When I was in 6th grade we were told to write down what we wanted to be when we grew up. I responded with "an inventor." Unfortunately I found out that job title does not exist, but that did not stop me from taking apart anything broken around the house with the hopes of "making it go" again. I am a "tinkerer" at heart and have to know why things are the way they are, which is how I ended up where I am. At the age of 28 I left a comfortable position in the Studio Lighting Industry to broaden my horizons and better equip myself for the future. Earning my honors degree in Mechatronic Engineering later in life has given me a great appreciation for the way things work and how rewarding it can be to solve a problem. Earning this degree in Cape Town, South Africa presented itself with another set up challenges that helped me “learn myself” to a degree I did not think possible. Being isolated from friends and family taught me how to not only rely on myself, but to branch out of my comfort zone to seek assistance from others to reach a goal. I now feel extremely comfortable approaching colleagues about our common goals.I am excited to continue on my path of learning and development.