Student Experience
Life Beyond the Redwoods 2025: Jennie Lin at Google
One year after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, Jennie Lin (Crown ’25, computer science) is a software engineer at Google.
Jennie Lin graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2025 with a degree in computer science.
One year after graduating from UC Santa Cruz, first-generation student Jennie Lin is a software engineer at Google. She credits the university’s unique environment, and challenging coursework with preparing her for her career.
“UC Santa Cruz provides such a unique environment, it is academically rigorous, yet student culture remains supportive and collaborative. It is a school that offers strong STEM programs, yet is situated in the heart of the redwoods, and strangely enough, the contrast works perfectly,” Lin said. “The privilege of unwinding after a long day on my favorite bench, or of studying with a view of the ocean beneath the swaying wisteria, was instrumental to my success. UCSC was where I embraced my career path, finding a rhythm between learning and mental well-being.”
Before UC Santa Cruz, Lin had little knowledge of computer science beyond taking a beginner high school course and a 3-week computer science summer program through Google. She was unsure if computer science was her path, but she took classes at UCSC that convinced her otherwise. Professor Emeritus Ethan Miller’s CSE 13 class and Professor Andi Quinn’s CSE 130 class both challenged and prepared Lin for the work she currently does.
In addition to her coursework, Lin worked as a Baskin Engineering peer advisor and Learning Support Services tutor for different computer science and math classes. She also participated in Tech4Good and the College Scholars Program.
“Being a tutor gave me the opportunity to help others become confident in their own abilities,” Lin said. “It helped me understand the best way to teach the same idea to different students, and provided meaningful skills that I use to this day.”
Lin spent three summers interning for Google, securing her role as software engineer shortly after graduating. Now, she spends her time making interfaces for users to interact with Google’s Data Lakehouse, adding support for customer requested features, and improving query performance for enterprise customers. Lin finds the environment at her work to be collaborative and challenging.
“I enjoy the day-to-day interactions I have with my co-workers, from having casual chats over lunch to more serious project-specific topics,” Lin said. “I know I can come to them when I have questions or want to learn about their area of expertise. My favorite part about Google is how everyone is eager to share knowledge and help each other out.”
Lin’s journey to UC Santa Cruz and Google wasn’t straightforward, having to navigate hardships to get to where she is today.
Lin’s family immigrated to the U.S. from a village in the countryside of China, where education was a privilege. Lin grew up in San Francisco, in a house filled to the brim with her family and extended family members. Two years into her time at UCSC, she was diagnosed with lymphoma.
Lin became a part-time student, and for two years, went through intense treatment. Through all of this, she continued taking remote classes and completed a remote internship with Google. Finally, in her senior year, she was able to move back to campus. Every two weeks, her parents would pick her up for treatments, but Lin still managed to finish her coursework. She graduated alongside her friends in 2025 and landed her dream job.
“It was here [in Santa Cruz] where I met my lifelong friends, friends who have always encouraged me and provided support during difficult times,” Lin said. “Thanks to my parents’ and friends’ continued support, I was able to overcome these odds. Each drive to the hospital was a testament to their love and their commitment to my dreams, regardless of the cards I was dealt.”
With the support and love from her family and friends, Lin walked with her class last year from Crown College with a B.S. in computer science. She is the first in her family to graduate from college.
Looking forward in her career, Lin wants to continue to grow in her field, taking on projects independently and becoming a go-to expert in a particular topic. She also hopes to one day lead internship programs, becoming a mentor for students looking to gain industry experience, and inspiring others who have to fight the odds to pursue their dreams.
As for her own obstacles, Lin stays grounded and ready.
“Whenever I face new challenges, I remind myself that they couldn’t possibly be as difficult as what I’ve already overcome,” Lin said. “This helps me keep my priorities in check and stay focused on what I truly value.”
Life Beyond the Redwoods features 10 Class of 2025 alumni who share how their time at UC Santa Cruz prepared them to launch their careers one year after graduation.