We Made a Difference. We Made it Together. WEMADEIT.

happiness

We’re Looking Forward to University

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“I am looking forward to the spirit of all the students. The passion and energy of everyone at the university motivates me to be happy and enjoy my time while learning there.”

“What appeals to me most about university life is being able to join a large community that extends deep into the roots of career, entertainment and interaction.”

“I like how diverse universities are. You’re able to meet so much new different people and learn about their beliefs and culture.”

“The university I’m going to has a lot of bike trails from the campus into the town where there is a weekly farmers market I plan to make us of! ”

“I can’t wait for that away-from-home experience, where you get to live on campus by yourself and have fun with your friends.”

“I think it would be very cool to live with a room mate. I think it would be a different kind of experience, and it would be pretty cool to move out of the house. I would have to be responsible for my own food and laundry, and I think it would be a good way to appreciate all that my Mom does for me!”

“The lecture halls are intriguing… may be weird but i find it way better than a school class room. It’s different! ”

“I think that it’ll be great to have classes full of people who actually want to be there, and who are all academic and interested in the same careers as me!”

“What appeals to me most about the university life is being in a dorm with my friends. I think it would be really nice to live with your friends and study with them rather than studying from your bedroom at home alone.”

Shaina Dinsdale

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Q&A WITH EngHERO: Shaina Dinsdale

Shaina is an amazing engineer who has traveled the world and is full of wisdom. She has been in many occupations, in diverse regions of the world in search of the perfect occupation to satisfy her happiness, success and her values. Shaina Dinsdale

Q: What’s one thing you wish you knew about engineering back when you were in high school?

I wish I knew what it was all about. I have three older brothers who are all in engineering and I thought it was about building cars and airplanes. When I finally got around to doing it I loved it. The degree didn’t mean that now I’m certified to build a car, in fact and engineering degree could be applied in many different ways. My degree is what has helped me get to where I am today, it helped me build my future.

Q: What’s your proudest accomplishment as an engineer?

Actually, I have two. Oddly enough, graduating was a very proud moment. It took me a long time to understand that I was truly capable of earning the degree. I always had good marks and loved the classes but somehow never believed in myself. Graduating was the proof I needed and things came easily after that. A proud moment working as an engineer is definitely some of my recent work in Kenya. It was great because I was there as a consultant but my degree in chemical engineering was very useful to the team. I got to do both business and engineering and was such a strong contributor because of it.

Q: Tell me about a time in your career when your work has been about discovery or curiosity?

I think it was right when I got out of school. I moved to Switzerland and did research for a Chemical Mixing Company creating a design equation for their sales team. It took me hours of lab work to discover the best way to model what happens when two gasses pass through their static mixers.

Q: What are you doing these days?

I’m currently working as a consultant helping companies manage projects when they don’t have the capacity to do it in house. I would have to say determination and a lot of random events brought me here. I have learned that people you meet early on in your career are very important. You should never burn a bridge because at eventually you will need to cross it. I made many contacts in the first years of my career, which continues to help me today.

When I started out I wanted to move to Europe. I thought I would stay there for 5 years and be an engineer. But life takes to down different paths and now, I have worked in Switzerland, Canada, Kenya, and am currently in New York. Who knows where things will take me next.

Q: Do you feel your work contributes to society? How so?

Yes. As an engineer it always did, I was building things, improving how things worked or were made, was always working on something current. Now that I am more removed from engineering the contribution feels a little less direct.

Q: Why do we need more female engineers?

More female engineers will bring diversity into the engineering field. Diversity is great. It helps make better decisions and women should most certainly be part of those better decisions. We need more women to understand what engineering is about and know that they are capable of it. I think they need to know what a degree could do for them. If women know what it is about then perhaps we will see a change in statistics. Diversity helps make better decisions and women should most certainly be part of those better decisions.

Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in the field of Engineering?

Do your research and go for it! And to women who like chemistry I would urge them to explore chemical engineering. If you like biology, make sure you look at biomedical engineering…etc.

Shaina-Dinsdale-Journey-May

We Will Help Change…

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As members of the WEMADEIT Youth Think Tank we asked and were asked, A LOT of questions. After some reflection, we thought you could stand to hear what we think. Here it is:

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Youth Think Tank Member

“I plan to speak out. To make a hell of a lot of noise about the unfair way my gender is treated and to support girls everywhere, no matter what they choose to do.”

“I have been involved in many environmental clubs and helped with numerous projects to aid in helping our environment. Whether it be planting trees in the neighbor hood, picking up garbage off the floor or simply just turning off the light when I leave a room I try every day to save our environment.”

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“I plan to start by changing my own mindset. Before YTT, I thought that engineering is something that only boys do, and that I wouldn’t enjoy it. But now, I’m starting to see that there is so much more to engineering than what I originally thought. It’s so interesting! I will definitely share what I’ve learned with my friends. Also, I’m going to put my best work into all of the YTT assignments. I think that the website we are creating has the potential to be beneficial to so many people after it’s completed!”

Youth Think Tank Member

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“I BELIEVE PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. A LOT OF UNHEALTHY VIEWS ARE PICKED UP BY PEOPLE GROWING UP AND IN THEIR YOUTH. TEACHING CHILDREN FROM A YOUNG AGE WILL BE BEST FOR SOCIETY”

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“I plan to work as hard as i can to find out what will attract the attention of females around me and what has been going wrong to deflect the interests of girls towards engineering.”

Youth Think Tank Member

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“Whenever a guy chooses to put me down, I obviously stick up for myself and put him in his place but I also take the time to let them know how hard women of the past have worked to make this world easier for the women (girls too) of this modern day. Whenever possible I like to preach what I believe in.”

“In Sweden, they convert waste to energy, and try to recycle anything usable from their waste which is why this country no longer produces any waste. There should also be more recycling bins in all public areas in Canada so everyone can get the opportunity to limit the amount of waste we produce.”

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TELL US IN THE COMMENTS WHAT YOU WOULD DO!