My Story
Dad was your traditional mechanic who could change an oil and magically fix the unusual roaring sound in your engine, but he was also an electrical engineer; that was what intrigued me the most. As a child, I remember peering over his shoulder—soldering iron in his right hand—while he gently dabbed a green board that resembled a vast maze with paths of gold lines ensuing in every direction. He explained to me that electricity traveled through those “mazes” and was the prime reason why a speedometer works. All of this fascinated me. It was this childhood experience at my Dad’s auto-body shop that initially propelled my affinity for engineering.
As a young girl who was originally intimidated by traditionally male-dominated fields, I empathize with the situation that all girls face. If it were not for my dad’s profound influence, I would have never discovered the beauty of engineering. I aim to utilize my understanding of these stigmas to help encourage girls to pursue their curiosities. I hope that, one day, every girl will believe that there are no limits to their potential.
My Project
Gilroy Girls Who Engineer will be an after-school program based at a local middle school. Program activities will be based on robotic kits, I am still exploring challenging, engaging, and affordable robot kits online, but I aim to acquire an additional $350.00 in grants from local organizations and companies.
I plan to reach out to female engineers who, not only can serve as a role model for young girls, but who also have experience and knowledge in their respective engineering fields. Having engineering exports in this program will help me consider what information should be included in the curriculum. Along with the help that the guest speakers can provide, the National Society of Women Engineers will serve as an invaluable resource in terms of providing engineering knowledge and offering pertinent advice.