Like many other students my age I am looking into where I want to go to college and what I want to study when I get there. I know that I want to major in engineering; my main focus right now is electrical engineering. As a female in this field, I know it will be a challenge to achieve this goal, but it has been my focus for the past 5 years.

My interest in engineering began when I was in seventh grade. I was invited to a summer school program designed to encourage students with high math and science scores to take engineering classes at the high school. This program taught me some of the basics of engineering while keeping me involved with hands-on work most of the time. That course was something I will never forget, so when I went into high school I took several engineering classes, including Intro to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, and Digital Electronics. I have also joined my school’s engineering club and have worked on many projects with them including an automated candy dispenser for our annual Halloween Room.

I have always been one of very few females in the engineering classes. I know that this will continue in college and into the work force. It does not bother me. In fact, it challenges me to work harder and show everyone that women have an equal place in math and engineering fields. As a female in engineering, I have been asked to speak to incoming freshmen about my experiences and appear on promotional materials. As a student who has worked hard and succeeded, I have been asked to lead a high school team for design competition through Northrup-Grumman. I feel that I have been chosen for this position because my teachers recognize not only my academic skills, but also my desire to succeed in my future goals as an engineer.