All the Tech

Transcript

Let’s meet Brenda, a UIC student who won’t stop at anything to pursue her dream career. As a woman in a STEM field, she has found a supportive community on campus and has advice for those looking to meet new people and succeed in their studies. Take it away, Brenda.

– Thanks, Alex, Since I can remember, I have always been interested in programming and wanting a career in IT or software engineering. And I’m finally pursuing my dream here at the University of Illinois Chicago. I know sometimes when you find yourself in a new place it can be difficult to meet people, but it all starts with making a few friends and before you know it, you know a ton of people at UIC. But the closest connections I made tended to be people that I found myself studying, cracking jokes and hanging out with at the Computer Science Lounge. As a woman in STEM, I established connections with other women in my courses and I found my place in organizations like Women in Computer Science, Breakthrough Tech and the Society of Women in Engineering. I also love participating in activities like hackathons, the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Google Developers Club. Some advice, find places to meet people and focus on your studies. UIC has tons of places to study from the Makerspace with our 3D printers, different lounges and labs on campus, the library where you can meet Ambassador Dog or one of the many tutoring centers. One of my favorite tech spaces is the Electronic Visualization Lab. The technology was even featured in the original “Star Wars” movies. Attending UIC, I did not expect myself to become so social and extroverted. My time here has helped me grow as a person and made me feel welcome in the engineering field. I think you will too. Thank you for listening, I’m passing it back to you, Alex.

– Thank you, Brenda, that’s advice we can all take to heart. At college and any time you’re experiencing something new, it all starts with one connection on campus and before you know it, you’ve met people and had experiences you never thought possible.