#ILookLikeAnEngineer

Why did you choose engineering at CU Boulder?

I chose engineering because I had been exposed to a lot of STEM programs in high school. When I was looking for colleges, I saw that there were a lot of great things being done at CU.

What does #ILookLikeAnEngineer mean to you?

Contrary to popular belief, I am one of the few black engineers in the college. That being said, I definitely see the value in showcasing that there are other students like me in this university who will be incredible engineers. And there will be many other incredible students to come. The hashtag validates what I already know, I Look Like an Engineer because I am one.

What are three things that make you unique?

I am really invested in communities of color that I can make an impact such as the National Society of Black Engineers. I'm really into technology and love building computers to my favorite Chris Brown songs. I'm also a first generation American and college student as my family is from Ethiopia.

What are your career goals?

I want to get into the aerospace industry or maybe something along the lines of pushing the field of material science industry forward. I also want to create a resource center for students of color in STEM so that I can set a foundation for supportive, diverse, and free thought for students like myself who inevitably want to change the world.

Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?

"Ideas matter because people matter." Basically an idea is only fully realized by the people that represent them.

What are your hobbies?

I like to listen and dance to a lot of hip-hop and RnB. I also love playing and following sports like basketball, soccer, and football. I also like following the video game industry and would be considered a PC enthusiast that still loves PlayStation and Xbox.

What do you enjoy most about engineering?

I enjoy the tangible challenges that are addressed by engineering. People who are in need of something that does not exist always drives these technical problems. From my background, I know there is something great about being able to offer a tangible solution to life's challenges.

What is your favorite engineering experience?

My favorite experience was bringing our chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers to a conference that I was chairing. We were able to highlight a lot of the great work that had been done at our school and in our state. It was a time to take pride in the excellent members of student group.

Yohannese Gebremedhin, MechEngr'17