Hometown: Milwaukee
College: Milwaukee School of Engineering
Major: BS/MS Architectural Engineering – Building Electrical Systems Specialty
Why did you choose to attend MSOE?
I chose MSOE because I wanted to go to college in a different part of the country than where I first grew up (West Shokan, New York) just to see how I liked living there. I found out about MSOE through a college search program used by my high school and realized the university would be a great fit for me after visiting it during the spring break of my senior year of high school. I felt like I would really get along with the kind of people who attend the school, and I liked its academic structure of immediately plunging students into major-specific classes.
How has financial aid impacted your college experience?
Paying for college would be a nightmare without financial aid. I still have student loans and everything, but the grants and scholarships I receive every year really help limit how much money I need to borrow and will eventually have to pay back. Not needing to stress about money as much while I am attending college allows me to take advantage of unique opportunities such as studying abroad, attending conferences, and competing in competitions run by professional organizations related to my major.
What will a college degree mean to you?
To me, a college degree will mean the ability to find a job almost anywhere doing something I enjoy while surrounded by like-minded professionals. My area of profession is very much in demand right now, and not many universities offer the program I am in. No matter what part of the country or world I want to live in, I will be able to find a company that wants to hire me. I really enjoy having that kind of freedom and knowing that I do not have to limit my opportunities due to a lack of expertise in my field.
Have you learned something during college you didn’t expect?
Many of the most valuable lessons I learned in college came from outside of the classroom, but still within the college experience. My deep involvement in student organizations has taught me a multitude of valuable leadership skills. Additionally, the people I met through such organizations have really expanded my worldview and taught me that there are a lot of different kinds of people who all require a different set of skills to get along with, work with, and succeed with.
What are your plans after graduation?
I graduate in May 2019 and have accepted a job offer. I look forward to starting the next chapter of my life surrounded by myriad new and different people to meet.