Meena Kian

Program Director

Meena is a third year diving deep into the brains, studying physiology and neuroscience. Her goal is to help bridge the gap between abled and disabled communities through an environment that fosters inclusion, collaboration, and compassion. She is continuously inspired by the growth of our students and the extent to which they enjoy spending time with the coaches. She is tirelessly working now to study neurodegenerative diseases as well as autoimmune disorders. 

On her free time, she likes to write poetry and surround her world with symbolism and imagery. She manipulates words and charges them with emotions that every word would strike everyone down to the heart. Her pen is as smooth as her mind and everything comes naturally to her just as ink flows out from her pen. She would also love to write out great works in front of a fireplace and allow her mind take over. 

Shreya Shriram

Secretary

Shreya is a third year studying biochemistry and cellular biology. Her favorite part about StRIVE is the people that she has gotten to know through the organiation. The students from every outing that she's met, her fellow coaches that she works with every week, and the cohort leaders, have been a big family that she has loved and cared for! She aspires to become an oncologist in the future, so you better watch out cancer...SHREYA IS COMING FOR YA!!!

Shreya is a books-person and loves to delve into the world of words and pages filled with historical fiction and mysteries. Looks like she is going to cure cancer by day, and solve crimes by night! She loves the beach and fortunately she lives close to one so she can unwind and enjoy the ocean and great photos! She doesn't just love the waters, but also the greenery as her favorite place that she has been to is Banff National Park in Canada, how cool is that?

Benjamin Zaghi

Treasurer

Ben is a second year studying political science. His goal is to build the organization as great as possible so that other people can become more aware about our organization and its goals. Hey...that's Kane's job that he is trying to steal...just kidding. He is shooting high and is very much determined to become a lawyer and graduate from a top tier law school. We all need a good lawyer am I right?

Ben is an outdoors person and loves to play sports whether to destress or to just kickback with friends. Better watch out, he will ball you up upon request! He is also a naturesque type of character and loves to watch the sunset at the top of the village building terraces. Honestly, who doesn't just need a time to catch some sunlight and get some R&R! Something that we all need...

Kane Wu

Public Outreach/Event Coordinator

Kane is a fourth year studying biochemistry and cellular biology and is striving to become a researcher and be a part of the scientific community making novel discoveries. What he loves about StRIVE is how it gives the voice and attention to the community of people with disabilities and gives them them a time to shine and share their ideas. They are just like everyone else and they deserve the same respect and time as any other.

One of his hobbies is that during the day in the winter, he loves to carve snow and run down the mountains on his snowboard. For him, nothing beats going down fast on the runs during a heavy snowfall and fall face first into a soft pile of new-fallen snow. At night, he relaxes by stargazing on a clear night sky as the snow is still covering the mountains and trees. You can tell that winter is his favorite season.

Samuel Shing

STRIVE Advisor 

Sam is a fifth year turning his eyes towards analyzing the smaller things of life...microbiology! His goal in his career is to be able to help those who are going through challenges and difficulties within their lives. He finds gratitude through the interactions that he gets to have with the students and fully understands that learning is always a two-way street allowing him to understand many of the hardships that our students face everyday. He is also fascinated by the details of the curriculum that prove to be most beneficial to students in allowing them to develop and eventually utilize the skills that our coaches teach. Being able to see the students' progress over time and grow towards independence is an encouraging and self-motivating drive to work harder to best meet their needs. 

One interesting fun fact that you may not know about Sam is that he used to have very long hair. That being said, he also loves to walk along the beach and just enjoy the scenery during the twilight hours and the golden hours. I honestly would not be surprised if you were to walk along the beach and see a guy with long hair at the beach with a surf board, because the likelihood of it being him is quite high. 

Carolann Orellana

Head Coach

Carolann is a fourth year studying clinical psychology. She loves being a part of a group that cares about the well-being of others and works hard to provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to learn about things that could one day help them be independent young adults. Very much similar to our organization's goals and objective!!! WOWOWOW!!! For her career, she wants to work with individuals who suffer from trauma and drug addiction in a clinical setting. 

Her hobby is to style other peoples' hair and apply their makeup as she enjoys watching people feel confident and happy about the way that they look. She seems like the type of person who would also be styling celebrities' hair on the side! It is a very hard and dedicated field but she has that personal will-power to empower others; she's got STYLE!!! Her ideal picture of a great vacation is at the beach where the sound of the waves, the feeling of the sand through her feet, and with just the pure ocean smell coursing through her lungs. No wonder her favorite place that she has traveled to is Maui, Hawaii!

Cassie Kyaw

Head Coach

Cassie is a second year studying human biology and she believes that what comes around, goes around. She is truly blessed to work with the students of StRIVE and want the students to feel confident within their own skin; they do not need to change anything about themselves. Her goal is to show the students that they can achieve anything that they put their mind and heart into.

One way that she just lets the world fade out and concentrate on herself is through dancing and working out to keep her body and mind in shape; another being something that we can all relate to...just being in bed. Hits too close to home. One fun fact about her is that she had been to Tahiti and was able to wear a flower crown which made her a real life Moana! What a once in a life time opportunity and at such a beautiful spot too!!!

