“I live for this, so excited to engage with these high schoolers today!” Lia sustained this level of high energy and enthusiasm throughout their Pathfinder visit with Juliette Rorie’s class at Fenway High. The group, composed of seniors with a keen interest in pursuing a career in the engineering field, listened attentively as Lia shared their academic and professional journey that has led to a budding career in electrical engineering.
As a high schooler who loved robotics and math, Lia also entertained the idea of being a therapist. However, mentors suggested a move from engineering to psychology, should they decide to, would be an easier transition, so when Lia gained admission into the highly competitive engineering program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the course of study was set. Now they just had to decide what kind of engineering would be best for them.
This initiated a very informative discussion with the class about working towards your strengths and interests. For example, Lia shared that after taking some foundational courses, they realized mechanical and civil engineering were of less interest to them, however, they really enjoyed and had an acumen for physics, circuits, conductors, and other elements that steered them towards electrical engineering. Although Lia was an “A” student in high school, college was a hard road, and Lia says they passed “thanks to weighted averages and curves.” This realization was the driving force to seek the support needed in order to graduate.
In terms of academic support and study habits, Lia offered tips such as online help like Khan Academy, taking advantage of office hours and corrections offered by professors, taking copious notes then transferring them onto notecards, followed by study sessions with classmates to review content. Lia would often sit outside a professor’s office during open hours and listen in on their classmates’ sessions to gain insight. “They asked questions that I hadn’t even thought about, so it was incredibly helpful,” Lia shared.
Along with techniques to enhance academic skills, students also had questions on the how-to’s of landing internships and jobs. Lia strongly suggested meeting with career counselors and attending career fairs. Landing an internship can be challenging, so a strong resume and being able to advocate for your skills is critical. One student astutely shared that a resume “is like you’re creating an advertisement for yourself.”
Another student asked, “What skill did you not have going into college that you wish you had?” Lia quickly responded, “time management.” Through their experience in college, Lia learned that you need to allocate enough time for studying, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively, and getting enough rest to charge your body and mind.
Finally, Lia shared that starting projects well in advance of the due date and working on them incrementally will go a long way to supporting a successful college experience. In addition, much like the foundation of a house, building a strong base of knowledge will support students’ learning for years to come.
This is Lia’s third time engaging with students through BPIE – they had previously served on a panel and been a Big Cheese Reads guest. As we seek to connect students with career pathways and opportunities, Lia’s ability to reflect on their experience, relate to students, and do so with candor and honesty has made them an asset to our Pathfinders program.
