Girl Day 2024
Written by Mary Anderson
In light of Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, as part of Engineers Week, I’d like to write about my day to day relationship with engineering and how I got here, hopefully providing insight to the vast industry of Engineering and the not-so-cookie cutter ways of approaching it.
In 2020, I graduated from UT Knoxville with a BS in biosystems engineering and minor in environmental engineering, and in 2023, I earned a certificate for interior architecture from UCLA Extension. My coursework as a student covered a variety of engineering disciplines and architecture basics, so by the time I was finished with school, there were many different paths I could take within the industry.
Approaching the Creative Side of Engineering
Growing up, I was sure I would pursue a career in something related to art – creative writing, fashion, and graphic design were at the top of my list. I have always craved creative forms of expression, and studying engineering was honestly at the back of my mind until I started school. Approaching my Freshman year of undergrad, I met engineers who talked to me about the intersection between engineering and creativity, and their influence inspired me to switch majors on a whim from poetry to engineering. It takes a creative person to provide solutions as an engineer, and that has become clearer to me the longer I have been in the industry.
During college, I surrounded myself with other creative people studying engineering. I connected with the students, professors, and staff in my department, and they helped me understand what I wanted to get out of my career and the kind of impact I wanted to have on the world.
Engineering is Rewarding
Like my peers, I aim to progress towards making the natural and built environment healthier. Now, I am a Sustainability Analyst at Cyclone, working on a daily basis with engineers, architects and contractors who are committed to similar goals. I help clients build greener buildings and exceed industry standards. Sometimes my day to day work involves reviewing architectural drawings and communicating with clients. I get to exercise creative thinking when working with project teams to erect healthier buildings. Other days, I am conducting detailed life-cycle analyses on entire buildings and producing technical documentation ranging from spreadsheets to graphics that creatively showcase our clients’ efforts toward achieving their sustainability goals.
Whether it be through design, consulting, or something in between, engineers are faced with the opportunity to be creative in their jobs every day. Though it can be easy to fall into the routine of engineering’s technical side, I have been able to push myself to be creative with it. Chasing innovation is what makes engineering so creative and so rewarding.
The Experiences I’ll Never Forget
Having been an engineering student and now an analyst working with engineers everyday, I have had some of the coolest experiences that I will never forget. In college, I had varying opportunities that introduced me to all sides of engineering. I was able to research sustainable agriculture, work in a high tech chemistry lab, learn about robotics, and build educational websites and online tools. The passionate people I got to meet and the fieldtrips I took along the way resulted in lasting connections and unforgettable memories.
At work, I am involved with architects, engineers, and teams from the beginning of their projects to the very end. I get to be a part of the inception of the design, and I get to see the final product. Driving by a building and thinking about the positive impact my team has had on its design has become one of my favorite things about what I do.
Though I was initially unsure about approaching the field of engineering, I took a leap of faith and found so much reward and happiness. I get to be creative in my job, and I get to work with some amazing people who are at the forefront of innovation in this industry. It’s an incredible field to study and work in, and I highly recommend being a part of it. There is no right or wrong way to approach engineering. It is a progressive industry that requires unique input from all different kinds of people. No matter who you are and no matter your interests, your contribution to the built environment is important.