As a woman with a lifelong interest in STEM-related subjects and a plan to earn a degree in civil engineering, I have a pervasive awareness of the discomfort and disrespect that women face in male-dominated environments that generally fail to welcome us. I remember being one of two girls in my engineering classes during my freshman and sophomore years of high school. I clung so hard to my friendship with the only other girl in the class because I could relate to her better than I could with the boys, and I felt less out of place knowing that she was there with me. I want to be that friend for other women that are finding their place in this field where they are constantly misjudged and underestimated based only on gender. I particularly felt the difference that gender dynamics make in an academic setting when I participated in the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Engineering Summer Program (ESP). The program prioritized inclusivity, accepting an equal number of girls and boys - in stark contrast to the normal ratio throughout the field of engineering. Upon arriving, I immediately felt the difference in atmosphere from that of my high school. Having other girls to talk to made building friendships so much easier, and that sense of connection nearly eradicated the nervous feelings that came with living far away from home for longer than I ever had previously. Throughout the whole three-week program, there was never a moment I felt like I didn’t belong there. Being comfortable in the company of other girls made teamwork more effective not just between us but among the entire group of students, because everyone felt free to share their ideas without judgement, and when working together, we were able to create and execute more effective designs. I left ESP not only with a host of new friends, boys and girls alike, that I still keep in touch with today, but also with renewed hope that I can someday achieve the same welcoming and diverse environment in my own workplace. The program so clearly demonstrated the value of connection and inclusivity, which I now aspire to develop wherever I work and study in the future. The first step I plan to take towards including more women in engineering is just to support those who I am studying with in college. At the University of Missouri - Columbia, I will be enrolled in many STEM classes, where there might be an imbalance of female and male students. Within these classes, I plan to form study groups and friendships that make it easier for me and my new friends to understand the coursework and develop our skills in a community of supportive peers. Further in the future, I hope to use the skills I learned in college to advance to becoming a leader within my workplace. I would love to nurture a friendly environment that leads to productive teamwork and comfort between coworkers, through leading by example as well as direct communication with team members about inclusion. Also, being involved in the hiring process at a place like an engineering firm would allow me to give opportunities to qualified women who might have been overlooked otherwise.