Scene Spotlight
By Compiled by Nate Seltenrich
Roshan "Ro" Mehdizadeh
? Civil Engineering
? Class of '05
As a civil engineering major, Ro Mehdizadeh already has a busy schedule with just schoolwork. That's why it's so amazing that she's able to put in 24 hours a week training at DeAnza Cupertino Aquatics for the upcoming Olympic trials in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle swimming events.
With her time stretched so thin, what keeps her going is a love for competition.
"I love racing," she says. "But the training part's never fun. I try to relate everything I do in the water day in and day out to my races."
Mehdizadeh has been swimming since she was three, and although this will be her first time trying out for the Olympics, she already has lots of experience competing on a national level. The last two years she competed in both the spring and summer nationals. And the fact that the relay team of which she was a part consistently earned second place at these competitions proves that Mehdizadeh is truly a competitor.
Nevertheless, making the Olympic team will be no small feat. Only the top two in each event at the trials are offered a position on the team.
Mehdizadeh says she is more focused on improving herself than on making the team per se. "It's an individual battle. My goal is always to better my personal times."
Tessa Miller
? Civil Engineering
? Class of '05
Anyone who visited Santa Clara's Earth Day fair in front of the Benson fountain last Wednesday likely came across the jewelry booth of sophomore Tessa Miller.
Selling her own handmade and individually unique necklaces, bracelets and rings, Miller took her hobby to the public and made quite an impression upon many a browser.
"I thought it was really awesome. Her jewelry looked really professional. I didn't even know she was a student at first," said junior Emily Poporad, who stopped by her booth Wednesday.
Miller has also sold her jewelry, which she makes from such materials as wire, hemp and shells, at a table in Benson. Her necklaces go for $10, while she usually sells bracelets and rings for $5 or less. Additionally, she frequently makes pieces as gifts for friends and family.
Miller has had no training or instruction in making jewelry and has learned her craft primarily through astute observation and trial and error.
"I would see jewelry in stores and be like, I could make that. You just gotta get an idea in your head and see if you can figure it out," she explains. "If I see something I like, I'll make it."
Although her craft is only a minor time commitment now, she does add that she "would love to do it on a larger scale." Based upon the raving reviews she has received, that just might be a possibility.