Day in the Life: Early Career Engineer—Figuring It Out and Finding Your Way

What does life really look like after you graduate with an engineering degree?

In this episode, BGDE founder and CEO Kara Branch sits down with Cameron Bonds, a recent LSU graduate and Manufacturing Engineer, to talk about the transition from college to career—and what it actually feels like to step into your first role in STEM.

Cameron shares her journey from early STEM exposure to navigating college as a mechanical engineering student, and ultimately stepping into her role in industry. She gives a real look into her day-to-day responsibilities, the skills she uses on the job, and the adjustments that come with moving from student life to full-time work.

This conversation is honest, relatable, and especially important for students who are trying to figure out what comes next. From managing work-life balance to building confidence early in your career, Cameron reminds us that you don’t have to have everything figured out—you just have to start.

🎧 Tune in for a real look at early career life in STEM and what it takes to find your way.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Welcome back to the Black Girls Do Engineer podcast. I'm Carla French, chemical engineer and founder of the Black Girls Do Engineer. And today we're getting into real life. We're from a different stage. Not 20 years in, not leadership yet, but right at the beginning. This episode is part of our Band of Life series, and we're talking about what it really looks like to be an early career engineer. Fresh out of college, stepping into your first role, and figuring it all out in real time. I'm joined by Cameron, a manufacturing engineer and a recent LSU graduate who just made a big transition into her career and even moved across the country to do it. So today we're talking about her journey, her day-to-day, the adjustment, and really really takes to get from student to engineer. If you're in high school, college, or just trying to figure out your next step, this episode is for you. Let's get into it. So welcome to the podcast, Cameron. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

Thank you for having me. I'm super excited.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

Yeah. So oh my God, this conversation I'm really excited about because you're in your career. And I for me, it's like, you know, we met your senior year of college. And so it's like time is just flying by. And so all the excitement, all the greatness you were doing on LSU campus, getting ready to graduate. And now you're almost a full year in to your role.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

So it's gone by fast, right? It is. I cannot believe that next month it will have been a year since I graduated. That is just crazy to me to think about.

SPEAKER_01 2:48

So let's talk about that transition. Let's really just start with your journey, right? I want to get into two parts. First, like, how did you even get to the point of knowing that you wanted to study engineering? And my second part is like, how did you go from getting your degree into going into a manufacturing engineering role?

SPEAKER_00 3:13

So for the first question, you know, as a kid, they always say with engineers, I really like to tinker and build things. I was always good at math and science. Um, and so my mom also was, she has a degree in computer science. So it was something that was kind of familiar to me, but at the time I thought I was going to go into computer science. Um and then as a child, I got introduced to STEM NOLA, which is an engineering organization that runs out of New Orleans. And I was, you know, getting introduced to engineering, getting introduced to all things STEM. And then it wasn't until I was in high school, LSU hosts some different camps for high school students called Excite and Rehams. And we get to stay on campus for a week and learn about everything engineering. And it was there that I watched a video, and this guy made a prosthetic foot for a dancer, and she danced around the room. And from then on, I was sold that I was going to do either mechanical engineering or biological engineering whenever I got to college. So from there, I was that was it.

