A Reflective Journey: Navigating Your Cumulative

Experience at Iowa State University

I entered Iowa State as a freshman in mechanical engineering, unsure of my goals
as an engineer. After just a few months, my goals became clearer, and I switched my major
to electrical engineering. After researching companies and positions for the fall career fair
and talking to electrical engineering students on the Solar Car team, I realized that my
desire to support a transition to renewable energy could be accomplished better as an
electrical engineer. However, starting college as a mechanical engineer wasn’t a mistake
because I gained opportunities and perspectives that I would have otherwise not been
exposed to.
I also started at Iowa State in the University Honors Program. Through this, I was
able to quickly make many friends in many different fields of study. Participating in this
program greatly enhanced my educational experience as well. I knew going into college
that I wanted to be a part of undergraduate research. I was able to conduct research in my
second semester here with lithium-ion batteries. I continued this research through my
sophomore year as a recipient of a fellowship from Boeing, and finally was able to present
it at the end of the year at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research. I am
continuing to pursue undergraduate research currently. However, I switched projects to
align with my evolving interests. Having the experience with the honors program gave me
necessary experience, and I was able to obtain a position on a research team with Dr. Dalal
studying solar cells materials. Through undergraduate research, I gained experience going
beyond what is required in the classroom and working independently. In my research
projects, my mentors have given me goals and guidance, but it is up to me to stay on track
and be productive.
My course work at Iowa State has been beneficial in my development as an
engineer. I have gained technical skills in my labs, collaborative skills though projects, and
leadership skills in my position as a TA. My favorite lab was my digital logic lab. Even though
the course is not related to my focus in power systems or my career goals, I enjoyed the
problem-solving process the labs and projects put me though. Working through a
complicated problem and having a functional product at the end was very satisfying. The
collaborative experiences I had in my courses helped me pursue topics in my courses that I
had particular interest in beyond the requirements of the course. Additionally, I am
currently a TA for EE 224- Signals and Systems. Leading labs and answering students’
questions helped me gain confidence in my leadership skills and strengthened my
knowledge of the course content.
 The career fairs were instrumental in my professional development while still a
student. I secured an internship as an engineer at a nuclear power plant as a freshman. I
also obtained my two following internships in distribution engineering at the subsequent
career fairs. I learned about concepts in engineering relevant to my studies in power
systems. After working for three different companies, I will be more prepared to be a
successful professional. I had the opportunity to experience different management styles
and got professional advice from my managers and co-workers and will use this knowledge
to navigate my post-graduate career.
All these experiences have accumulated in my decision to continue my education at
Iowa State, pursuing a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. The opportunities to
earn credits concurrently will allow me to earn this degree in just two additional semesters,
or a total of just nine semesters for both degrees. I will deepen my knowledge of concepts
in electrical engineering and be more prepared for my career, without a significant delay.
From my start as a confused mechanical engineering student, to developing as an
electrical engineer in my research, leadership, and technical skills, and finally my future as
a graduate student, I have had a lot of valuable resources and support. I was able to take
initiative and use these to enhance my educational and professional development.