National Engineer week is a time to reflect and recognize engineers around the globe. A time to show the importance of STEM careers especially to kids who are figuring out their interests. As Engineer week comes to an end, our officers reflect on how they began their journey to becoming engineers:



​"I became interested in engineering in high school after there was an opportunity to build a solar car for a competition. After helping build the solar car I knew I wanted to be an engineer. I have gained knowledge, leadership skills and friends from engineering so far and can’t wait to grow more in the field."

​-Sheena Lindorm

  


  "Growing up as a kid, I was fascinated with becoming an inventor and understanding how mechanical machines worked. I was in an inventor’s class in elementary school and an engineering class in middle school both which I really enjoyed. As I got older, I was almost scared to become an engineer because of all the hard classes and content I would have to take which almost made me change my mind. But I became and engineer to enhance my knowledge about how mechanical machines operated. My main area is in automotive and aerospace since that is where my passion lies. I have always been told that if you have a
passion for something, you will enjoy your career and strive to learn new things. I also want to encourage    
                                                               future and current female engineer students to set big
                                                               lifetime goals for themselves and help them to reach
                                                               their achievements for their passions."

                                                                  - Audrey Huneycutt

When I first joined UNT SWE, I started hearing the term 'conference' being thrown around. Being new to the game, I did not know what it exactly entailed. I did some research and after going to a couple of meetings, I understood the importance of conference and what it can do for you as a student,

At the time, SWE was getting ready to head out to National Conference in Austin, TX. I had already missed the deadline for it and I knew I was not ready for conference, especially one that was as large as national. Knowing that a local conference would soon be coming up, I had made up my mind to attend that.

Fast forward two months, during winter break, registration for WeLocal Tulsa had already began but I had not signed up. I had the website bookmarked, I knew the cost and what I needed to do but my nerves and fear of not knowing what to expect kept me from signing up. I kept making excuses that I would miss too much of school and would not be able to catch up but in reality, going to conference meant I had to leave my comfort zone. After realizing that the worst that could happen was not actually that bad, I registered overnight, wrote my essay for SWE transportation and started preparing. 

I printed over 50 resumes, and 500 business cards (YIKES!), just to be on the safe side. 
Conference turned out to be pretty fun and informative with workshops and speeches from the former mayor of Tulsa, Kathryn Taylor and Kate Van Dellen, an aerospace engineer turned advocate for STEM education in schools. From informative workshops that detailed the hardships of women as engineers to fun worships where you made ice-cream, from liquid nitrogen, the conference turned out to be blast. As a first time attendee, it was the perfect size for me to get use to. 

There was also a  career fair there with a mix of companies, from Lockheed Martin to Spirit AeroSystems. It gave me an opportunity to pitch myself and also fine-tune what I wanted to say to recruiters. In all honesty, the career fair was not as grand as I expected it to be and did not have as many companies that I had expected but it was good practice for next time.

Overall, the conference was a great opportunity to me and I hope all you make the leap and attend at least one during undergrad. I will definitely be going to National SWE Conference in October!

Until next time!