#SoCaltech: Leo Zhang

“For my first two years at Caltech, I was focused on academics and making sure I was on top of my work. But then I realized there were so many interesting things to do in addition to academics. I started doing trail runs with the Caltech Alpine Club and discovered the beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains. I also got involved with the Caltech Y, initially volunteering in the local community through the Y and then planning events for students to volunteer with me. 

Volunteer work for me is very fulfilling, knowing that I can spend a few hours that can have real-world impact. Like working on urban gardens at a local school: I realized that all the weeding we did and all the gathering of plants, like lemongrass, would help provide food for people in need. At the same time, I learned a lot about gardening and how to live a sustainable life. It’s a different avenue of learning than doing equations, but it’s a valuable way of seeing how to translate what you learn into something practical. 

Volunteering and exploring research—I did a SURF in 2022—allowed me to take a different approach, to use curiosity to explore how things actually work. Now I’ve expanded my interest to the whole world: Why does the world work like this? Caltech broadened my horizons, and I’m grateful to have met the mentors and friends I made along the way.” 

Leo Zhang, a graduating senior who studied computer science. He has served on the executive committee for the Caltech Y and is a recipient of the 2024 Hastrup Award, which allowed Zhang to take an educational trip to Spain study the Wenzhounese diaspora and contrast their upbringing with his own Miami childhood.

#SoCaltech is an occasional series celebrating the diverse individuals who give Caltech its spirit of excellence, ambition, and ingenuity. Know someone we should profile? Send nominations to magazine@caltech.edu.