My name is Elizabeth Lopez, I am a 4th year majoring in Mechatronics. Within the engineering field, 13% of it is made up of women and only 2% of engineers are Latinas. These are statistics done by the National Science Foundation and can be found with a simple google search. Being a double minority in STEM can be a challenge, as a freshman it was often challenging to feel like I fit in. There were times where I felt alone and there were times where I doubted my choice in majoring in engineering. As a Latina, my go to support system was always my family and they have always supported me in every way possible. With Covid happening during the middle of my second semester freshman year and having my sophomore year all online, I didn’t really deal with that challenge anymore, being online was much easier for me. But that all changed my junior year.
As I started my junior year, with classes being back in person, I realized soon enough that I needed to have a support system at school. I joined two organizations SWE and SHPE, both organizations were professional development clubs but most importantly these were organizations that felt like home to me. I was quickly able to create a community within both of them. While it is hard to put yourself out there especially as a freshman, the one thing I would do differently is not getting involved in organizations like SWE and SHPE and NSBE. Organizations like these were created for this specific reason so that the minorities within the STEM community had a place where they could be comfortable.
A bit of advice for incoming freshmen and for all college students. It is never too late to join clubs, clubs are where you can create communities of your own, its where you find your friends that have similar interests as you. Specifically for those majoring in STEM fields, I recommend joining organizations such as NSBE, SHPE or SWE, these clubs are there for you to create your own support system. Don’t be afraid to go to that first meeting, take those baby steps, find the environment where you are comfortable in. That’s how you best succeed in college.
-Elizabeth Lopez
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