Ever since I was a child, I knew that I had a keenly analytical mind. While my peers spent their time playing video games or watching television, I found joy in conducting my own amateur experiments, and building complex structures using K’NEX and other construction toys. It came as no surprise to me, or anyone around me, that my love for physics, math, and systems led to me pursuing a career in mechanical engineering.Throughout my undergraduate career, I have had the opportunity to tackle a variety of engineering challenges. In each case, I was encouraged to think critically about the issues and requirements of each situation in order to produce a creative and innovative solution.I recognize and embrace the dynamism of the discipline and am excited by the ongoing expansion of community-engaged work in the field (transforming theory into practice). It is my hope to utilize the skills I have learned inside and outside the classroom to continue to further the field through a technical and pedagogical lens.