Article by: Danny Laurence (Q19)

When Sophia asked me to write an article about myself because of my overwhelming popularity in the QUEST program, I was honored but I had to decline. Letting out the secret of my success would ruin the whole “Danny” product line. You see, it started from a humble beginning in Annandale, VA. My parents had decided to design the best product they could think of – a brand new little boy (to keep my brother company!). Then I came along.

Throughout grade school, I had an interest in all things computing: Power Point presentations, Zynga, and even some programming. Computer science really has been my love and passion for many years. In high school (which I attended with QUEST’s own Aditya Sridhar), I played football and put shot (placed 5th at states! And there is no typo, you are not throwing the shot, you are putting it), in addition to being on the 1000+ clubs that everyone does in high school. I have to throw a shout out to the International Baccalaureate program at my school; it really helped prepare me for college classes.

Danny Laurence (left) with Aditya Sridhar (both Q19) at their high school graduation

When it came time to choose colleges, I was at a loss. I searched around for schools, but I honestly didn’t know where to start. My parents were no help, as they didn’t want to make any decisions for me. I applied to the usual schools- Vtech, UVA, UNC. After a conversation with a UMD grad that taught at my school, I decided to look up the specifics about the college. After seeing the Computer Science School was consistently in the top 20 (basically the first state school), I knew that I had to come to the campus to check it out.
From the second I stepped onto campus, I thought, “Wow, this campus makes no sense what-so-ever.” We were on the mall, then we crossed a street, now we are in a parking garage? I was lost, but I was also lost in my own feeling of belonging. I knew that this is where I needed to be.

I got into all the schools I applied to, but UMD was the school for me. In the fall, we loaded up the car and drove here to start my freshman year. The rest is not history, however.

It’s now time to reveal the big reason that I got involved in QUEST… drum roll please: my roommate, Aditya. Yes, during our freshman year, Aditya would read every email sent to him by the engineering department. One happened to be a QUEST recruiting email so we decided to apply, after attending one of the amazing QUEST recruiting information sessions. (Staring Allison Cowley, Michelle Fried, and Varisha Parikh.) This information session is a big reason I decided to join QUEST recruiting. (Get your applications done!)

I’d like to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone involved with the QUEST program. It really is a home away from home- I’m sure that if I had never joined, I wouldn’t have enjoyed college as much as I have.

I’d also like to give a special shout out to my parents. Love you, Mom and Dad!