Hard work is everything.

Engineering is no walk in the park, for guys and girls alike. Persistence and dedication are extremely influential to anyones success in a STEM discipline. There is no better way for girls to make a statement than by excelling in these areas.

The majority of men and women both in STEM fields and out of them, are genuinely rooting for you.

I've never once felt that my professors, peers, friends, or anyone else for that matter, has treated me differently than how they would treat a guy studying engineering. Everyone surrounding me wants to see me succeed and are always willing to assist me in anyway they can. Although the world of engineering is still mainly comprised of guys, there are way more girls studying and showing interest in engineering than you would think.

Seeing more and more girls taking the plunge into engineering makes me so proud.

I come from a family with several male engineers and they all were so excited for me to be the first female engineer in our family. It says a lot about a girls' work ethic and character to take the path less traveled. Engineering and other science/math disciplines teach so many great skills such as problem solving, creativity, and adaptability, that help to make you a well rounded person. With the number of opportunities and experiences available from STEM fields, it's not surprising more and more girls are heading in that direction.