This is a guest blog entry written by Karissa Ginoza about Ella Amaya, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering.
Also, if the title did not make sense, MechE-ing is supposed to be a play on “making.” LOL.
Introducing Ella!
Everyone’s college experience is different. Despite both being mechanical engineering students, Ella and I have had vastly different experiences, and consequently, different stories to share! In this guest blog entry, Ella shares her experiences and thoughts on USC as a transfer student.
To give some background, Ella and I met last year in our PHYS 152: Electricity and Magnetism lecture. Despite it being a difficult course, Ella and I were still able to get to know each other during and outside of lecture (don’t worry, we were paying attention to Dr. Peroomian). We have gotten close and will continue to, considering our mechanical engineering cohort is tight-knit and takes all the same core engineering classes. It has been such a pleasure to build a strong friendship with a fellow USC student, even more so a mechanical engineering one. Ella is an active member of SC Racing (which she elaborates on) and transferred into USC as a sophomore.
Q & A
Q: Why did you choose USC?
A: “I chose USC because of the diverse opportunities and experiences they offer. Being able to be a part of different clubs that each brings valuable knowledge and experience. I also love how many different people from different backgrounds I get to interact with that I would have never had the chance to before USC.”
USC’s diverse community has helped Ella to acclimate to the new environment, both social and physical, and helped her to feel at home. She really felt an immediate sense of community, so she was able to quickly build relationships with students in and out of the engineering field.
Q: As a busy engineering student, how do you spend your free time?
A: “During my free time, I usually hangout with friends or help SC racing in the Makerspace. In SC Racing, I am on the composites sub-team where we construct parts for our SC ‘25 car that will be racing in May. I manage social life and work, but I also really recognize and value my priorities. Typically, I spend Monday through Friday focusing on schoolwork, so that Friday through Sunday I can spend time with friends and enjoy my weekend. Depending on my workload and energy level, sometimes I decide to make exceptions and take a night off during the week to make plans with friends. Especially in a rigorous major like engineering, I believe balance is very important to prevent burn out.”
Q: How would you describe mechanical engineering?
A: “I would describe my major as challenging but fulfilling. Being able to take these difficult classes has brought me a deep appreciation for the process of learning and the result of achieving the grade you wanted.”
Ella has been able to channel these obstacles and transform herself into a strong and ambitious problem-solver. She also gets to apply theory and learn more about hands-on applications through her role in SC Racing. Even though she has only been here for one year, she has gotten involved in the student body and looks forward to continuing these commitments.
BONUS: Currently, her favorite class is DANC 183: Ballet, through the Kauffman School of Dance. Ella was a cheerleader all throughout high school, and this class allows her to learn new knowledge in the world of dance. These types of classes help to add diversity into her schedule, so it is not entirely STEM heavy.
Thank you, Ella, for giving us insight into your life and experiences here at USC. As always, Fight On!
