Hello! I'm Ainara

I moved to Clemson, South Carolina when I was 12, and in many ways, I will be here forever. My dad is a chemistry professor at Clemson University, so the campus has always felt like a second home — a place where curiosity is celebrated and ideas are meant to be explored. When it came time to choose a college, Clemson was just the right fit — it felt like coming full circle.

 

As an undergraduate, I was honored to be selected as a Breakthrough Scholar, a program that supports students with a strong interest in research and leadership potential. For me, research has always been about more than just data — it’s how I channel my curiosity and fuel a deeper understanding of the world. My work in high-performance computing has shown me how even the most complex systems can be understood — and improved — with the right questions. I've been fortunate enough to have many internships including research at Lehigh University, Argonne National Laboratories, and collaborations with students and institutions from around the world. 

 

TEDx has always been part of my world for as long as I can remember. My dad has given two TEDx talks, and I’ve always been drawn to the organization’s mission of spreading ideas worth sharing. But this year, organizing TEDxClemsonU took on a more personal meaning. After my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was searching for something joyful and grounding in the middle of a hard season. That’s when the theme “Waves of Transformation” was born — a reflection of how change can feel both overwhelming and powerful, similar to water, life can be pretty unpredictable, and how we can still create beauty in the midst of uncertainty.

 

TEDx has become a family project in the best way. My mom is the inspiration behind the theme, my dad serves as the academic advisor for our student organization and my younger brother just completed his first year at Clemson and joined us as a volunteer for TEDx 2024, where I helped organize that same event — setting the stage for this year’s vision.

 

To me, TEDx is more than a stage. It’s a way to bring people together, to tell stories that matter, and to remind each other that transformation — even when it’s hard — can also be hopeful. I hope my story gives you a glimpse into my life fully allows you to see the deep passion I have for this mission. 

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Cheers, 

- Ainara :)