Document Type

Article

Domestic/International

None

Location

Sarawak, Malayasia

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This paper discusses the story of my undergraduate research experience at Connecticut College and the role the Career Action Program funding played in allowing me to present that work internationally. Beginning with an email sent freshman year, this experience grew into a three-year research project focused on developing a genetic algorithm to evaluate shogi, a Japanese strategy game. Through this work, I gained technical skills in artificial intelligence, research methodology, and scientific writing, while also learning how to navigate rejection, collaboration, and long-term project planning. Presenting our research at the IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics in Malaysia exposed me to professional research environments and reinforced the value of accessible, ethical approaches to AI. This reflection focuses on the process behind the experience, how it shaped my academic and professional goals, and how Connecticut College’s liberal arts environment made this opportunity possible.

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The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.