SPEAKER_01 4:30

So I gotta piggyback on that before you step into that next question because all great things. This is something we talk about quite often. So your mom was your role model, right? She was the one who kind of exposed you to what the possibilities facilities can be in this space. That's important, that role model. Grateful for your mom for sure to expose you to organizations like Stem Nola. Great organization. And that's your exposure right there. So that kind of gives you an insight of what you want to kind of do. Because when you're getting your exposure, you don't really know which way to go, but you are learning about what it can be and what these things actually mean from a STEM realm. And then you have someone expose you completely again and just kind of like knock the socks off of your feet with the whole innovation, right? I'm an innovator. So that would have been cool for me. But to really kind of solidify things for you, to really be like, okay, now I'm clear on which engineering I want to go into. And that kind of helped you along the way of your studies. And I wanted to talk about that for many reasons because a lot of people, I always stressed enough exposure, getting into these great programs, being in camps, going out there. I did a podcast a few weeks back on the importance of investment, you know, so those camps, those trainings, those workshops to make those investments into yourself. And you're like that key product that came out of all those things. You're doing it. So kudos to mom for really just doing it first for you. I'm learning now with my daughters, that's what I've done for them as becoming an engineer. But you know, my mom, I didn't get to see that. Many people know my story. So your mom showed you what those possibilities can be from the beginning. So all those things played a huge part in who you are today. And we'll talk a lot about that because I want people to understand how fantastic you truly are, not just from your education piece, but as a person for all the things that you've done as a student to what you're doing in your career now. So we'll get all into that. So now I just wanted my listeners to understand these things that we continuously say over and over again within these episodes are important. It works. This is how everybody has gotten to becoming a STEM professional through all their stories. This has kind of been that pattern. So this is important. So when we say exposure, investing, this is the things you have to do. So now you know that you're gonna be a manufacturing engineer or going to bio, right? And now take us through that path of you being a student, getting to LSU, and working towards your degree.

SPEAKER_00 7:31

Well, my experience at LSU was a bit interesting. So I was a COVID senior, my senior year of high school. So getting to LSU at first, it was rough. It was rough. You know, it was just it was a lot of online classes, the campus, you know, there weren't, I mean, we we couldn't do, we were mandated to stay inside. So it was a little rough at first. But my sophomore year, I found out about an organization called SWEE or the Society of Women Engineers. And then I found out about another organization called the National Society of Black Engineers, and then I also ended up helping to found another organization called the Coalition of Black Women in Engineering. And so I say all of that to say getting involved was 1000% my saving grace at LSU. I wouldn't trade the experience and getting involved with all of those different engineering organizations for anything, especially with LSU being so close to where I grew up. A lot of my friends in my freshman year were the friends that I went to high school with, went to middle school with. And so being able to step out and get involved and meet other people and meet people in the same classes and going through the same struggles that I was, it was super, super important to me. And it completely changed my college career. So I loved it. I like I said, my freshman year, I was like, I don't even know if I'm gonna graduate from this from LSU. But by by the time I got involved, it was like, oh, there's no way I'm not graduating from this college.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

So oh, okay. So I want to talk about that too. So I could not imagine what it it felt like to start college during COVID.

SPEAKER_00 9:32

Yeah, it was oh my goodness. It was there's just nothing going on.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Yeah. So it was nothing. You got a college, you know, that experience moving on to camp, like moving into campus and that campus culture. Everyone looks forward to that, their freshman year. I mean, you have those moments where you know, you may be a little sad because you're leaving home a little bit, but ready to dive into the school you selected and build upon everything that that means. And so that had to be tough. It was to be virtual, still coming from high school where you may have some rigor, but not as rigorous as like having to have great time management and getting all your done. And so to not really understand that environment and have to go through that, I can only imagine.

SPEAKER_00 10:31

Yeah. Yeah. Just being like you said, I was I was responsible for everything. My mom wasn't there anymore, waking me up, making sure I was doing my homework, making sure I was going to class. And so it was it was it was a big change. It was a really big adjustment. And then on top of COVID happening as well, it was, like I said, it was rough.

SPEAKER_01 10:55

Yeah. But you most definitely overcame that those obstacles. So kudos to you. I know that was a very hard time for a lot of people. That was one of the heaviest years for black girls to engineer because we had so many young ladies that we had to keep empowered and lift it up and find ways to make it fun for them. Right. Adjusting to virtual learning was very hard because everyone had different learning styles. And so we had to step up very quickly and fast to kind of make their experiences a lot better. But as a college student, going right from high school to college to a different level of responsibility. Oh my God. I would probably would have been screaming at the wall. But and so the other thing I love that you said that you stay not too far from home, which my daughter, she'll be going to college in about two years. So I'm like one of those parents, like, oh my God, where she's going, right? And parents love to stay close. But sometimes I know for children, they don't want to stay close because of all their friends are going to be going to the same school as them. So then you're saying that you your friends was there, but you took the opportunity to branch out and meet new people. Tell us a little bit about how you did that. Because I know a lot of people who start off college have a hard time with going out and connecting with others. So give the people some pointers here.

