Farjad A. Madataly
Living in a community with an intensive academic program and an engaged student body, I have learned a lot from the people I interacted with and have had space to make mistakes and learn from them.
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Extracurriculars
What three words would you use to describe L&C?
What’s your favorite class? Why?
CS-495 Topics: Advanced Security with Professor Jens Mache. This class explored the concepts behind malware analysis and reverse engineering in cybersecurity. The contents of this class were difficult to find online, and therefore, the main way of learning involved trying, failing, iterating, and trying again. Ultimately, figuring out anything in this class felt like an accomplishment, and it truly pushed me to learn and iterate through critical thinking and persistence. Professor Mache is also a great resource, and I felt like he wanted me to learn and do well in the class, extending his office hours beyond the assignment times and helping us push through. Additionally, the way that the class was set up and how the assignments were structured helped gamify the process, allowing me to remain engaged with the material and keep learning.
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
I wanted to attend a small college on the West Coast. Although there were several options, I feel like the international community was stronger than many of my other choices, and I was interested in the liberal arts curriculum. Overall, these features of L&C made me feel like it was a good fit for me.
What do you like or find interesting about your major?
I believe that with different AI Applications and tools, there is much that has and will change. Computer science is the field that makes that happen, and is beginning to play a transformative role in our world. Additionally, I believe that there is much more to this major than what they teach in the classroom, as with this degree, one has access to an endless list of things they could build.
What do you think is most interesting about your minor?
The entrepreneurship minor is one of the most practical minors that I could take. Through it, I learned about real estate, finance, how to use Excel, created data visualizations, met a long list of really interesting entrepreneurs, and devised a solid job-hunting strategy. I was able to apply all those skills and learn many more through their Winterim competition, where students get to learn how to create business plans, financial predictions, rapid prototyping, and pitching - all in a week. Additionally, Chrys Hutchings and Catarina Hunter are very personable, helpful, and are fantastic advocates for their students.
Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus: people, activities, clubs, res halls, etc?
Being a United World College alumnus, I met a lot of my friends during the international student orientation at the beginning of my first year. Over time, as I took more classes for my major, minor, and general education requirements, I made many more friends in class through group work and conversations. Additionally, I made several friends through my extracurriculars, including the investment club, which I led for my final year, as well as through playing soccer, and attending MMA club events. I found that there are many ways to find friends at Lewis & Clark, and it feels like social outlets will present themselves in many ways, and it is just your choice what you end up choosing.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
It is very important to have fun during your time at Lewis & Clark, so say yes to new things, go on road trips with your friends, join a new club, take a singing class, go on adventures, hop on the Pio Express, and discover Portland. However, do not forget about academics, and remember to prepare for your time after college. Have fun, but try to also get an internship or two, build your resume, and go to networking events!
How has Lewis & Clark changed you?
Lewis & Clark College has allowed me to mature and grow into a person who is now able to make better academic and social decisions. Living in a community with an intensive academic program and an engaged student body, I felt like I learned a lot from the people I interacted with and had a good amount of space to make mistakes and learn from them.
How did your financial aid package influence your decision to attend Lewis & Clark?
The financial package was definitely one of the best ones I received out of all the schools I applied to. In conjunction with the ranking of Lewis & Clark, I believe that the financial package was a driving factor in my application, allowing me to feel like I was going to be able to focus on school and the things I wanted to, rather than being scared of debt and having to work more than I could. I was overall very satisfied with the package I received.
Tell us about your involvement with the Bates Center. How do you feel that entrepreneurship and leadership integrate into and enhance a liberal arts education?
I have had the chance to take multiple classes from the Bates Center, TA’d for one of the department’s classes, and led the Investment club with Chrys Hutchings as our club advisor. I also got the chance to pitch and help develop a project at the Invent Oregon finals with Alex DeNuzzo, which was made possible thanks to the Bates Center’s seed fund project and Winterim. Throughout my time at Lewis & Clark, I got to connect with many of the people that operated and worked with the Bates Center, including Chrys Hutchings, Catarina Hunter, Mitch Daugherty, Kellar Autumn, and Christopher Bates, from whom I learned a lot about a wide spectrum of things, from bio-inspired design to stock analysis to networking. I strongly believe that the integration of entrepreneurship in the liberal arts allow students to develop an awareness about many practical aspects of the world, including finances, marketing, and project management, all of which apply to any job, and all of which also open many doors for students, preparing them better for the professional world. This allows artists, writers, computer scientists, and creatives to learn how to create a lifestyle where they can do things that incorporate their talents.
How do you feel supported as an international student at Lewis & Clark?
I feel like navigating all the paperwork and legal processes throughout the years would have been impossible for me without the help of our International Students and Scholars Office (ISS). Brian White, Lisa Kosiewicz Doran, and Paola Dennis are invaluable to the international student community, as they help us with all sorts of issues and support, and celebrate international students from all three campuses. They make us feel really supported!
How do you describe the liberal arts?
The liberal arts create a foundation for how to learn most things, creating a well-rounded education. It teaches you how to learn, which is very important, but requires the learner to continue their exploration of knowledge to obtain expertise. That means that it becomes applicable to most endeavors, and makes those who undergo liberal arts quite adaptable.
