When I was 7, my uncle developed a MRSA staph infection which required a partial leg amputation. I spent months in the hospital visiting him with my parents, cousin, and sister. Over this period, I was able to observe many hospital operations. There are so many medical professionals who go into each patient’s care: doctors, nurses, surgeons, physical therapists, etc. Every visit, I’d meet new workers taking care of my uncle. Even as a child, I couldn’t stop but wonder how all these people could be in the right place at the right time. With all the surgeries, check-ups, and constant care, there had to be someone working to make this happen. I initially went into college undecided on a major. I knew that the healthcare field interested me, but I wasn’t a big fan of biology and didn’t want to go to medical school. That is when I found out about the diversity of roles in healthcare engineering. I was fascinated by the intersection of health sciences and engineering, and this led me to do more research about the opportunities in this field. I found out about how an industrial and operations engineering major can use data analytics and modeling formation to do healthcare work. After learning about all the different IOE roles, I decided this was the career for me. My uncle, unfortunately, passed away a few years ago due to a heart infection, however, the impact he had on my life will last forever. I want to go into the healthcare engineering field to honor his memory and implement better hospital operations to help patients like him. Just a few seconds can be the difference between life and death for a patient. Thousands of lives could be saved if I can save doctors even just a little bit of time and ensure the availability of services for those who need them. To begin my healthcare field journey, I plan to begin doing research at the University of Michigan Hospital next year by joining the Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety (CHEPS). CHEPS has many different project teams available for students to join, so there are many opportunities for me to take what I am learning and have learned through classes and other experiences and apply that to the healthcare field. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend U-M. There are many opportunities to get involved on campus with various research groups, project teams, and student organizations. I plan on utilizing all the resources available to me to get as much experience as possible. I plan on continuing to do this kind of work post-graduation. I have yet to decide if I will continue my education after getting my undergraduate degree, but I will do whatever it takes to be able to get an IOE-related job in this field. The last thing a hospital patient needs to worry about is whether or not they will have access to the care they need. I plan to use my skills to help ensure there will be no unnecessary lives lost and hopefully help many people.

There is a lot of science behind how much having a pet can help your health, especially dogs. Some benefits include stress reduction, an increase in productivity, and a sense of purpose. However, dogs come with a lot of expenses. My family did not have the money to afford a dog and all its expected and unexpected costs. As a kid, I always wanted a dog but luckily I had tons of neighbors with furry friends to make up for it. I love walking dogs and taking care of them. Since I was 13, I walked dogs around my neighborhood and took care of them when their owners were away. Not only was I able to spend time with my favorite animals, but I was also making money I could save for college. Dogs became not only a way to relieve stress and have fun but also a way to start saving for college and other expenses. I have struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. I put a lot of pressure on myself in high school to maintain my grades while taking part in many extracurricular activities, working, and dealing with some struggles within my family. I was always worried about making sure I had the perfect academic record to get into college and be eligible for scholarships. Dogs played an essential role in calming all my nerves. I made thousands of dollars by taking care of dogs for families around my neighborhood and town that will be used for college expenses. Also, just being able to be around dogs and play with them helped a lot. I cannot describe how dogs can improve someone’s mood. I felt unconditional love from these pets that weren’t even my own. I am excited for my future professional career in industrial and operations engineering, but dog sitting and walking will always be one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. Even after my dog-sitting days, I still find myself looking to dogs to cheer me up. Whether it’s getting pup cups for some dachshunds at the coffee shop I work at, petting dogs on campus, or watching videos online, dogs will always be able to put a smile on my face. Even though my family could never afford a dog, I was still able to experience the joy a dog can bring. One of my five-year goals is to be able to purchase a dog of my own. This may seem like a silly goal to some, but it is a sign of my progress and success. I am excited for what the future holds and the furry friends I will be able to have.

My favorite song is “Straight Ahead” by Dom Fera. It’s about a young girl who has her entire life ahead of her. I like to think that this song is about myself. In the past, I have struggled through some difficult times with my family and finances. The only thing that got me through was remembering everything I need is “somewhere straight ahead.” College seemed very out of reach when I was younger. After realizing what I was capable of, I never stopped dreaming about what my future would look like. I loved looking at college websites to see dining hall menus, dorm room layouts, and more to remind myself of what lies ahead. I used to feel a lot of anxiety over balancing school, my job, and my family troubles, but these struggles seemed small compared to what I imagined my future to be like. Instead of feeling stressed, I was overcome with excitement and joy. Living in that future has been like a dream. I’ve made great friends at school and I’m doing very well academically. I’m so glad I was able to stay happy and hopeful during my challenging times. One thing I learned was to always be optimistic. Time passing is scary and there has been a lot of change throughout the last few years. I had to move away to college during a global pandemic. There were a lot of times that I felt like I wouldn’t be able to continue. I’ve been met with a lot of challenges but none that I haven’t been able to overcome. I’m very happy with where I am not and cannot wait for the future.

Growing up, I wasn’t taught much about stocks or financial markets. My family was simply struggling to get by as is. We did not have a lot left over to invest after buying needs. I strongly believe that growing up in this way taught me more about personal finance than living with a Wall Street banker. One habit I got into was saving every penny I could. Ever since I could use scissors, one of my favorite activities was clipping coupons. My mom taught me how to carefully look for the ones that we would need. Over time, a little savings here and there began to make huge impacts and I learn how important any savings is. Saving money is even easier now with modern technology. There are many online resources such as browser extensions and company apps that do the hard work of finding savings for you. Through all the financial lessons I learned as a kid, I hope to graduate from college almost debt free. I currently work two jobs. Almost all my money earned goes into my savings for college expenses. There are a lot of different ways I have been able to use both modern technology and old strategies to save money on buying my groceries, clothes, and other necessities. I strongly recommend other college students do the same because after a while you will be saving hundreds of dollars that can be put towards tuition.

