Alejandra Jimenez (she/her)
Senior
Hometown: Born in Valencia, Venezuela. Living in Sunrise, Florida ever since 2014
1. Which area are you more focused on: civil or environmental engineering?
Civil Engineering. I’m interested in pursuing structural within the transportation realm (so bridges, retaining walls, and any other structure that transportation may need)
2. Are you studying anything else at Rice aside from civil and environmental engineering?
I am pursuing a minor in environmental studies. Environmental awareness is important as we move to the future as everything we do today will impact the way our world will look and act in the future. Our actions have consequences, and within the built world, it is important to make our construction and/or processes as environmentally friendly as possible so that we can minimize our impact on the environment. This minor combines classes that incorporate sustainable design as well as reading material that develops our perspective on the environment. It also expands our knowledge of how humans see the environment through different media like films, literature, and news.
3. Did you want to do civil and environmental engineering in high school/early years at Rice?
Throughout much of high school, I was very undecided about what I wanted to do as my career. I love to cook, so I considered becoming a chef for a while but ultimately decided to leave it as a hobby. Then, I learned so much about cities' infrastructures through my history class, and I completely loved the whole idea. My older sister introduced me to civil engineering, and the more I looked into it, the more I made up my mind that it was the career I wanted to pursue. Classes and internship experiences further solidified my choice.
4. What has helped you figure out what you want to study?
What further solidified my choice of pursuing civil engineering was the people of the CEE department, both students and staff. I have been lucky to be surrounded by people who have strong passions for the field and get involved in lots of different projects that involve different aspects of the Civil world. Dr. Erazo and Dr. Nagarajaiah have been crucial in furthering my interests through the Mechanics of Material class as well as Concrete Design. It is safe to say the topics are challenging, however, both professors incorporate examples of how the theories are used in real-world design. I have learned about the Burj Khalifa and the reasons behind its significance within the field. An airplane wing allowed me to visualize the intricacies of torsion, stress, and strain, among other things. These topics have truly amazed me and have gotten me excited to learn how to use these topics in designing things (my non-CEVE friends have heard the amazement multiple times).
Extracurriculars and internships have helped me zone in the specific area of interest. The EWB Peru Bridge project has been an amazing project to be involved in. Through this project, I was able to dabble in design work and learn about project management as I took on the Travel Subteam lead position. Completing an internship in traffic Engineering at TEI Planning + Design helped me find my love for multimodal work and grew my passion for making this happen in the Houston area. As a structural intern this year (2024), I was able to learn more about structural design, and I hope to work in an intersecting field where I can further develop infrastructure that not only improves our public transportation but also gives way to different modes of traffic.
5. Are you involved in any organizations/clubs/groups?
The club that I have been the most involved is the ASCE chapter at Rice. This club has introduced me to what life can look like after Rice in addition to allowing me to connect to people in the work field, including Rice alumni. Aside from professional development, the club has also allowed me to connect with upperclassmen in my earlier years at Rice, as well as others in my class. I have also been able to expand my artistic abilities by designing the club merch and developing my leadership skills through the Secretary and now President positions. Truly a life-changing club!
Another big involvement of mine has been Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a club that not only brings a positive impact to student's life but also serves the communities where our project will be constructed. The scope of the project is to build bridges that help connect the Village of Prado to adjacent cities, allowing residents to better access daily necessities. EWB has allowed me to apply the knowledge from the classroom to a real-world project and develop my time management, communication, and leadership skills.
Lastly, outside of the engineering realm, one of my favorite extracurriculars has been BASYK, a K-pop dance club. I have always enjoyed dancing from an early age, and this has allowed me to continue this hobby. I never thought I would be one to dance in front of people, let alone on a stage, however, the whole experience has been so much fun! I have learned so many choreographies and have had so much fun dancing with other incredible dancers.
6. Outside of studying and being a student, what is an ideal day for you?
An ideal day for me is fairly simple and includes being with friends/family, coffee, and some sort of physical activity. Throughout the summer (aka when I have no school obligations), I often find myself exploring the city, and the best way to do this is by visiting coffee shops! I have been to a good amount of coffee shops in Houston and I think this has been the best way for me to see different parts of the city! I also love to hang out with friends, whether it be going to a park, seeing a show, or the movies, or just talking with them. As for physical activity, I enjoy feeling active, and I try to incorporate that into my daily life. Most of the time, I go to the gym, but whenever I feel sluggish, I like simple activities like going on walks through pretty neighborhoods (luckily, there are so many pretty houses near Rice!). If I am not back at home, I would end the day by reconnecting with my family with a video call.
7. What advice or insights do you have for anyone wondering if civil and environmental engineering is a good choice?
Whenever we travel, the first thing that catches our eyes is how the city looks. How is the airport, the road going to you accommodation, the skyline, historical monuments, etc. Most of the work of a civil engineering is often in the background, things people take for granted but crucial to society. Our work is one that impact everyone whether it is buildings to be amazed by, crucial water treatment plants, common roads, pretty and essential bridges, regulating and fighting pollution, or preventing floods. If this piques your interest, Civil and Environmental Engineering is for you!
Outside of the general beauty of our field, I would also advise that there are a lot of calculations in Civil and Environmental Engineering. If you love to number crunch and the continuous learning of different processes, then this field may just be the right one for you!
8. Rice engineering students often shoulder busy schedules--what or who helps keep you motivated during difficult days? Do you have any practical advice for incoming students on striking a school-life balance?
I would be lying if I said I don't have a busy schedule. During the semester, there are multiple long days filled with classes, studying, and meetings for extracurriculars, among other responsibilities. What keeps me motivated during stressful times is my family. My family is my motivation for everything I do in life, they are the reason I am in the place I am today, and they drive me to further improve myself every day. The only advice I have is to get a to-do list and put everything in Google Calendar (this has saved me multiple times!). In Google Calendar, it is a good idea to block times for breaks and fun activities. Being in school is not only about classes and clubs but also about meeting friends and being exposed to multiple experiences outside of the classroom. Have fun!
9. Ideally, what is your life like after graduation?
This is something I am still trying to figure out! My plan as of now is to be in the work field, getting my feet wet in projects meeting others in the work field, and learning from their experiences. Ideally, I am in a company that allows me to have a good work-life balance and exposes me to cool projects!
Thank you for allowing us to learn more about you, Alejandra! We’re so glad you are a part of the civil and environmental engineering community.
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