“The CEE community is impressive. I greatly appreciate the job and internship opportunities that are relayed to us often and the availability of staff to discuss anything that is needed.”

Why engineering?

In fifth grade, I used to dismantle pens in class and shoot the ink across the room. My teachers would joke about me being an engineer, but I never took it seriously. In high school, I was drawn toward STEM classes and, after a robotics class senior year, I knew for sure what field I wanted to go into. Engineering is more than math and science. It teaches a new way of thinking. I chose engineering because I enjoy looking at the world, learning how something works and thinking of how to make it better.

Why CEE?

Civil and Environmental Engineering covers a range of topics. I believe, at their core, they try to tie humanity to nature with the least amount of impact. I was drawn to civil because I am fascinated by the way buildings are built and remain standing. So many little things affect a structure that mostly go unnoticed, but civil engineers have to not only notice them, but predict them. They have a gigantic impact on everyday life, and I am excited to contribute.

What do you enjoy most about the program?

The CEE community is impressive. I greatly appreciate the job and internship opportunities that are relayed to us often and the availability of staff to discuss anything that is needed. The cohort system is a great way to develop bonds with fellow students. It feels like the department takes great care to help students succeed as much as possible.

Area of interest

I am interested in structural engineering. Designing infrastructure to be cost effective and durable sounds challenging and interesting.

Internships?

After freshman year, I interned at BEI, a construction company in Southern California. I worked with Civil 3D and drew CAD for construction projects. This included using drones to survey and create topographic maps, making 3D models for tractor automation, and visiting job sites to see how our work in the office affects the teams in the field. It was a great experience and helped fuel a passion for the construction industry.

Activities?

I am the SCUBA Diving Team Lead for the Human Powered Submarine Club. Throughout the year, we design and build a pedal-powered, one man submarine that competes in international competitions. Also, I am a member of the Vocal Jazz Club at UW and regularly join in intramural sports like slow pitch softball and flag football.

This year, I will be an Engineering Peer Educator. I will be teaching a weekly class to incoming engineering students and helping them get acclimated to UW. It will be great to welcome new students to school just as I was freshman year.

What is your dream job?

I would love to become a Marine Engineer. They design the structural aspects of boats, submarines, docks, and bridges.

Any advice for prospective students?

Think about internship and career opportunities near school. UW has great engineering programs with fantastic faculty. On top of that, they are focused on getting students into the work force. Seattle is a bustling city with exponential growth all around. The CEE advisers feed students with opportunities all over the city, country and even the world. This is a great place to form a lifelong community and get started with a career. Make sure you not only consider college, but what will potentially come after graduation.