SPEAKER_00 12:22

I just get involved in any way you can. That is just what I always encourage to anybody. I think it kind of, even if you go to a meeting and you sit in the bag, if you go to every meeting, after a while, you're gonna start seeing the same people. You're gonna start, oh, making small talk. Most of our meetings that we hosted with Nesby and CBW, we we always made sure at some point we were, we, everybody was mingling, whether we did an icebreaker in the beginning or had some kind of networking. So getting involved, going to those meetings, you know, just breaking out of your shell is super, super important. And the I feel like the earlier the better. Like I said, with my freshman year, I will say it did help that because there wasn't a lot going on on campus, that I did live with friends back home, that was helpful because okay, at least I have somebody. But whenever it came to sophomore year in years past, I like I said, I think it is super, super important to get involved, go to those meetings, follow the different Instagrams, look at the flyers, and just show up. Like I said, whether you talk to one person or you talk to 20 people, it's super, super important to just show up and and like I said, branch out, break out of your show.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

So yes, that's the key word, just showing up. Even I'm sure as you're working in industry, going to networking events, many events. I'm I feel like I don't want to say all engineers are introverts, but I most definitely I wasn't an introvert. And so, like anytime people would throw me out there and be like, oh god, you know, but you know, you look for that one person in that room, right? That you can do it. And then, you know, sometimes they're awkward moments. I know for me, I had a lot of awkward moments, and then sometimes they're just like, you know, but we jail. And so you never know until you try when it comes to that piece. So yeah, breaking out into this and just getting up and going can do a lot for you. So you did that, and then okay, we have to talk about CB Week because when I went to LSU to speak for you all, I was blown away. It was like the most beautiful thing I have seen of amazing young women coming together in the grand sisterhood. It's like, yeah, it was really there for one another to make sure everybody was okay. I know for me in college, things like that was like to make sure we all got out, right? That's the hardest part. These programmings are so hard. Um so you need balance, you need people who understand your day-to-day struggle, and you need empowerment and uplifting to really get your degree and go into the real world. So let's talk about CB Way because you did something amazing with that. So, first of all, like how did you even come up with the idea? And then let's talk about what it's all about.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

So I wish I could take credit, but I can't. So, a fellow friend of mine, I was actually just talking to her today, Reagan. She, well, we got sponsored, LSU got sponsored to host a banquet for black women in STEM, is what it started out as. And then we were kind of because I had gotten involved with Nesby and was heavily involved with Swee as well, I got put into the conversation about, okay, well, how are we gonna frame this banquet? How are we, what does this even look like? And so our we kind of dialed it in a little bit and was like, okay, well, STEM is humongous, especially at LSU. And so we kind of dialed it into, okay, well, what if we do, what if we target black women in engineering? And then Reagan, our founding president, was like, well, if we're gonna do this banquet, why don't we make it a club? And so I was like, Yeah, I like that. I like that. Why don't we make a club? So I was the founding secretary for the coalition of black women engineering, and was involved every year since that organization. And I think I've told you this before, but that organization is like my baby to me. I love it dearly. And like you said, it was just a way to make sure we get out, make sure we make it out and have somewhere to vent, have somewhere to just talk about being the only one or two that might look like us in our classes. You know what I'm saying? And so that was it was super, super important to me. And like I said, that organization is my baby. I love it. I love CBW to death and everything that we do and and talk about our mission, all of it. So, and the banquet as well every year. Oh my goodness, that's like my favorite part.

