Employers want you to be awesome...

This tech bubble has exploded into every aspect of our lives.  It's also influenced the way our generation works.  Think back to the start of Facebook, Apple, Microsoft...they consist of young, innovative, very hard working people.  But technology has left us to have an attention span of a 2 year old. 


So how do you look awesome to a employer?


1. Flexibility. If something needs to get done, it needs to get done.  Facebook didn't crash and burn because Mark Zuckerburg didn't ONLY work from 9-5.

2. Innovation.  To be honest, it doesn't have to be anything fancy.  Take a step back to look at the big picture. My team @ NASA was having a terrible time with the adhesive precision of a pin in a slot.  (This slot was round).  Since the slot was round, the adhesive would pull the pin in any direction.  I proposed constraining the pin using a v-groove.  Although it hasn't been testing, it was celebrated like the invention of sliced bread :-) Simple ideas help. 


3. Expression. Don't be afraid to express your ideas/questions.  Why do we do this? Why can't we do that? Instead of forcing it upon people, ask why it's not a viable option...they may come to realize that it is, and you were being snotty about it .  Also, expect to be shot down. Just remember that expression bridges the gap from innovation into production.

4. People that can shut up and listen.  Let's face it.  You don't know much about anything.  Listen to the people around you.  They often will give you the answers and advice to succeed.  They've been there, you haven't.  (Just be weary of the downers...which brings me to my NEXT point.)

5.  Enthusiasm. Nobody likes a Debbie Downer.  Even if you don't like it, do you best and learn something.  You're going to do a lot of things you don't like in  your lifetime.  Might as well get used to dealing with it (and making the most of it.)
  If you really want to know how to do this, try filling water vials for 8 hours...with cold, wet, raw hands.  You'll end up singing "99 bottles"....twice, haha.  You gotta make the most of situations.

Don't give up

   I graduated high school just as this current day recession started.  This infamous year of 2008 left me jobless, but due to my planning and hard work in high school, I was able to pursue an undergraduate education.  The start of my freshman year was tough.  I left sunny Southern California while looking as dismal prospects of finding a job once I graduated.  Oftne people would ask me, "Why engineering? It's so hhhaarrrdd. Just take the easy route and go for political science."  I would often comment it with "Well what do you want to do after you graduate?"
   "Become a lawyer... They make lots of money."  [Okay sidenote.  Lawyears make a lot of money, but they work hard too.  I've heard it's twice the salary for double the work.  $80,000 for 80 hrs per week.  Plus, there's a ton of reading legal jargon.  Personally, I think it's very difficult to work though.  Being a lawyer is NOT for the weary.]
   My first two year were particularily touch because I would time and time again that half (that's right..50%) of the industry is retiring in the next 5-10 years.  Aside from politics, they need someone to fill these roles.  So employers said they were looking, but I still didn't get an internship those summers....

Always look ahead.  Trust the people who tell you of great futures.  

Neil deGrasse Tyson -- AMA on Reddit

I know this isn't exactly advice, but Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of my ALL TIME favorite physicists and scientists that I look up to. He had an "ask me anything" thread on Reddit a while ago and he has a second one today! I think it's over now, but it's still pretty awesome to read his insight on all the questions asked.

Click here to go to the thread

I'll post something more on topic later :)

GE Channel

I found the GE channel on Youtube, and I noticed some things about the videos...

1. In order to trust the engineers/doctors/machine designers they need to be male. (Look at the Healthcare Video)
2. The aerospace video makes it look like "it's a guy thing."
3. You see a total lack of females. (Except in this video) 

Personally, I dislike this video.  It never mentions her education, and she sounds like she doesn't know what she's talking about.  It doesn't make us females look very smart...(even though she is).  I don't like the way they did this video.  


What do you think?

Submit a Question!

So I created a page to have you send your questions about STEM.  (The link is above!) I will probably be the one answering back, but if I don't have experience on the subject, I will definitely find the right person :-)

Go ahead! Ask anything! :-)

Where are all my Girl Friends?

There have been numerous times where I walk into a lecture hall, and I'm the only female and only person under....40 (to be generous).  Sometimes I just want a girlfriend to go and hang out with me in a cool, technology lecture....


Where have all the girls gone? Is it the lack of social environment that turns away girls? 


I feel, if you created groups to bring girls together, and show them their potential...it would greatly help.

SWE helps me....I get to go to girls, just like me, who are just as smart (if not smarter), just as funny (if not funnier), AND THEY UNDERSTAND MY MATH PROBLEMS!


Are these the problems with STEM? Are there not enough social outlets where the ratio is good enough? 

Just Do IT!

I've had a new philosophy lately: Don't NOT do something if other people aren't willing to go with you. 
I know that's a lot of negatives...But basically, if you wanna do something, do it! 


There have been too many instances where I miss out because one of my friends didn't want to go. 


And you know what? I've learned to become a much more independent, self-sustaining person because of it. 


What has this philosophy allowed me to do?

• See an awesome modern dance show
• Becomes an awesome modern dancer (haha, awesome, yeah right...)
• Become a female engineer
• Live in Dallas, Texas
• See a bunch of movies and ballets (you don't talk during them anyway)
• Obtain 6 letters of recommendation...and counting...
• Learn about cool technologies (seminars and poster sessions)
• Live, work, and play in Washington DC
• Start a blog! 
• Make new friends (I call them "bus friends."  I currently have about 4.)

This list can go on and on... Now that I think of it, most of these things are by myself. (I know that sounds really sad, but I've met a LOT of cool people on the way!) I would regret NOT doing these things. 

It takes a bold person to do these things...but being bold for the simple things will make it easier for the complicated ones...BE BOLD...BE AWESOME. (I'm behind you all the way!)