#ILookLikeAnEngineer
What does the #ILookLikeAnEngineer hashtag mean to you?
I can totally relate to this campaign because as a woman Army ROTC cadet and computer science major, I have always been in the minority. It is vital for women and minorities to feel like they belong because they are just as smart and talented as anyone else in the Army, engineering or wherever they envision themselves being. I never let what I was affect who I was in college and pursued my dreams of being the best Army cadet I could be as well as being the best engineer possible. By acknowledging to myself and to the world that a woman can be an engineer and a soldier, I helped to pave the way for future soldiers and engineers by changing the culture in every way I can.
What are three things that make you unique?
- I am extremely involved. I like to stick my nose in everything I can from Taekwondo Club Sport to Ethical Hacking Club to CU Honor Code to joining Boulder's Thursday night bike rides. I love being active in the community around me because of all the different experiences and people there are to meet!
- Another unique thing is that I was the first woman Ranger Challenge Captain here at the University of Colorado Boulder. Ranger Challenge is an Army ROTC endurance competition. We took first place at regionals and second at semi-nationals. We haven't won regionals since 1995, so it was amazing to see the team grow so strong during my time with them.
- The third (and possibly best) thing about me is my dog, Bacon. Bacon is a border collie who loves to go hiking, camping, to the dog park, you name it! We went on a five-day backpacking trip together in Moab, Utah, and he loved every second of it. We plan on continuing our outdoor adventures in the years to come.
What are your career goals?
I currently work as a second lieutenant for the U.S. Army as a cyber officer. This means I will conduct cyberspace warfare operations for the next four years after my graduation this past May. I am excited and extremely proud to use my computer science degree in defending our nation. After that, I plan to join the FBI as a cyber special agent.
What are your hobbies?
I participate in Women In Computing (CU WiC) as a committee member. I also am a cadet with the Army ROTC program. I have competed in Ranger Challenge (an endurance team) for four years and in Bataan Memorial Death March (a competitive marathon team) for three years. I also volunteer for CU Honor Code and am a member in Ethical Hacking Club as well as Computer Science Undergraduate Advisory Council. Besides that, I love hiking and running. I have participated in lots of marathons and plan to complete an Ironman by 2018.
What is your favorite engineering experience?
My favorite experience was when my sophomore-level project team was asked to present at the Senior Design Expo. We had created a virtual reality game using Google Cardboard and so many people, including numerous professors, were extremely impressed. A lot of judges asked if they could vote for us (since we weren't seniors, they couldn't). I felt so proud because I had been team lead for that project and we took it above and beyond what most people did.
What do you enjoy most about engineering?
I enjoy the work involved. It's a lot of late nights, but the satisfaction at finishing a project is unlike anything else. The best is when working with a friend or a team to solve a problem that had involved new ways of innovation that I hadn't thought of before.
Anything else you'd like to tell us?
Throughout my four years at CU Boulder, I spent almost as much time as I did studying as I did sitting in the Computer Science CSEL (undergraduate lounge) helping other students with the basics of computer science. I believe that service is a critical component when trying to make a difference in the world. Anyone who is serious about trying to help the College of Engineering become better, or help themselves become the best they can be, they should dedicate some time back to others. I would not have learned nearly as much without spending the time teaching it to others. I would not have had as much of an impact on the college had I not participated in college activities with leadership roles. I highly encourage everyone to find an organization they believe in and put some sweat into it! That effort is what makes not only the college a better school but the world a better place.
Brooke Robinson, Class of 2017, Computer Science