without sectional headings, but here in the interest of understanding, we are highlighting the various sections.

When I first taught a 13-year-old student in an underserved Delhi neighborhood how to write a “Hello World” program, he didn’t just smile—he shouted. That joy, the kind that arises from being empowered by knowledge, is what drives me to pursue computer science. I want to harness technology to address societal issues, particularly in emerging cities like mine. For this mission, there is no better launchpad than the University of California, Berkeley.

My interest in computing began not in a classroom, but at my grandfather’s repair shop, where I spent countless weekends tinkering with discarded circuit boards. That curiosity soon found structure in school, where I ranked among the top 1% nationally in the CBSE Class 10 Informatics exam and later, secured a 96.4% in Class 12 with distinction in Physics, Chemistry, and Math. What truly set my journey in motion, however, was joining the school Robotics Club in grade 9. Building autonomous bots for inter-school competitions ignited a deeper fascination with algorithmic thinking and systems integration.

By the age of 16, I was exploring machine learning independently. Using online resources and tutorials, I developed a TensorFlow Lite-based Android app that classifies waste into recyclable, compostable, and hazardous categories. The project won a regional innovation grant and was piloted in three Delhi public schools, helping students learn about sustainability through daily use. This was my “Berkeley moment”—a realization that code, when thoughtfully written, can affect lives in meaningful ways.

Outside academics, I’ve stayed deeply engaged with the tech ecosystem. I contributed to the open-source project “Kavach,” a women’s safety app backed by India’s Ministry of Electronics. I also completed Google’s Summer of Code mentorship program under the Python Software Foundation, where I contributed modules to a library for natural language processing in underrepresented languages, including Marathi and Tamil. These experiences sharpened my skills in collaborative coding and responsible AI design.

I am also passionate about democratizing tech education. For the past two years, I’ve volunteered at CodeEqual, a Delhi-based nonprofit that brings programming lessons to low-income schools. Each Saturday, I teach Scratch and Python to students who have never seen a computer at home. Their hunger to learn is contagious, and I see my role not just as a future technologist but as a mentor and educator.

UC Berkeley’s CS program stands out for its perfect blend of theoretical depth and impact-driven innovation. Courses like CS 188 (Introduction to AI) and CS 162 (Operating Systems) are directly aligned with my academic goals. I am especially eager to work with Professor Stuart Russell, whose work on AI ethics and safety is foundational to the kind of responsible machine learning I aim to practice. I also hope to contribute to initiatives like Data for Social Good and the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity.

Beyond the classroom, Berkeley’s culture of entrepreneurship and public service resonates with me. I look forward to joining student organizations such as the Berkeley AI Research (BAIR) Lab and the Blueprint Tech for Nonprofits club. I am also keen on contributing to Cal Hacks and taking part in civic-tech hackathons to continue building for underserved communities.

My long-term vision is to become a machine learning engineer who creates tools that address real-world challenges—be it urban waste, mobility, or public health. I believe Berkeley will not just educate me, but challenge and inspire me to apply my learning where it matters most.

Above all, I bring with me a spirit of purpose, persistence, and people-first thinking. I am ready to push boundaries, ask hard questions, and code solutions that touch lives. I see Berkeley not just as a university, but as a mission partner in my journey toward responsible, human-centered technology.