Hi! My name is Paola Chow, and I'm so thankful to be part of the Baldwin Scholar community. I am from a small town in Mexico called Tampico, but I moved to The Woodlands, Texas, when I was six. I come from a very mixed family as my grandfather was Chinese and my grandma is Spaniard. I value diversity a lot, and I'm so excited to be a part of this diverse community of women who can help me grow as a person and inspire me in new aspects of life. I have two sisters — one is older, and the other is my identical twin sister.
Growing up, my dad would take me and my sisters to Home Depot workshops. While my two other sisters just sat there watching the time pass, I was hammering away and enjoying every second. I would spend my free time building bookshelves, tables, or even birdhouses, making each one better than the last. As I moved to high school, I fell in love with my engineering classes and decided to pursue Civil Engineering.
Outside of engineering, I have a deep interest in business. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and getting the chance to see how businesses start and the determination they need to succeed is so interesting to me. As a barista, I got to experience first-hand the intricate aspects of a business and how important each aspect is. From the coffee beans to the plumber that fixes the drains, every component is necessary for a business to succeed.
At Duke, I'm excited to pursue an interdisciplinary approach in my studies. Duke encourages us to explore beyond our major to find connections between seemingly disparate fields. I'm excited about combining my engineering and business passions with other interests, bridging gaps, and creating something new.
Outside of school, I love playing tennis, traveling to new places, trying new restaurants, and hiking! I am so grateful to be part of the Baldwin community and cannot wait to learn from them!