As an electrical engineer for Baxter International, Inc., I’m fortunate to be working in my dream job right out of college. I work with a research and development team for intravenous (IV) pumps and other medication delivery products.
Much of my passion for the medical field stems from my childhood. When I was younger, my grandfather had a prosthetic leg and was limited in his mobility. Knowing how much prosthetics can impact a person’s life, I decided to conduct research on synthetic prosthetic devices during my undergraduate career. That experience only solidified my love for medical devices and engineering.
At CLC, I had a phenomenal time, and I always give it my highest recommendation.I couldn’t afford to start at a large, four-year college, but at CLC, I received a scholarship through the Honors Scholars program, and I had a terrific educational experience. Nick Schevera, an English professor, was such a great mentor, always encouraging us to try something new. In an Honors Scholar Seminar class (HUM 299), we explored how competition affects education and other areas of life. Several professors came and explored the topic from their own specialty, from English to humanities to sciences. It was really interesting to hear the different perspectives.
In the Honors program, we were a close-knit groupof students from different majors and backgrounds, and we formed friendships that last to this day. It’s an amazing experience when you surround yourself by students who share your motivation to succeed.
我在转学前就改了专业。(可怕的,我知道。)At the time, I was studying civil engineering because I was intrigued by large infrastructures. But after taking a memorable class, Physics II taught by Dave Boyke, I began to have second thoughts. When discussing career paths with Dave, he assured me that I had a future in engineering even when I doubted my abilities. I never thought I was smart enough to go into electrical engineering, but that class proved otherwise. He was one professor who boosted my confidence and after that, I was an electrical engineering major on my way to NIU.
I always struggled with writing, but luckily the Writing Center was extremely helpfulwhen I needed to write essays, resumes or college application responses. Rather than doing all the work for me, the tutors made sure to teach me all the tips and tricks to make my time spent in the center more valuable. To this day, I always recommend that students be proactive and utilize all tutors across campus before it’s too late in the semester.
参与校园活动增加了我的动力和成功。At first, I didn’t like the idea of going to a community college while all my friends went off to four-year universities. Instead of sulking around, I chose to do something about it and make a lifestyle change. I tried out for the volleyball team, became a student ambassador and a tutor in the AutoCAD lab where I helped engineering students with their coursework.
我发现我参加的课外活动越多，我就越成功。活跃在校园里让我更接近我需要的资源和支持。通过保持这种心态，我顺利地过渡到了北伊利诺伊大学。
I couldn’t have asked for a better transition to NIU.The counselors at CLC told me what to expect, and even though I changed engineering majors, I had a seamless jump. There were no surprises when I arrived at NIU.
I’m extremely excited about the newBaxter Innovation Labplanned for the Grayslake Campus.Offering students hands-on activities will reinforce classroom learning and allow them to be more successful. CLC has one of the best pre-engineering programs, and having the new lab will set CLC apart from other colleges.
美国要想在全球经济中具有竞争力，让更多的美国人接受科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)教育是极其重要的。我们每天使用的几乎每一种产品，从我们消耗的食物和水到我们居住的房子，都是从工程学或STEM背景的设计师开始的。
If you’re interested in a STEM-related field but have math anxiety, know that help is available at CLC. And you don’t need to earn straight A grades in math to be successful.My math skills were not always A-level. As long as you are confident in yourself, work hard and seek tutoring or help when you need it, you can achieve your goals.