女性在工程由莱利

女性在工程由莱利- February 2022 Scholarship Essay

Engineering electives are nothing new. I took courses on the design and development of products, computer integrated manufacturing, architecture, and battle bots. After taking eight engineering electives throughout my four years of high school, I still felt nervous each year. That feeling of apprehension turns other women away from taking classes they are passionate about, just because the people who take the course are predominantly male. Due to this, I am still learning how to present myself in a professional setting so that I am heard, but not brash. An elective that could expand one’s skillset, as well as my own, is one for women in engineering.

An elective for women in engineering would explore different fields, such as electrical, civil, and mechanical. Women could seek what career interests them and fits their passions. While learning what captivates them, women would also learn how to respond to males who react negatively to them in a career setting.

Facing obstacles as a woman in engineering is inevitable. However, there are ways to navigate these fields. It is important for women to be confident in their career, and to be able to speak up. An elective for women interested in engineering can educate women on how to react to adversities in a degree or workplace.

I faced challenges in my engineering classes that caused me to rethink my career path. For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in engineering. But, I never knew that type best fit me. I tried electrical engineering, and learned that wires and transformers were not for me. I dove into civil engineering and it interested me, but I did not enjoy learning about bridges. Finally, when I took architecture, I knew what I wanted to do with my future. I am grateful that I found a major that fits me so well, and I could not be more excited to pursue architectural engineering.

But, at times, it was difficult to push through different engineering classes to find out what branch best fit me. Every teacher was male, and some would target the girls. I was very shy and did not know how to stand up for myself or my classmates. Getting embarrassed in front of the class was tiring, and it almost drove me to giving up on my dream. A female engineering teacher could serve as a role model to girls. My school has a large engineering program with over fifteen courses, but none of them are taught by a woman. Giving young girls a role model that they can look up to will show them that if their teacher succeeded, then they can too. In addition to the teachers, male students did similar things. Whether it was a rude comment, or tearing down my work to redo it, I did not know if I could go through this for the rest of my life. I would have jumped at an elective that taught me what to do in those situations. It is so important for women to pursue their passion. An elective for women in STEM would result in less people giving up on their dreams.

Not only could women learn important skills to have in any job, but they could also explore STEM fields freely and comfortably. It took me four years to find out what STEM career best fits me. An elective for women in STEM could do that in just one. After that, it is easier to specialize in one area early on. Women would go into what they love, and already have the tools to overcome the obstacles they will face in that field. Many women are deterred from a STEM career because of others telling them that it is not their place, or that they are not good enough. Having a healthy environment to experiment with different areas of study would be beneficial to girls. As I explored the different fields of engineering, I started to lose sight of what I love. If women are able to learn what career will best fit them while understanding what to do when faced with adversity, then more women can stop wondering what could have been. More people would reach their full potential and pursue what makes them happy.

总之,一个类在茎,允许女性women to explore STEM fields freely while learning how to conduct themselves in a professional career would benefit society greatly. Everyone has goals in life. Why should women get told that theirs are too unrealistic? As the world progresses, I hope to see more opportunities open up for women, and I believe adding an elective for women in STEM to the school system is a step in the right direction.