As a kid you are constantly asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And you have your rehearsed answer: “Astronaut, fireman, teacher, etc.”
​For me though I only knew one thing for sure, I didn’t want to do what my parents did. Don’t get me wrong they had and have respectable careers, but I had no interest in becoming a social worker or a lawyer.

At Bay Area Maker Faire Adam Savage, of Mythbusters fame, gave his annual Maker talk, affectionately called the Maker sermon. Although it wasn’t his primary talk, for me the thing that stuck out most was his comment on how far the term “Maker” extends. It’s so much more than 3D printers and laser cutters. It’s writing. It’s music. It’s theater. This comment truly resonated with me.

Engineering is in everything around us. We recognize engineering in bridges, buildings, and computers, but really, engineering is in so much more. Even our clothing!

I have loved sewing since I was a kid. My mom and I sewed Halloween costumes every year, ranging from making an Amelia Earhart leather cap and aviator scarf, to Hermione’s robe from Harry Potter. I sewed pillows and pajamas as a summer project in elementary school. As well, fabric and pattern shopping was fantastic bonding time for my mom and I.
I did not realize until college exactly how much sewing had prepared me for a career in engineering.