Anantya Kasturi

About Me

My name is Anantya Kasturi (she/her) and I am a high school senior from the Chicagoland area. I am interested in computer science and healthcare. I am also passionate about advocacy for women and minorities in STEM. My favorite hobbies include reading mysteries, watching true crime, painting, binging Netflix, and biking. Currently, I’ve taken an interest in photography and cooking.

Research Experience

Initially, I was extremely nervous and a little scared to begin collaborating with my mentor. However, I was also very excited to be learning more about my field of interest. I became more comfortable talking to my mentor. Even if I was confused, I wasn’t afraid to ask questions. Once I got into the flow of things, I became more motivated to learn and write. Additionally, the Talaria Discord server was super helpful in getting questions answered and made me feel like I was not alone.

Going into the Talaria program, I only knew that I wanted to major in computer science and pursue a career in that area. Talaria gave me exposure to the real world applications of computer science and programming. It showed me that computer science could aid people in the healthcare community. Because of Talaria, I will be more inclined to opportunities linked with healthcare in the future.

Overall, Talaria was a beautiful and rewarding experience. Not only can participants add this to their college apps, but they can also learn a handy set of skills for the future. I never thought I would be able to write a literature review under the guidance of a professor as a high school student. Talaria gave me the opportunity to do so, and helped me pave the way for my future.

Mentorship Experience

My mentor was amazing. She was kind, understanding, and patient. She also started by asking me questions about what I already knew, so we could build off of my knowledge. She kindly accommodated my specific interests within her research area.

Favorite Part of Talaria

My favorite part about participating in Talaria was that it allowed me to use my time over the summer in order to better myself. I learned so many new skills that I will definitely implement in college. I also loved being guided by my mentor because it allowed me to sit down and spend time learning about my field.

Who I Recommend Talaria For

High school students looking to learn more about a specific STEM field or college students who want to gain some clarity as to how they could use their major in the real world.