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Sandra McCormack
Bridge Engineer at T.Y. Lin International
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Don’t let anything or anyone discourage you on doing what you want to do!
WHAT DO YOU DO?
I do Bridge Rehab and Rehabilitation, in order to do that I do a detailed bridge inspection where I check all the elements of the bridge, including beams, columns, deck, piles, to see if they present any deficiencies. I have done very cool inspections where I had to get in a bucket and be very high up to see the beams.
Once I have all the information I need to organize it and put the rehab plans together for a contractor to come and repair the bridge.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD?
My dad is a Civil Engineer and since I was a kid he always took me to his office and to the field, so I grew up knowing I wanted to be like my dad! My dad always told me that studying Civil Engineering would give me the bases to do whatever I wanted.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT & THINK, "I WISH YOUNGER ME WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS POSSIBLE?"
With only 4 years of experience I won the employee of the year award at a firm of more than 3,000 employees.
Now I am a Licensed Engineer, Project Manager and Engineer of Record of bridge projects.
WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING IN STEM?
I love to find new problems and find solutions. I love that problem solving is not only applicable in STEM but it also applies to every aspect of life.
I wake up looking forward to find a new solution to a problem and learn something new in the process.
BEST ADVICE FOR NEXT GENERATION?
Don’t let anything or anyone discourage you on doing what you want to do!
Enjoy college, study hard but focus on learning not on just passing a class. Also, enjoy time doing things other than studying, practice some sports, hang out with friends, join a club. It will help you relax from all the stress from classes.
INSPO / FUN FACT
Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. (Stephanie Slocum)