I have first-hand experience with how powerful good mentorship can be which is why I joined Elementary Engineering Partnerships. My goal wasn’t just to teach kids about STEM but about how valuable they are. The first session was a mess. The kids were running around and throwing stuff everywhere. Some of the other facilitators were discouraged by their behavior, but it reminded me of myself when I was their age. I knew the reason they were acting out was that no one had told them of their potential and it was my mission to change that. There’s nothing more important than a child’s sense of self-worth. They won’t be able to perform their best if they don’t know they can do amazing things. I wanted all my kids to learn how special they are, not just the ones who have the best clothes and grades. All kids have the potential to do well in school; they just come from situations that discourage them. My goal was to show how bright their futures could be if they just believed in themselves. I believe I will have a lasting impact on these kids not because I taught them math and science, but because I showed what they are capable of doing. During sessions, I made sure even my quietest of kids had an impact on our project prototypes and designs. Shyness can be a response to all sorts of trauma, and I was glad to give them a community where they all felt they were heard. Over time, many of my kids expressed interest in STEM fields. Some promised me they would try harder in classes to live up to their best self. They have since graduated from fifth grade, but I know they will remember what they are capable of.

Most of my family members work in retail, manufacturing, or other blue-collar jobs. I was the anomaly in my family when I decided to go to college and become an engineer. I made this decision not only because college would help me find a stable and well-paying job, but it also gives me more opportunities to help others. By going to college, I will be able to land a job higher up in a company and have a greater influence to do more good. I wasn’t sure of my major until I learned about industrial and operations engineering. It involved many aspects I enjoyed from leading projects with technical applications. There is a lot of good I can do within this major. For example, I could increase efficiency for a nonprofit, work with a large company to reduce resource use and produce less waste, or improve a work environment using ergonomics. None of these options would be possible without a college degree. As someone who grew up in a low-income household, I believe it is of paramount importance that companies make the well-being of their employees their priority. Many owners of large corporations have either never worked or known anyone who worked the foundational jobs for their company. They tend to make decisions based on profit rather than employee well-being. I’ve had many family members work laborious jobs and I’ve worked for several large corporations as an associate as well. With these experiences, I know how important it is to value employees and treat them fairly. I believe that with a higher-up job obtained with a college degree, I will be able to create a better environment for workers and keep their health, safety, and overall well-being in mind as I make important company-wide decisions. I also think it’s important to show other young girls they can do the same. Coming from a small town, it wasn’t common for many people to become engineers at all, especially women. When I begin my career, I want to continue outreach programs with the Society of Women Engineers to continue to show young girls that they have what it takes to be an engineer. I think the best way to help someone be their best self is to lead by example. If they see me in a STEM career then they can imagine themselves in a STEM career as well. College is important to me for many reasons. I remember my first time walking around a college campus. My family took a trip to the MSU Dairy Store. While walking there, I felt as if I would never have what it takes to be a student at any university. As I grew up, I realized my passions for math and science and began to work hard to be able to attend college and work a career I’m passionate about. I began to believe in myself as I saw what I accomplished through that hard work. Today I am attending one of the top universities in the country, and I have never been this proud of myself. I often think back to when I was a young girl and how discouraged I felt about my future. Part of me feels as if I need college not only to help others but also to prove to myself that I can make a difference. College has helped me realize it’s not just those coming from a privileged background that can have an impact. That a girl like me can change the world for the better as long as they dare to do so.

Most of my family members work jobs in retail, manufacturing, or other blue-collar jobs. I was the anomaly in my family when I decided I wanted to go to college and become an engineer. I wasn’t sure of my major during my first semester of college until I learned about industrial and operations engineering. It involved many aspects I enjoyed from leading projects in a more technical way, and I decided this was the career for me. I have big goals for my future. I’m not entirely sure what I want to do with my degree after I graduate. With IOE, there are many different industries I could work for and each job has its own benefits. I could increase efficiency for a small nonprofit, work with a large company to reduce resource use and produce less waste, or improve worker safety using ergonomics. Whatever I choose, I know I will be helping others and having a positive impact. My number one goal is to work in an industry where I can make a difference. In addition to the work I do in my career, I also plan to spend time volunteering with the Society of Women Engineers to talk with young girls about STEM. I believe that it is important to educate all women about how they can make a difference in STEM fields, especially when they’re young. It is my goal to inspire young girls to be interested in engineering and believe that they can have a career in STEM just like me.

Through middle school and high school, my dad was a RadioShack manager and my mom didn't work. Because of this, I was living in a low-income household. My parents didn't have the money for things like healthcare or preschool. I started off my education in Kindergarten where all the other kids had already had a year or two of learning and socialization before that. I was getting below-average grades because I had never been in a setting where anything was ever expected from me. The school started requiring standardized tests when I was in third grade. My teacher was confused about how I was getting extremely high scores but my performance in class did not match that. She figured out that I didn’t have much motivation to do well in school because of my situation at home. After that, she worked with me to get me excited about school instead of feeling like it was another burden. My path to academic success wasn’t easy. I had a lot of other obstacles to overcome before I could focus on school. Luckily, with the help of some amazing teachers and my own grit, I was able to match my grades to my ability and started being very successful in everything I did. Despite my education starting off poorly, I was able to overcome all the obstacles in my way and get accepted into one of the top universities in the country where I am able to maintain a GPA of 3.909. It surely hasn’t been easy, but I am happy where I am today.