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Lisa Yumiko Watanabe

Biography

Profile: Lisa Watanabe doesn’t just aim for an “A” in class...or in life.  She aims for an “A+” in everything she does.  “I have been taking things one step at a time, trying my best at each step, realizing that every action I do now has consequences or rewards in the future. I spent a lot of time sowing and reaping consequences. Now that I'm on a new path, I am determined to sow good seeds and reap rewards. I take every test and homework assignment seriously.”  Fresh out of high school in 2005, Lisa went to a Los Angeles area culinary school and then was working as a line cook at a restaurant.  She realized it was not something she wanted to do for a living and enrolled at East Los Angeles Community College, where she graduated with honors in June of 2011. Lisa always had a strong aptitude for mathematics and at ELAC she was allowed to blossom.  Along the way she was able to work in a research lab at CalTech with top scientists and realized she was heading down the right career path. “Applied mathematics offers me the challenge, relevancy, and variety I need,” she said.  “My passion for math is not solely due to the fact that I like it as a subject. I feel a deep need to help build up math in society.”

Inspiration:  Lisa’s instructor during her summer research at Caltech was Dr. Robert Dale Conner. “Over the course of the summer he became a close friend and personal role model,” said Lisa.  “He made me believe that I was I was capable of anything, as long as I continued to work hard.” At the end of the summer, Dr. Conner surprised Lisa and bought her a Caltech sweater for her birthday. “When he gave it to me he said, I expect a lot from you.’ I remember that moment every time I wear that sweater, which is often.”

Aspiration:  A career in government or industry as an analyst using her mathematical skills is what Lisa hopes for.

Making a Difference: A gifted musician, Lisa volunteered each Sunday at her church playing the piano during services.  She is also active with various community organizations in East Los Angeles.

Accolades:  Lisa was awarded the 2011 Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement/National Science Foundation-STEM Scholarship, as well as the Academic Senate Scholarship Award for Mathematics at East Los Angeles College.

Interesting Fact:  Lisa said that in kindergarten she was so upset that she was at the end of the alphabetically-ordered line for lunch that “I refused to eat lunch or wash my hands until they changed the policy. They didn't budge, and after a few weeks I gave up my hunger and handwashing strike, quietly taking my place at the end of the line.”

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