Jaylan Parker, Undergraduate Student ECE Department
For Jaylan Parker, diversity in engineering, whether it be in the classroom or at 51Ç鱨վ in general, is important because, "it is necessary that we see ourselves once in a while." An upcoming senior at 51Ç鱨վ, Parker is from Portsmouth, Va., but she has also lived in Newport News, Va., Honolulu, Hawaii, and more recently Virginia Beach, Va. "In Portsmouth, most of all the powerful, strong, independent black women I knew were either nurses, teachers, principals, coaches, daycare workers, etc. I had no physical model of the average engineer, never mind a black woman engineer. When we see ourselves in these roles we long for, it makes the journey seem possible—tangible."
Parker also says that her mother played an important role in her view of diversity. "Not many people are blessed to have a mother with forethought to push and motivate when no physical prize is visible. For those people, it is imperative that they see themselves or they would lose will to continue especially in a STEM major."
A Civil and Environmental Engineering major, double-minoring in Applied Mathematics and Civil Engineering Technology (CET) Construction, Parker's interest in the field initially reflected her concern for affordable housing. "Currently, my interests surround utilizing better materials in building more efficient and sustainable homes for low income housing. And also using those materials to upgrade some of the older or poorly built schools in the 757 area."
She credits her interest in building infrastructure to leading her to the field of Civil engineering, which has Structural engineering as one of its many branches. Her interest in engineering was born out of a love for roller coasters. "Roughly around age seven, my mother asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up; I told her I wanted to build roller coasters. My mother explained that I would need to be an engineer to build roller coasters. My mind was settled on the spot— I would be an engineer." Looking back, Parker says that she is grateful for her mother because her mom cultivated her interest and growth into STEM. "My research into roller coaster designers, later translated into wanting to build infrastructure that would serve my community."
Parker's most memorable classroom experience at 51Ç鱨վ was in her Engineering 110 class during her freshman year. "We were to build two projects simultaneously; a remote control-operated device out of PVC pipe and a boat out of cardboard. I was the head designer and builder of the cardboard boat. To work on that project from beginning to end made me even more passionate about engineering."
Building on this experience, Parker says that the more she learns and experiences in this field motivates and inspires her to dream big about the things she wants to accomplish in my career. "Right now the last thing I want to do is to graduate and take a job just for the money and become like so many others working for a paycheck. I desire to be an active part of engineering. I want to participate in and eventually build on my own, something spectacular that will live on long after I'm gone and serve to help others. I also want to reach back and pull along those who are still growing and show them that this path is possible for any who choose to apply themselves."