Bringing Class to the Company that Cuts Grass

Here's the low down on engineering students:

1. Every student believes that he or she is the smartest in the class.
2. 90% of all in class conversations between peers are about grades
3. 1/6 of all engineering majors are females
4. 1 out of every 20 females have similar interests as me. 
5. Only 2% of all male engineering majors are classified as "potential boyfriend"
6. Of those 2%, half of the males are eliminated once they begin speaking. As one professor once said, "The odds are good, but the goods are odd."
7. Most engineering students want to participate in co-op or internship opportunities while in college

This list could continue, but for the sake of keeping your interest, I will stop with the bullet points.

The engineering field has endless possibilities, job descriptions, and types of course work. This major is difficult, but very rewarding. I have always been very math oriented however, I have always been blonde as well. Both figuratively and literally. So lets recap. I am a white female engineering student, a sorority girl, a competitive sports fan, a follower of Christ, and, I happen to have blonde hair.  This description places me in a unique category of my own. This can be seen as a very positive or a negative scenario.

In the fall of 2011, several companies came to UT Knoxville recruiting engineering students for internship and co-op opportunities. I was reluctant to attend, but my mom encouraged me to at least go by and make an appearance. I distinctly remember feeling in the minority. As boys walked about in suits with a portfolio in hand, I pranced in with my blonde hair in curls wearing a pencil skirt, my favorite yet professional sweater vest, black heels, and carrying a handbag with my sorority letters embroidered on the front. Several company representatives were available to schedule interviews and collect resumes from all the prospective interns. I spoke to a few companies, but left feeling under qualified and over dressed.

The following morning, I attended a short interview with a logistics company from Brentwood, TN. The interview was very routine. Later that afternoon, a representative from the same company called me and offered me the co-op. Within two days, the plans for my college timeline were beginning to change.Thoughts raced in my mind.  I had just been offered a big girl job. I would have to leave my friends and family. I would have to live completely alone while working in an unfamiliar place. Exciting? Yes. Terrifying? Most definitely. I immediately called my parents and shared the news with them. Naturally, they were very proud, my daddy especially.
Within the next two weeks, Dad told this news to all of his friends. He told the news to his co-workers, the mail man, the gas station attendees, and the waitresses at Amy's Kitchen (the local southern kitchen joint) as well. He even told the random parents sitting beside him at my younger brothers middle school football game. Normally, this would  cause me to be super embarrassed. However, the random father happened to be the Manager over Operations at a Forbes Top 100 company that has a manufacturing plant in my hometown of Greeneville, TN. The two men spoke for a while, and the conversation ended with the Operations Manager suggesting that I apply for an Industrial Engineering position that is available at the local plant.

I applied.
I interviewed.
I accepted the position.
These three decisions happened as quickly as the words above. Little thought was needed. Do you know when you have a gut feeling of where God is calling you? I had that feeling. I was meant to take this opportunity for so many reasons. These decisions have impacted my engineering career more than I can even comprehend currently. Hours could be spent expressing the knowledge, relationships, and job experience I've gained. However, I will leave that for another time.

I am currently working at John Deere Power Products in Greeneville, TN. This is certainly a big switch from my college schedule and routines. My fellow engineers at John Deere are also having to adjust because I am the only female engineer in the department. They treat me as one of the boys and I enjoy participating in conversations about football, vehicles, and of course food. Being a woman in a man's world truly doesn't bother me. I  have always viewed myself as having equally valuable skills and ideas regardless of my gender. However, this view has not always been reciprocated by male students in my classes at UT.  To my surprise, others in the factory have acknowledged that my ideas are valuable and as a result I am slowly gaining a larger amount of responsibility and projects. Although I am being treated equally as all the men, I have made a decision to maintain my femininity and personal style despite the atmosphere. On my desk you will find an artificial plant, B&BW hand sanitizer, multiple pictures of my family and friends from school, a Vera Bradley clipboard, a pink JD cap, and my favorite French Vanilla coffee that I prepare from my Keurig every morning.

Engineering may not be as glamorous as I initially imagined, however I have discovered that I don't have to conform to the stereotypical engineer just to be successful. In fact, the adversity that young, social, and outgoing women face while earning their engineering degree may be the exact qualities that positively set them apart once entering the workforce. So ladies, just be you! Reinvent the norm! We are made by a purposeful God who does not make mistakes. I am so thankful that God has led me to John Deere to remind me that the gifts and personality He stamped on me CAN and WILL shine in any atmosphere if I will just stay true to who He has created me to be.

-jpr-