Student Spotlight

Preferred Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hometown: Kennesaw, GA

Fun Fact: I love too cook and have been making bread from scratch during quarantine!

Why did you choose your major? : I chose mechanical engineering because there's a lot of overlap between various industries with the major. You can work in defense, aerospace, materials, electronics and more! I think that the defense and materials industries are both super cool, and being a mechanical engineering major means I can dabble in both. It's also very design based, and I enjoy creating things whether it be by hand or on a CAD software. I picked up a programming minor to add on to all of these skills. It's really nice because I get to learn different languages (Python, Java, C++) without the stress of a hardcore CS class. The ITP minors are geared more to becoming proficient in these languages to adding them as skills onto your resume; this way you're a better applicant in a competitive job pool! 

What’s your favorite thing and the most challenging aspect about your major? : My favorite part of mechanical engineering is being able to work on various design projects, even as an underclassman. So far I have been able to build 3D printed bridges and mini rovers, participate in a Boeing design competition, and redesign a recalled product in an upper division materials class. The most challenging aspect about my major is definitely the sheer amount of content covered. It's amazing how broad it is, but with that you have to be knowledgeable about heat transfer, materials, fluid dynamics, electricity, design software, and more. I wouldn't change it for anything, though! I've met so many brilliant people in my major and because of how broad it is, it's really interesting to see the different paths each of my peers are pursuing within mechanical engineering.

Tell us about a great experience or opportunity you’ve had outside of class:Outside of class, I've had a really great opportunity to be part of Theta Tau. Theta Tau is USC's premiere co-ed professional engineering society. The organization focuses on professionalism, service, and social aspects of an engineer's life. During my time in Theta Tau, I've been able to gain experience on what a technical interview looks like for my major, give back to kids in the community by teaching them about STEM projects, and organize events that help the organization bond. Theta Tau has also helped me gain a lot of opportunities. Upperclassmen in the organization have pointed me the right direction in the regards to research, and I was able to get a position in the M.C. Gill Composites Center. The amount of connections within the organization also scored me a job interview (fingers crossed for an offer) from the Air Force Research Lab! It's really cool how bonding with a group of like minded engineers can carve the way to amazing opportunities like these!

What are your goals after graduation?: After graduation, I really hope to work within the aerospace or defense industry in regards to materials. I huge problem that I see with aviation and defense is that after the use of large scale systems (missiles, rockets, planes, etc), they either go to the dump or are buried in random places. This is a huge waste of material and an even bigger problem when it comes to the environment. I really want to create a new material that allows these giant mechanisms to biodegrade or become reusable. That way, no materials are wasted and it's not as big of an impact on our environment. I know that's super specific, but in general I just want to work in an area that connects defense, materials, and sustainability all together.

One more cool thing: I am also in Engineers without Borders, working as the international project manager. We're currently working on a project in Bolivia relating to water supply, distribution, and filtration. Our goal is to create a system that allows those in a rural community to have efficient access to clean water. It's great to see how engineers at USC come together for a greater cause, but at the same time are trying their best to give the community the tools to create these systems after we're gone so that they are self sufficient.