Cindy Aurelio
15 Riverview Place
Yonkers, New York 10701
caureli000@ citymail.cuny.edu
February 14, 2024
Professor Sara Jacobson
City College of New York
160 Convent Ave, New York, NY, 10031
Attention: Professor
Subject: Letter of Introduction
Dear Professor Jacobson:
My name is Cindy Aurelio, and I am a first-year student in my second semester of college. I was born and raised in Yonkers, New York. I live with my parents and two younger siblings, my sister Samantha who is in middle school, and my brother Matthew who is in elementary school. I was born with a hearing defect that impacted my ability to hear. But this defect has not affected my ability to learn, instead it drives me to do better, improve, and overcome certain hurdles on the road to success. One example of my many successes was when I received an honorable mention for my senior year project in architecture. I was extremely proud of receiving such an award, given that I worked extremely hard on designing, building the model, and presenting the model to the judges. Although it was a group project, my partner did not contribute at all and gave me excuses for her failure, leaving me to do everything with my dad. Luckily, my dad’s work experience as an electrician proved to be invaluable as he helped me install the lights for my model. In addition, when it comes to talents, I can proficiently use AutoCAD, a laser cutter, am able to problem-solve, listen attentively, and pay attention to detail. I am currently undecided, but I would like to major in electrical engineering since I have always had a curiosity for disassembling items. This fascination began when I was younger, and in a particular instance, I went too far and broke my dad’s SONY laptop. My professional goals are to help disabled people like me through developing better technology for improving hearing aids and cochlear implants. It sounds ambitious but it has always been a passion of mine that I have always wanted to accomplish to help those who cannot afford hearing technology.
One of the challenges I always face in my everyday life is dealing with my disability. Often, people underestimate my hearing abilities because they assume that I lack concentration. It feels discriminating and I feel targeted for something I cannot control. A different challenge I face is my timidness in talking to other people. I am aware that engineering is the type of field where collaboration and communication are key, and I am slowly breaking that shell awkwardly but slowly. Another success of mine is graduating high school. It sounds mundane, but I am the first person in my family to graduate from high school and the first person to attend college. I imagine myself in the world of engineering as someone who, after getting her degree, will continue to learn more through collaborations with different people with diverse backgrounds. Some engineering challenges that I would like to be involved in are improving hearing aid technology and making renewable energy more accessible and affordable for everyone.
