I am an aspiring Chemical Engineer at Lafayette college who is passionate about having a positive effect on the world. I believe that to truly make a difference in the world, which comes from having a better understanding of the world, one must be constantly learning. I always love learning new things and putting myself into challenging situations. From learning about the directional derivative, nuclear chemistry and phase diagrams to better understanding international relations and the Spanish and Chinese languages, I have always put in the effort to learn more about a vast array of subjects, as I find an incredible value in balance. Although depth in a subject is incredibly important, and I do dive deeper into specific subject matter, I love starting from scratch to learn a new fact or skill, and I find that when I push myself to my limits, I can achieve even greater things.

Very early in my freshman year of college, I knew that I wanted to do some sort of engineering, as I loved the idea of applying math and science to create and innovate real world solutions to problems facing countless people, but I was unsure of which specific discipline of engineering to go into.

However, after my first semester of college and talking with my advisor, she suggested I go into Chemical engineering because it is such a vast field with a wide array of career opportunities. From working in pharmaceuticals to the food industry or in materials science, Chemical engineering provides me with many opportunities to learn new skills where I can use my problem solving and analytical mind to help as many people as I can.

One thing that I love about Chemical engineering is that I get to learn about a variety of different systems, operations, and processes in the world. Chemical engineers can focus directly on knowledge by discovering and further analyzing certain phenomena in the world through research, but can also design and develop new ways to manipulate chemical processes or new ways to use energy. I hold great value in balance and flexibility, and chemical engineering has an incredibly diverse array of subjects that one can study and focus on.

I also love thinking "like an engineer." Engineers have to think in a different way and look at the world through a different lens than most other professions, and I appreciate having to push myself and having to think in a more flexible way.

Although my typical day at college varied depending on the day of the week as well as the month, below lists a description of a typical Monday of my Spring 2021 semester on campus.
I had my Natures of Material Class and Physics Class from 9-9:50 and 10-10:50, respectively. Both of these mainly lecture style classes (excluding their "lab time," which were on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) were in person. I learned a great deal in these enjoyable classes about engineering applications and about science in general, and was able to refine my analytical, science, and math skills.
Later in the day, I had a hybrid in-person/virtual Chemistry Lab, which was from 1-3:00 virtually and 2:45-4:00 in person. In the virtual labs, I was able to analyze data and other information from different lab videos and documents, while in the in-person labs, I individually performed experiments and precisely developed their procedures.
After the lab, I did my homework, either in my dorm building or in the science center, and went to dinner, usually with my roommate and a few other friends.
After dinner, I continued doing some work in either my dorm building or the science center with some friends and classmates.

I want others to know that it is ok and even encouraged to keep your career options open. If you are not 100% ready to commit to one specific field/discipline, you can take some time to explore two (or more) different career paths. Although you will eventually have to make a decision, don't feel that you need to know your exact major/field of interest or exactly what you will do for a career right away. Truly take time to think about different career options and take time to explore them. This can help ensure that you are on the right track for you.

Although I have not completed my STEM education yet, it has greatly helped me. I have learned how to think like an engineer and approach a problem in a different and more practical way. My problem solving, work ethic and analytical skills have improved, and I feel more confident in my ability to tackle certain engineering tasks that I will face in the future.
Furthermore, my STEM education has helped me develop a community. I have found that many people in the STEM field are extremely open, kind, and helpful, and I enjoy learning new concepts and expanding my knowledge with a great community of peers, professors, and other professionals.

As a child, I loved playing with my building blocks and Legos, creating a variety of different buildings and structures for my stuffed animals and dolls. I would also constantly be completing puzzle after puzzle and would have puzzle races with my friends. Even as a child, I was doing what engineers did. On a small scale, my childhood consisted of problem solving and creating new structures.

Furthermore, I loved STEM in school. Math was my favorite subject, as I loved my times tables and adding fractions. Even as I got older, I still loved math, and I enjoyed learning algebra and calculus. I appreciated how in math, although there is only one correct answer, one can use a variety of methods to find that answer. Additionally, my love for the sciences grew over time. In high school, this love fully developed during my Chemistry and Physics classes, as I was beginning to understand how science connects everything in the world. I loved learning about the basics of kinematics, stoichiometry and thermodynamics. Due to my love of math and science, I got introduced to the world of engineering, which seemingly involves both disciplines while simultaneously making a difference in people’s lives.

At the same time, I also loved the liberal arts/humanities. I always loved learning about different cultures and languages due to my upbringing as an adopted Chinese girl in a very Italian household. In high school, I took both Spanish and Chinese, and am continuing to learn more about different cultures on my own. Additionally, I love government/law and history, and have expanded my historical and political knowledge more recently with an international politics class under my belt.

In my career, although I want to focus on STEM, I also want to be able to merge both the sciences and the liberal arts and create a balance of the subjects in my everyday work life. This is a way to ensure that I can learn the most about the world, and as with such a diverse background, I can look at a problem through many different perspectives and can solve any problem through a variety of different approaches.

DrawingPuzzle solvingHikingPianoDanceSingingSoccerBasketballArchery

The classes that I have used the most so far have been my Chemistry classes, math classes, as well as my Nature of Engineering Materials class.
My Nature of Engineering Materials class is one of the classes that I have enjoyed the most in college, as it was one of my first opportunities to better understand the more practical applications of engineering and science in general. In this class, I learned about the properties of certain materials (such as their strength, hardness, hardenability, ductility, etc.) and the chemistry behind why these materials act the way they do.

I think that some of the most important skills in my career consist of communication skills as well as time management/organizational skills. Communication is key in any profession, and is vital in engineering, and with regards to studying engineering, I feel that communication can sometimes be overlooked. From communication between team members when working on a project to communication between an engineer and a client, to communication between an engineer and the public, the ability to properly communicate can be the difference between a successful or failed project.

Although it is a bit common/cliché to mention the importance of time management and organizational skills, I truly believe that these skills can make or break one's success. When working on a project, it is essential to stay on task and keep up with deadlines. Additionally, one way to "work smarter" is to be organized. Organization can save time and can help clarify an idea or an aspect of a project.