I knew engineering was for me – and didn’t let anyone put me off

From a young age, I took an interest in art. I loved creating things with my hands whether it was sketching, stacking up Lego, etc. In school, I liked the freeness that creative subjects such as art and music had, but I also enjoyed maths and science. These subjects allowed me to understand how things work the way they do and brought along the thrill of being able to solve a problem and delve into the details of it. So engineering had always been a potential career choice for me. I wanted to combine my creative outlook with my love for STEM subjects. And ultimately, I knew that I wanted a career that will constantly expose me to new opportunities and challenges.

Most of my family and teachers encouraged me to pursue a career in engineering. But it wasn’t uncommon to come across people who tried to persuade me to choose an alternate STEM path instead of a degree in the built environment. They reasoned that it’s a male-dominated industry and that I would face racism and sexism at every step of the way. I think some of the comments also stemmed from my South Asian background, where I was encouraged to choose a degree that wouldn’t involve working on construction sites which is typically seen as a man’s job. Some of my relatives also suggested that STEM subjects can involve long work hours and as a result in the future I might have to choose between having a career or family.

Finding like-minded people kept me motivated

In school I was an active member of social and volunteering clubs that shared my interests in the built environment and STEM subjects. Here, I was able to find support, share experiences and learn from those closer to my age. By surrounding myself with other like-minded individuals who believed in motivating each other, I realised I wanted to be part of a greater group that challenges the myth that engineering is a ‘career for men’. 

I made a point of surrounding myself with people who encouraged me and were willing to support me. But it’s also possible to create your own support group. If I had my time again, I would definitely have done some work experience. It’s a great way to explore career paths and find inspiring people you can learn from.

Finding my voice in a male environment

I went to an all-girls school and at university it was a challenge for me to get comfortable in voicing my opinions and not being shy in a class where the majority of the students were male. It also took me some time to adjust myself to the new ways of learning where there was no longer a set limit to learn. To overcome my shyness I decided to run for Student Representative in my first year to force myself to interact with others and also get to know people on my course much better. Since then I have been re-elected as a Student Representative every year for my cohort. I also joined academic and social societies to meet new people and socialise.

I have thrived under invested mentors who encourage equal participation and provide opportunities to all students based on their hard work and capabilities. For example, I was offered a chance to study in Hong Kong for three weeks as part of an exchange programme to learn about applications of building systems in different climates. 

What I enjoy most about university is that in the classroom no one is seen as a future male or female engineer, but just as an engineer to be. 

I’ve learnt to believe in myself and trust my instincts

At the age of 14-18 it’s hard to believe in yourself especially if people are negative about your career choices. But I’m so glad I trusted my instincts and reasoning and kept doing what I loved. Even when I didn’t have top grades my passion and sense of purpose kept me motivated.