Projects
Refresh Bolivia
Refresh Bolivia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the goal of improving the state of public health and sanitation in rural communities of Cochabamba through hygiene and education initiatives. Starting as a volunteer in Summer 2017, I remained involved with Refresh Bolivia for over 6 years as a video editor, board member, chapter founder and chapter leader. In August 2022, I was appointed as a co-executive director of the organization and have been serving as the head director since December 2022. Leading this non-profit organization has helped me develop skills in business management, team leadership, public health research, and financial planning. In addition, it has allowed me to connect with an incredibly kind and resilient community within the Arbieto municipality, and collaborate with on-the-ground organization, Fundacíon Nuqanchik (FN), to develop and fund projects focused on the improvement of our jointly-built community center. Below is a list of some of my contributions:
Video Editing
Created 3D model in Revit for proposed community center construction (Refresh Bolivia Grant Video 2016)
Edited video for Refresh Bolivia’s application to Ford Motor Company Grant Competition in 2018 (Refresh Bolivia Ford Grant Competition 2018)
Produced 3 animated videos for RB about COVID-19 awareness [100K views on Facebook] (COVID-19 Videos)
Edited video for Refresh Bolivia’s application to 2020 Ford Motor Company Grant Competition (Refresh Bolivia Ford Grant Competition 2020 Submission)
Chapter Work
Initially founded Rochester chapter of Refresh Bolivia in 2021, serving as nascent chapter leader (RB Rochester)
Assisted in grant submissions and fundraising efforts as part of the executive board (2020 - 2021)
Appointed two co-chapter leaders in Fall 2023 to take over chapter operations
Increased chapter membership: 0 → 5
Led the development of a comprehensive update to our organization website (old → new)
Directorship
Began as one of three co-executive directors in August 2022, taking over as head director in December 2022.
Successfully provided $15K in emergency funding to FN for center maintenance, medical care assistance for families in need, and salary payments + $5K for construction work (ceiling replacement)
Led a volunteer trip with 2 Harvard students and 20+ high schools from Hughes Schools in Cochabamba to do hands-on work at our center (cement pouring for driveway and exterior curb, ceiling tile removal, tree planting, needs assessment + interviews with FN department heads)
GOOTH
GOOTH is a YouTube channel that I began in 2017 during my sophomore year of high school. I had created it with the purpose of showcasing my journey in filmmaking and video editing, and initially began uploading videos related to magic and cardistry. After joining the University of Rochester, I began making cinematic videos documenting my life at college. Within a few weeks of uploading my first video on campus, I began amassing hundreds of views and numerous comments from prospective students who thanked me for showcasing my college experience when the availability of such videos was fairly sparse. During the coronavirus pandemic, I continued to produce videos about various aspects of college life and continued to have my viewership grow. I eventually began receiving emails from small brands asking me to review their products, and began exploring the genre of product reviews and brand collaborations. I have worked with brands like Ana Luisa Jewelry, Foxnovo, FeiyuTech, MPow, and Bestisan. I eventually became the main video editor for the Hajim School of Engineering during my senior year, producing the Full Spectrium Interview Series for 2023. My channel continues to be a resource for students interested in the University of Rochester and curious buyers of technology gadgets, as well as a time capsule of my journey through filmmaking.
College V-logs
Published A College Day in my Life at the University of Rochester in January 2020 [17K lifetime views, 375+ likes, 50+ comments]
Published 5 REASONS Why I Picked URochester and YOU Should TOO (Maybe...)! in March 2020 [35K lifetime views, 700+ likes, 100+ comments]
Created 28 total videos related to college life, advice and study tips, etc. totalling 100K views. Videos were often showcased by student clubs to incoming freshmen; met with 20+ incoming freshmen/parents about individual college admission advice
Brand Collaborations & Reviews
Collaborated with Ana Luisa Jewelry, Foxnovo, FeiyuTech, Hohem, MPow, and Bestisan on product review videos
Averaged ~5K views per review video, and received positive feedback about my video style & review content Maintained integrity over creating unbiased reviews and being transparent over receipt of review units, when applicable
Used reviews & unboxings to showcase my interests, and learned about the specifics of product-based filmmaking
Freelance Work
Served as a pro-bono freelance photographer beginning in high school, using a Sony a6300 with a 16-50mm f/4.5-5.6 kit lens. Primarily photographed school events for student clubs
Created a mini-documentary in 2019 about a local 100-year old bakery with 100 years of history Shot with Sony a6300 and Sony 50mm f/1.8
Served as a freelance on-campus event photographer and videographer for the Yellowjackets, Midnight Ramblers, Vocal Point, and Trebellious a-capella groups from 2022 to 2023
Worked as video editor for HSE from October 2022 to May 2023
Language Workouts
Language Workouts began as a suite of web applications, created by Akshay Swaminathan and developed in collaboration with Sam Natarajan and me, to aid language learners in developing practical and native fluency. Currently, it exists as the flagship platform of Sabaash LLC to help accelerate the path to conversational fluency for anyone interested in learning a new language.
From the website: Spoken fluency = Knowledge + Muscle memory Speaking a foreign language fluently requires 1) knowledge — the vocabulary and grammar to form sentences — and 2) muscle memory — the connection between your brain and mouth that allows you to say the strange new sounds of a foreign language out loud, with good pronunciation and at conversational speed. Most people don't spend enough time building muscle memory, and that's why we built Language Workouts.
More coming soon…
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Refresh Bolivia
Directing a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working on public heath, infrastructure, and education projects in the peri-urban communities of Cochabamba, Bolivia. To date, we have provided over $100K in funding for the construction and maintenance of a community center, with an adjoining health center, classroom, and garden space.
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GOOTH
Created a YouTube channel (250K+ lifetime views) that serves as collection of my cinematic video work (college v-logs, mini-documentaries, cinematic reels). It contains a catalog of videos documenting my college experience, product collaborations, online film competition submissions, and cinematic cardistry videos.
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Language Workouts
Developing a suite of web applications with Akshay Swaminathan and Sam Natarajan to assist language learners in developing practical and native-level fluency. Available tools are: topic-based repetition sets, YouTube-based audio dissection practice, and practical conversation with an AI language teacher.
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My Photography Journey
A timeline of my various interests in photography, videography, and cinematography. Since getting my first mirrorless camera in 2018, I have had the privilege of growing my physical collection of photo/video equipment and digital collection of passion projects over the years. You can find some of my best work in the gallery and shop, as well as my Instagram. More to come…