Jasmine Elisha

Head Coach

Jasmine is a third year devoting her studies into human development. As she is achieving to attain her degree within that field, her goal is to oversee child development and facilitate the process which kids gain the necessary skills to maximize their full potential. She is also striving to create bridges of connections and a sense of community for young adults, especially for those within StRIVE. 

Jasmine is a character who is always committed and dedicated into her work and commitments, however whenever she needs a time to relax and unwind, she finds solace and tranquility either at the top of a mountain of Mt. Soledad overlooking the city of San Diego or watching others soar high above in the big blue sky at the Gliderport. You might just be able to catch a sunset with her some time!

Lauren Suh

Head Coach

Lauren is a third year studying cognitive behavioral neuroscience and is one who aspires to study illnesses of the brain and nervous system, hoping to pursue research or a career in neurology. I guess you can say that she's got the BRAINS!!! One thing that Lauren loves about StRIVE is that it engages her with many different people in so many different ways. It allows her to be creative in helping her students achieve certain goals that are accommodating to their unique traits and needs. It has brought her a lot of great friendships, both within the org and with the students that she interacts with. 

She loves to draw during her free time, whether it be about the landscapes (such as the gliderport during the sunset or at Puerto Vallarta in the summer) and portraits, so if you ever catch her doodling in class or on the bus, go and say "Hello!" so her and she may just draw you and sign it for you! Who knows, she may become a popular artist and a scientist! How MIND-BLOWING!!!

Saloni Shah

Head Coach

Saloni is studying biochemistry and cell biology, who is looking to work as an ER physician. The one thing that she has come to appreciate and love about StRIVE is the opportunity to communicate with students with disabilities and wants to raise more awareness and combat the negative stigmas that people within our community might have against this community of students.

On the side, Saloni loves to be active and is currently part of Pushpanjali, which is an on-campus Indian classical dance team. This keeps her moving and she is passionate about the ancient art form and its cultural significance. On a more peaceful note, she also loves to be at a place that is serene and that location is ideally anywhere outdoors, which is why Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park is where it is a place where she had loved to travel to.

Amena Ng

Head Coach

Amena is a fourth year studying biochemistry and cellular biology, aiming her goals towards becoming a clinical psychiatric pharmacist; treating human diseases and preventing the activation of the involved genes. One of the things that she loves to see while she is working with her students is how the students grow throughout the quarter. It amazes her to see all the students' unique personalities blossom all the while teaching them skills to reach their potential.

On her free time, she loves to go hiking and biking in the open landscape and having the cool breeze carry her through the wind and trees. One of her favorite food is ramen, so you might find her at one of the local shops enjoying a nice hot bowl after her hike! She is a down to earth person, who would always either be down for either a cup of coffee or a bowl of ramen so don't be afraid to approach her and ask, "Hey! Ramen?" Her answer would always be...."YESSSS."

Robert She

Founder and Former Director

Robert recently graduated from UCSD with a degree in Biochemistry/Cell Biology, and a minor in Global Health and in Philosophy. He is interested in researching the biochemical basis of neuropathies but sees the need to help those affected with such conditions immediately and more importantly, personally. With the help from San Diego Unified School District’s TRACE program and from the generous funding by the Strauss Foundation for Public Service, he created StRIVE as an opportunity for other passionate undergraduates to help alleviate social issues faced by people with disabilities. Outside of StRIVE, Robert is a pre-med student, a community service hobbyist, and a guy with a surfboard who thinks he’s a surfer.

Timothy Liu

                      Former Director

Tim is a bioengineering: biotechnology major from Muir college. He is interested in pursuing a career as a physician, with a yet undetermined focus. His favorite element of StRIVE is the hands-on volunteering, and the opportunity to watch his TRACE students and fellow coaches grow.

​Kate Nations

Former Director

Kate had served STRIVE tirelessly and always with enthusiasm and passion. She had given her all when coming up with our curriculum for the year and pours her heart into each one to make sure that all the skills and lessons would be applicable to the range of students that we want to see excel and strive towards a live of independence. One of her favorite moment during her time as director was when she was talking about healthy eating with her class and then ensued to make their own smoothies. She found happiness that she was making an impact by teaching something that they can make at home, easy and healthy to make, and it was an activity which the students really enjoyed. It showed her that STRIVE can be an organization that can help change the lives of our students by teaching them useful tips and life habits. 

Kate is currently working steadfastly in her post-bachelors program at SFSU and loves delving deeper into her career field. One word of advice that really rings with her that she would love to share with everyone one is, "Don't do anything for a resume. This might seem like a radical idea, especially if you're pre-med like I am. Life is too short to be living for your ten year plan. I'm not saying [to not] volunteer, take internships, or get entry level jobs in your field. But if you don't enjoy doing those "resume builder" activities, don't sink your time into them. You probably won't enjoy the career they're leading you to either. Invest your time into things you enjoy and everything else will work itself out." That by far possibly has to be the best quote that can apply to just about everyone and is the path to inspire true passion and energy for the career that we will be working towards.