This week, I sat down with Emily Rusnak (junior, chemical engineering) to talk about her experiences and opinions as a woman in STEM. She explains some of the motivations and struggles that she has faced being part of the minority group in a male-dominated field and tells us about her own motivations and advice for joining this program.
Why did you decide to join the engineering program at Andrews?
The engineering program here is fairly well-rounded. The early widespreadness of classes gives extra leeway to switch to another concentration you may be better suited for. So overall, I liked the course outline.
What are some personal experiences and motivations you have for choosing engineering?
My whole life I have enjoyed applications of math and science. While I never participated in any robotics clubs and such, I did enjoy science clubs and competitions where I used the “E” in STEM. Some of the projects included tornado simulators, formulating biodiesel, solar-powered vehicles, and testing different bridge designs. My main motivation is being able to fuel my creative drive, while also securing a decent paycheck.
What struggles have you faced as a woman in STEM?
Having confidence is one of the main struggles I have faced alongside simply socializing. Especially in engineering, it’s hard being “the other” and asking for help. Most of the time being a woman doesn’t seem to be of importance, but then you face male-geared comments during classes or you’re collectively ignored, and it’s back to being “the other.” Being a woman in STEM is finding a balance between going completely unnoticed and being the center of attention for undesirable reasons.
What do you enjoy about being an engineering major? What do you dislike?
I like and also dislike the challenge of being an engineering major. If things are too easy, I don’t apply myself, but it can be the same way if they seem too hard. Engineering provides that challenge and keeps me engaged. I dislike the times the challenge feels too out of my league, but that usually just means I need a nap.
What are your plans for the future (career and goal-wise)?
Career wise, I would like to do anything in the food or pharmaceutical industry. Being a food scientist or process/packaging engineer are some of the positions I’m interested in. Some of my goals are to enter a company that pays for advancing my education along with additional benefits.
What advice would you give to women who want to pursue STEM?
Make sure you’re pursuing what you love, not just what you think you are good at or what other people want for you. Without passion, I feel that it is hard to stay motivated. If STEM is truly something you love, the long nights, missed meals, and untimely lows will all be worth it. Additionally, STEM is a rather broad category, so make sure you don’t just pick the specifics with your brain, but also your heart.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.