Student Spotlight: Ryn Moore ’24

By Jane Halpern

August 16, 2024 | Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Ryn Moore, who graduated this spring with a degree in Electrical Science and Engineering, joined the Spinning Arts Club and discovered that fire spinning had much in common with their previous, longtime hobby: dancing. (Photo courtesy Ryn Moore.)

Ryn Moore graduated this spring, majoring in 6-1 Electrical Science and Engineering and minoring in Biomedical Engineering. Despite a challenging courseload, Ryn took full advantage of MIT’s extensive range of quirky activities and clubs–including one where participants literally get to play with fire. Ryn chose the following questions from a long list designed to showcase their personality and experience at MIT.

Tell us about one interest or hobby you’ve discovered since you came to MIT.

Oh my goodness, I’ve picked up so many hobbies, it’s really hard to choose just one. I think the one that is most unique/something that’s really hard to come across outside of MIT is fire spinning, though. Getting involved with Spinning Arts has been really rewarding because the club is full of really kind, encouraging people. I was a dancer growing up, so fire spinning has been a way to continue that with a new twist. Plus the fire makes really cool noises as it whooshes past your ears.

Who’s your favorite artist?

I really love listening to The Mountain Goats. They have over 600 songs in shockingly diverse styles and genres, so I just never get bored of their discography. Some of my favorite songs include “Amy (Spent Gladiator 1)“, “Rain in Soho“, and “Oceanographer’s Choice“.

Are you a re-reader or a re-watcher—and if so, what are your comfort books, shows, or movies?

I’m definitely a re-reader/re-watcher, but only when I’m feeling down. My friends always know that I need hugs and support if they see me watching Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog.

What’s your favorite room or building within MIT, and what’s special about it to you?

36-112 holds a really special place in my heart. This is one of the rooms that Tech Squares – MIT’s square and round dancing club – meets in, so I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years engaging in one of my favorite hobbies. I’ve spent so much time dancing in that room, it actually feels weird to have classes in there and be learning instead of dancing!

Tell me about one teacher from your past — here at MIT, at your high school, or even earlier — who had an influence on the person you’ve become.

I think the professor who has been most influential for me here at MIT is Kyle Keane. He taught Principles and Practices of Assistive Technology, and his outlook on disability, justice, and purpose in life was extremely inspiring. He is so passionate about everything he does, and he helped me see that there are people who care about the things I care about and careers out there that will let me pursue things I’m passionate about in a professional capacity.

Tell us about your favorite game.

I am part of an ILG called ET (which I cannot speak highly enough of), and whenever we are just hanging out, we like to try to spoonerize or portmanteau as many phrases as possible. So if someone says ‘baby duck’ someone else will respond with ‘buck.’ Or if someone says ‘laser maze’ someone else will say ‘mazer lase.’ The thing that makes this really funny is that it’s not an explicit game we play, it just comes up in conversation, so you never know when someone is going to spoonerize something you say.