Project: Engineering for Humanity with Jose Osa

Business Case

Welcome to my Engineering journey hub! Where change takes the center stage. Join me as I share my academic and personal journey, and explore the diverse ways in which I am actively trying to help the world. So I kindly invite you to become part of this project and making this dream come true, help me engineer a better tomorrow!

Purpose

I will become a Materials Science Engineer with a Masters in Aerospace Engineering.

Why? because I have only one goal in this life, and that is to save as many lives as I can. This world has become a complex pool of uncertainty and tough issues that need solving. I even have seen this in my home country Mexico, so I know the situation that we are in, and I will do everything in my power to improve it as best I can.

My area of expertise means that my goal is to engineer materials and systems related with space exploration that will bring new solutions to issues such as world hunger, renewable energy, affordable housing, smart city planning, etc.

This is Maria, she is a 2 year old girl living in the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico. She lives with her family under a couple of rods and scrap metal sheets as a roof. Her living conditions are way below the worst standards in the world. We helped build some walls and insulate her home so that she could endure the winter.

About Me.

It all started around 10 years ago, when I was 12. Something just changed in my mind, this anger and rage against the unfairness of the world started to boil within me. Until one night I made a decision. No more complaining, if I want things to be different I'll make them different. So there you had a 12 year old Jose staying up late at night planning the course of his future.

Of course I didn't exactly know how my plan was going to play out, but I knew that if I wanted to help the world in the best way I can, then I had to go to the places that would bring out and develop those skills in me. It was a tough road, with a lot of disappointments and situations that had to be overcome, but we finally made it to one of the top 15 engineering schools in the world! So here is my academic road (which is by no means the whole story):

Jose Maria Osa Baeza, 22 years old.

Education

2007-2017

Elementary and middle school
Colegio Merici, Mexico

2017-2019

High School
Tec CSF IB program, Mexico

I was here for 10 years of my life, and I had an academic scholarship since first grade. I won several academic and athletic regional competitions.

I attended this school for 2 years until I transferred, and I ended with a 96/100 overall GPA and an award for academic excellence.

2019-2021

High School

The McCallie School, US

I was awarded an academic scholarship to finish my high school education at the prestigious McCallie School, where I graduated with a 4.16/4.30 GPA, made the Dean's list of academic excellence, got inducted as a member of Keo-Kio, and won the English and Literature award.

2021-2024

Undergraduate

Sewanee: The University of the South, US

I was awarded the Global Honors Award upon admission, which grants full tuition and board expenses for as long as I attend the school. I have made the Dean's academic excellence list, got inducted into the Order of the Gown, became president of the SPS community (a charter of the National Physics Society), finished my Mathematics Minor, Published a Quantum Oscillator research paper, done Plasma research, and I am currently on track to finish my BS in Physics with a GPA of 3.9/4.0 this upcoming may.

2024-2026

Dual Degree Program

Columbia University in NYC, US

I was admitted into the world-renowned Fu Foundation School of Engineering at Columbia University in NYC, and granted an award worth $22,775 a year. Here I will pursue a second BS in materials Science Engineering, participate in world-class research, and work at places such as NASA.

2026-2027

Masters Program

Yet to be determined, US

The plan is to go to graduate school into one of the top Aerospace Engineering Masters Programs in the US.

Why is Columbia such a big deal?

It is known amongst the world that the Ivy League Schools are the best places for education anywhere. There is only 8 of them and one of the most renowned is Columbia University in NYC (some notable mentions are Harvard and Yale). Moreover, Columbia Engineering was one of the first engineering schools in the country and it is currently ranked 20-15 in the world. They only accept what they consider to be the most capable students worldwide, and they make that evident in their letters of acceptance.

Admissions Letter

Letter from the Dean of the Department of Engineering and Applied Science

Welcome video from the Dean of the Department of Engineering and Applied Science

Personal Achievements

Football

I played football since I was 11 years old up until I was 21 years old. During that time I was League champion (Mexico), National Selection (Mexico), National Champion (Mexico), 2x State Champion (TN, US), and played 2 seasons of college football (TN, US).

I currently play Rugby (TN, US).

Community Service

I've served with humanitarian groups such as Vanguardia to build homes in impoverished areas, and I have planned events for children from said areas, providing them with tutoring and entertainment.

Literature

I have dived deep into the literature world and I have written several short stories that won me an English and Literature Award, and I am currently writing a novel.

Hobbies

I have several hobbies, but the most important ones are writing, music (making and listening to it), drawing, Escape Rooms, Golf, visiting National Parks, and 3D modeling.

Personal Research

For over 7 years I have worked on a personal research project dealing with Climate Change and Smart Cities that spans over 25,000 words and 91 pages