Diana Villa-Segura

Academic Interests

Computer Science & Music

Fun Fact

I dressed up as the online scientific DESMOS calculator for “Dress Up as the First Letter of Your Name” day my sophomore year of high school. 

As a first-generation, low-income student, an education was always on the side in my family; however, I never let it discourage me from my love for knowledge. Math gave me a reason to stay motivated when nothing else could. I struggled with learning English in school (and still cannot pronounce the letter R), and growing up with Spanish-speaking parents made me feel like I was always on my own outside of the classroom. That is when I realized that math is what is meant for me and what piqued my interest. Math never left me on my own and was my supporter, even when I struggled. I decided to take an intro to Python course my sophomore year of high school because of the advancements in technology. I was intrigued by the way programs are developed and the amount of possibilities it brings to the table. From then on, my curiosity for how technology is designed and structured has never left my mind. I had a growing interest in music theory and musical instruments because of the variety of sounds that they can produce. 

Sound is everywhere; even if there’s silence, that silence represents a sound that can’t fully express itself, but to turn those sounds into euphony with emotions inspired me to learn an instrument. I played the alto saxophone in my school's band for around 3 years. However, the instrument I have always wanted to learn is the guitar, but I couldn’t afford private lessons and felt stuck. Duke was able to make that dream into a reality, and I am now learning to play the classical guitar. I enjoy and love playing it because I feel connected to it anytime I touch it. Instruments are like meeting new people; in the beginning they feel stiff and foreign, but once they are played, they begin to form that connection with their owner and loosen up to find a place in the heart. 

Duke has opened a variety of doors for me, and what I once believed I couldn’t do, I can with the right support and dedication. Duke Club Taekwondo has helped me conquer my fear of athletics because I grew up with asthma and felt discouraged. However, becoming active has helped me find a sport I enjoy and one that motivates me to grow. I love learning, and I want to bring together my growing passion for computer science, math, and music to focus on developing programs for sounds and musical websites/apps. I want to combine creativity with logic to bring lights to the world and inspire minds with the beauty of computational musicology

What do you like about being a SPIRE Fellow?

I want to work alongside peers and mentors who share similar interests as me and have an inclusive community that will support me along my journey at Duke. I believe a team is important when it comes to growing, learning, exploring, and bonding and what better way to build those connections than with the SPIRE community.