As a juinor studying mechanical engineering at the University of California, Irvine, I have gradually identified the type of engineering career I want to pursue, specifically automotive and motorsports engineering. For as long as I’ve been an engineering student, I have been drawn to competition and cool areas of engineering. I came to UC Irvine excited about engineering, but it wasn’t until I joined the FSAE Electric Racing team that I understood how much I wanted to work in the automotive industry. As I started working on the team, I learned the automotive engineering process through research, design, testing, and manufacturing of our car. Although my experience is primarily aerodynamic-focused in FSAE, like aero CAD design, CFD testing, and carbon fiber manufacturing of body panels and wings, I think my passion for cars and competition will enable me to learn any area of it. 

What drives me the most into automotive engineering is the competition and especially the world impact it has. I have always been a competitive person, having played 15 years of soccer and a lot of video games over the years. Throughout college, though, I have gained a drive to want to challenge myself and make a real, lasting change in the world. Something that people know I designed or researched that induced a change. I want to be proud of myself for doing good research or work that challenges me further, making a lasting change in the world. It's like seeing your art being used, all the work and creativity and engineering in one physical thing. 

Outside of CAD, CFD, and pure engineering experience, I have great experience communicating and using teamwork. I played soccer growing up, had been on multiple teams, learning discipline and creating chemistry with many types of teammates. I have recently become a member of Shake Shack, a fine dining chain that puts heavy focus on hospitality and has trained me well to speak to strangers on the spot. I have also been gaining skills in this with FSAE by working with multiple subteams and finalizing parts with multiple subteams' approval. I think, unlike a lot of other engineering students, I excel in these communication skills and can stand out from engineering student crowds. Even if I don’t have the best engineering skills, my communication and teamworking skills beat most engineers. 

I would be excited to contribute my passion, engineering skills, and curiosity to the indurstry make some lasting change and harness my competitiveness.