Student Profile – Genevieve Larkin

For junior mechanical engineering major Genevieve Larkin, the pursuit of academic excellence and athletic achievement go hand in hand. As a first-generation college student from Oceanside, California, Genevieve has always been drawn to both science and the water—a passion that has shaped her journey at San José State University. Being in the women’s water polo team, she has embraced the challenge of balancing rigorous coursework with a demanding training schedule.

Genevieve’s interest in engineering began in middle school when she joined Better Education for Women in Science and Engineering and later participated in STEM clubs. Encouraged by a supportive family, she pursued her love for science and problem-solving, ultimately choosing mechanical engineering as her field of study.

Her love for water polo started at the age of 10 when her mother signed her up for the sport after she learned how to swim. Over the years, her passion for the game deepened, thanks to the incredible and meaningful experience of her teammates and coaches, people who she holds dear in her heart. Today, being part of a team is one of Genevieve’s favorite aspects of being a student-athlete. “It really gives you a purpose and a community that you can call your own and truly feel a part of,” she shares.

Juggling a demanding engineering curriculum while committing 20 hours a week to training, along with travel for tournaments and games, is no easy act. Genevieve admits that going above and beyond in homework and exam prep after a long day of classes and practices can be challenging. However, the discipline and time management skills she has developed through athletics have helped her hone these life skills. One of the most valuable lessons she has learned is the ability to rebound from setbacks. “In engineering, it’s not difficult to receive a low grade on an exam, but athletics has taught me that there’s always a way to make a comeback,” she explains.

When facing tough times, whether in school or during competition, Genevieve turns to her faith and family for motivation. “I constantly remind myself how fortunate I am to be able to push my limits, and I always feel supported by my parents and God,” she says. Keeping her grounded and driven to push through all the challenges she faced.

To younger athletes, Genevieve’s advice is: “Do it for yourself. If you want to go far in any aspect of your life, whether in sports or your career, you are the only one who can decide if you enjoy something or not. Never let anyone influence you so much that you suffer through something that doesn’t align with your personal goals and ideas for your life.”

With her determination, passion, and support, Genevieve Larkin will continue to face challenges head-on, both in the classroom and in the pool.

New Chinese AI app Deepseek impacting stock prices of Bay Area tech companies (KPIX) featuring Prof. Ahmed Banafa

A new Chinese AI startup, DeepSeek, is shaking up the tech world by surpassing ChatGPT on the Apple App Store and offering a cost-effective alternative to U.S. models like OpenAI by using only relevant data sets, cutting down costs. Watch the full interview to find out about Professor Banafa’s take and what this means for the US.