Zoe Lee ’25 has always had a passion for engineering. She even applied to college intending to study mechanical engineering. However, while reflecting on what truly interests her, she realized that her path may lie elsewhere. Architecture, a mix of engineering and design, feels like the perfect fit: “I just really like engineering, but I also really like design and art…I think architecture… merges all those fields.”
While at Casti, Lee’s curiosity led her to discover her love for engineering through one of her most important commitments: Gatorbotics. Lee joined the team during her freshman year, “just because it sounded cool,” despite having no prior knowledge or confidence in STEM. At first, she was a bit intimidated, however, the supportive environment quickly changed that. “Because of the team and the team culture and their emphasis on teaching others and mentorship—that’s the reason why I was so committed to it. I love the team so much and [that’s] why I’m still here,” she said.
The same team spirit also carried over into “Casti Fasti.” For the past four years, she has dedicated her afternoons to training for the “Casti Fasti” Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Although she enjoys racing, the real joy comes from being part of the running community. “It’s a very difficult sport, and if it wasn’t for my team, I don’t know if I would even still be running now,” she said. “They’re the ones that inspire me to keep running.” Lee plans to continue running at the club level in college.
Beyond those main activities, Lee keeps her hands full with crocheting, rock climbing and baking. Her signature sweet treat—espresso brownies—are a fan favorite with the Gator Bakers club. As for rock climbing, ironically, Lee is afraid of heights, so she prefers bouldering over belaying. “I really like [rock climbing] because it’s kind of like a puzzle. There are a lot of people [who] are very strong physically, but you can’t exactly brute force your way through every single problem,” Lee said. “You have to try different strategies as well, which is why I like it.”
At Casti, one of the most important things she values is the opportunity to try new things. Without Casti, she wouldn’t have been able to expand her passions, especially as they pertain to cross country and engineering. It wasn’t until her junior year that she realized she might want to pursue a career that combines her passion for engineering with design, leading her to explore architecture.
Lee credits her parents, teachers and friends for fostering such a supportive environment growing up. Her upbringing has instilled in her a value for embracing curiosity and pursuing her interests. She passes that same spirit onto others by tutoring and mentoring fourth and fifth graders. “This kind of culture of kindness is what shaped my experiences,” she said. “If there’s something that you’re passionate about, keep following it, even if you don’t necessarily know exactly where it’s going to take you,” Lee said. “It’s the people around me that have taught me how to face challenges… how to be resilient and just to be curious in general.”
When asked to reflect on her favorite Casti moment, she couldn’t just choose one. “There [are] a lot of small moments that make you smile or make you laugh every single day,” Lee said. “I feel like it’s those moments that shaped my time at Casti.”
If there’s any advice Lee would give to her younger self, it would be simple: “Keep following what you’re interested in because it’ll lead you to great places.”
Looking ahead, Lee wants to continue building on this advice. “Especially for women [who] are interested in going into engineering or STEM, they might face a lot of resistance from the communities around them,” she said. “If you’re very interested in a field that you don’t have confidence in yet, don’t be afraid to keep pushing because it will bring you to a better place.”
