Pursuing a degree in civil engineering means much more to me than simply choosing a career path. It represents my passion for creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the world around me. Ever since I began thinking seriously about my future, I knew I wanted a career that would challenge me, allow me to continuously learn, and give me the chance to create something meaningful. Civil engineering fulfills all of those goals because it combines technical thinking with creativity and real-world impact. Every structure, building, road, and community project begins as an idea, and I am passionate about being part of the process that turns those ideas into reality. What inspires me most about civil engineering is the fact that it directly affects people’s lives every single day. The spaces we live in shape our experiences, our memories, and our sense of community. Engineers and designers have the ability to create environments that are safe, functional, beautiful, and meaningful. I have always admired the idea that one person’s work can become something that families use, communities depend on, and future generations continue to benefit from. That idea motivates me because I want my future career to be about more than just having a job, I want it to be about creating something lasting that improves the lives of others. I am also passionate about this degree because I genuinely enjoy being challenged. I have never wanted a career where every day feels repetitive or where I stop learning. Civil engineering is a field that constantly evolves through new technologies, designs, and ideas, which means there is always room to grow. I love the idea of having a career that pushes me to think critically, solve complex problems, and continue developing my skills throughout my life. The challenge of this field is not something that intimidates me; instead, it motivates me to work harder and prove to myself that I am capable of achieving difficult goals. Another reason this degree is so meaningful to me is because of the barriers I hope to break as a woman entering a traditionally male-dominated field. Engineering and construction industries have historically lacked female representation, but I believe that diversity brings stronger ideas, creativity, and leadership. I want to be part of the generation of women helping change those stereotypes and proving that women belong in these careers just as much as anyone else. Pursuing this degree is not only about achieving my own goals, but also about showing younger girls that they should never feel limited by expectations or assumptions about what careers they can pursue. I want to lead by example and demonstrate that determination, intelligence, and passion are more important than gender stereotypes. My passion for this field became even stronger after my summer internship at Harth Builders. Before that experience, I knew I was interested in engineering and architecture, but the internship allowed me to truly picture myself in that world. During my time there, I saw firsthand how engineering, architecture, design, and construction all come together to create something meaningful. I watched projects develop from simple ideas into beautiful, functional spaces where families would make memories and build their lives. Seeing that process up close made everything feel real to me for the first time. What stood out to me most during my internship was the passion and teamwork behind every project. I loved seeing how creativity and technical skill worked together to solve problems and create innovative designs. Every day brought something different to learn, whether it was understanding design plans, observing project management, or seeing how teams collaborated to overcome challenges. That environment showed me exactly the type of career I want for myself, which is, a career that combines creativity, leadership, innovation, and constant growth. It also helped me realize that this is not just a temporary interest or a career I “might” enjoy. It is truly what I see myself doing in the future. The internship was especially meaningful because it gave me confidence in my abilities and reinforced my belief that I belong in this field. Sometimes entering a challenging and competitive career path can feel intimidating, especially as a young woman, but that experience reminded me that passion and hard work can take you far. It allowed me to imagine not only earning my degree, but one day owning a build-design-remodel company of my own. My dream is to create a company similar to Harth Builders where I can combine engineering, architecture, and creativity to design spaces that positively impact people’s lives. I want to build a career where I can lead projects, collaborate with others, and turn ideas into something tangible and meaningful. Beyond my personal ambitions, pursuing this degree is also deeply connected to my family and the values they have instilled in me. My family has always encouraged me to work hard, challenge myself, and pursue opportunities that will help me grow. Being able to earn a degree in civil engineering (and hopefully a master’s degree in architecture) would mean so much to me because it would reflect years of dedication, perseverance, and support from the people who believe in me. I want to make my family proud by accomplishing something difficult and by building a successful future through hard work and determination. At the same time, I know this journey will not always be easy. Engineering programs are rigorous and demanding, and there will be moments when I feel overwhelmed or challenged. However, my passion for this field is what will continue pushing me forward during those moments. I believe that the most rewarding achievements often come from overcoming obstacles, and I am willing to put in the effort necessary to achieve my goals. Every challenge I face will help me grow stronger, more knowledgeable, and more prepared for the future career I want to build. Most importantly, I am passionate about pursuing this degree because it aligns with who I am and the future I envision for myself. I want a career where I can continue learning every day, where I can think creatively while solving real-world problems, and where I can leave a meaningful impact on others. Civil engineering gives me the opportunity to combine logic and creativity in a way that excites and inspires me. It is a career that requires both intelligence and imagination, and I love the balance between those two qualities. When I think about my future, I do not just picture a job title or a paycheck. I picture myself standing in front of something I helped create and feeling proud knowing that my work made a difference. I picture myself leading projects, collaborating with others, and inspiring young women who may one day want to follow a similar path. Most of all, I picture myself living a life built around passion, purpose, and growth. That is why I am so passionate about pursuing a degree in civil engineering. It is not simply the career I chose, but it is the future I want to dedicate myself to building.

Engineering is something that people wouldn't expect from me. For background information, I am a white, blonde, teenage girl. People expect for me to say "marketing" or "nursing" when they ask what I am going to major in, but they don't expect to hear civil engineering. Being what you want to be doesn't come with a "certain look" but it comes with the passion to learn. I want to accomplish something that will challenge me. What's the point in learning, if you already know everything you are about to do? My dream is to be able to do something in this world that left an impact. I want my future kids to look at a building or a bridge, and say "my mom made that". I knew I loved building things the first time I ever played with LEGOS. LEGOS allow kids to not only follow an instruction manual and see your creation come to life, but we are also given the opportunity to see what we can invent with the extra pieces that are leftover. My favorite LEGO was the green flat block. That block is meant to be grass or land, and I was free to build whatever I wanted on that flat green block. In the fall, I will be at Florida Institute of Technology, studying civil engineering and playing for the women's lacrosse team. I know this seems like it is going to be a challenge, but that's because it will be... which is scary yet exciting. Right now in high school I like to challenge myself. I like to think that I have a lot on my plate, but when I look back I have always been able to handle everything on my plate no matter how large the portion. My experiences with engineering started this past summer when I went to Georgetown for a NSLC Architecture program. At this program I was able to learn the in and outs of design and engineering, where I knew for sure this path is for me. At my high school, I currently take an honors level engineering class that I thoroughly enjoy and hope to learn many more skills that will help me in the future. And although I am not attending college in Pennsylvania, I have lived here my whole entire life. I am also from the suburbs of Philly, with Conestoga being about 40 minutes away. I love Philly and the liveliness of the sports games and the happiness it brings people. I would love to be able to build my own version of Citizens Bank Park one day to continue bringing people that happiness that sports gives me. I know it may seem silly, but sports is the first time I can remember where I really challenged myself and had the passion to keep getting better. The template I have created for myself in how I approach those situations, is how I plan to approach every situation in my life. So if you can take one thing from this it would be to give that kid the flat green LEGO block because you never know, they could end up wanting to take a piece of flat green land and letting their creativity be shown to the world.