Before I launch into what may seem like a "Yes women! No men!" article, I just want to say that this is my personal experience. Every word in this article has been what I've experienced.
When I was younger, I watched a movie called "The Help." It was about a lot of things, and I highly encourage everyone to watch it, just because it teaches many concepts and lessons into one tiny movie. But the best part I will never forget is what a little girl said in the movie. To give you some background, she was everything that a little girl shouldn't be back in that era. She was chubby, not very well mannered and well... she was a kid! But her mom resented her for not being skinny or "lady-like" and it turned into one of the things that became an underlying plot of the movie. In the movie however, towards the end the little girl repeats a phrase that has been said to her throughout, "You is kind, you is smart, you is important." That line has always stuck with me, till this day. So, going forward in this letter, keep that in mind, beauties.
Being judged might as well be my forte. I've gotten good at reading people and their emotions towards me. When I came to a tech school people received it with shock and awe that I'm doing something that most "women" do not do. If anyone who has met me reads this article, they will agree with the following statement: I am a complete girl! I do my nails most of the time, I love my heat hair tools, shop at Forever 21, take hours, and hours to get dressed, I change my outfits four times a day, I can't make up my mind! But what people don't always see is how determined I am and how much I make the situation I am in work. I'm loud, bubbly, slightly annoying, but I try not to give up. I'm not the smartest tool in the shed but I do try hard at everything I attempt.
My decision, persuasion, future in engineering was something that I had mixed feelings about in the start. I originally was coerced into it with the promise of amazing money and a bright future for me and my future generations of minions (if I ever chose to have any). Till this day, I've always had that what if moment of if I decided to choose another major. But that is when it hits me like a brick, I don't want to change anything. Being a woman in engineering is honestly one of the most empowering things I consider myself doing thus far in my life. It sounds so trivial to some people but until I've experienced the culture and stigma surrounding women in technology, I really didn't know what I was getting myself into.
It almost seems like there's this idea floating around that women can't do something because we think with our hearts or that we make "impulsive" decisions. That doesn't have anything to do with my education, though. My whole first year I doubted my decision, I doubted so many things about myself. I was so afraid of not being able to pull through. That was when my life started to change.
Sophomore year is when I started to do things to make myself happy. I changed my major to computer engineering and I started getting involved. The more things and people I talked to, the stronger my confidence grew, well it's still growing. Engineering should not be something based on gender. This field isn't about what we identify ourselves as, it's about our skill set and being able to produce the best work possible. Coming to NJIT was the best decision I made because I learned so much about myself and what I'm capable of.
Ladies, life isn't about how many men or women are in your class. It's about putting your best foot forward and doing the best you can. Listen to me when I say that you are so completely capable of doing anything and everything your heart desires! It honestly all boils down to these few things I consider my "mantra" to getting through a tough day.
1. Emergency junk food to satisfy a tired or broken heart
2. An amazing, solid, outstanding, there for you group of friends
3. That one movie or tv show to watch to pick you right back up
4. Becoming your own role model.
I'm so glad I made it this far. Making it to my third year as an engineering major, or any major really, is the biggest accomplishment I've made so far. If someone as average and girly as me can make it through something that is deemed a "guy's major" can find her way through it, trust me when I say you can too. Everyone is capable of this, you just need to put that effort in and have that support network. The ultimate thing that everyone needs to remember is:
Peace out lovelies, you absolutely got this!