SPEAKER_01 17:19

The banquet was beautiful. I really enjoyed it. That's where I got to meet your mom. So that's how she's so incredible. And the other thing that I loved about it was like the support of yes, the girls was there, but y'all also had corporation support, uh, well-rounded support of everyone. So I thought that was beautiful. I know it wasn't easy. So it's so funny you say you were the founding secretary. So, a little quick note about when I was in college, we actually started an org, which was a global national organization around the world, but we didn't have it on campus. And so, like my college best friend at that time, she came to me and said she wanted to do this, and so I was founded secretary too. I think the committee ended up in yeah, yeah, that was the only role that I was like, I'll do. So we had it was three of us that kicked it off. And when people understand that it's not easy, we used to spend a lot of like Saturdays calling our alumni for sponsorship, going to the global national part of the org for sponsorship. And when I go back to my alma mater, the cutest thing is that they're still thriving. And I don't think they know that I was like one of the founding secretaries, but I know when I worked in the industry, I used to always make sure I went back and included them to make sure sponsoring and make sure they were in the room. So I think it felt like more per baby for me. I was healthy. I was just healthy. And she was like, she had an idea of like what's wrong with it, you know, because you got to go through the school to get approval for it. It's a big process. So people don't understand how much work it takes to bring these organizations onto a campus and to keep it going. So I can tell you, I know your org that you were part of is still thriving. So it's that feeling to be able to go back and see, hey, you know, all these other people since me are still a part of something. And it's also making sure it's sustainable where they're still able to get jobs out of the programming and all the opportunities to still come. I'm sure for y'all, every time those banquets happen, you know, that's a smiling moment because that was how you all came to this idea. So yeah, so it's nothing wrong with being the founding secretary. So we we held it down. So I want you to give yourself a lot of credit there because I know it wasn't easy to keep it organized and keep it going, to make sure everybody's elected how they should be, the bylaws, that's a lot that still plays the part of creating these orgs on campus. So beautiful org for my listeners. You most definitely should check it out. If you have any children, that's going to the amazing LSU and they're studying sim. This is the org they most definitely should be a part of. Amazing young women doing great work, scholars, brilliant. That is a part of this org. So that's one thing I wanted to just shout out. So the other thing, okay, now we've we have did all these amazing things in college. You most definitely got your degree, and you were offered a job pretty quickly. So let's talk about that.

SPEAKER_00 20:51

How did that go for actually I uh went to Nesby conference? So I went to the Nesby conference last year in Chicago.

SPEAKER_01 21:08

So I feel like okay, normally I travel to all these things. So I don't know if it was in Chicago. Well, I know she's we was in Chicago the year we met. It probably was. They were in Baltimore this year. I think it was Chicago.

SPEAKER_00 21:21

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, it would have been Chicago last year because both were in Chicago. And so, yeah, so I went to the Nesby conference and I had an interview with the company that I currently work at, and I ended up getting a second interview with one of the managers at the site that I currently work at. And then from then on, I was gonna be a manufacturing engineer.

SPEAKER_01 21:51

What did that mean at that moment? When they were like manufacturing engineer, did you have a clue of what you were gonna be doing? What did that mean at that moment?

SPEAKER_00 22:00

So I had a small clue. I had, so I worked as a manufacturing operations intern for a company previously, a few years prior. So it had been a little while, but I did have kind of an idea of, you know, running a line and you know, something, something along the lines of that, making sure that products are running at all time. But it definitely, it definitely did take some growing, I guess I would say, whenever I got into my role.

SPEAKER_01 22:37

Yeah, I'm happy you had that internship. So uh for my college students, this is why those internships matter. I know a lot of times we always say, Why do they want us to have all this experience? This is why. The key there is to be able to go in a company and understand what that looks like. Any company that you work for are going to train you up to be the employee that they need you to be for their company. Of course. But it's important. They want to know mostly two things that you can learn. That's why you got your degree. And the second thing is like your experience of what have you done. Um play parts in a lot of different ways with companies because some companies have rotational programs and maybe they want to put you through the rotational program. But it's it's key here that you had that internship to be able to say, okay, I'm gonna go into this role. Because the last time it's a college student, you're happy to just get a job, but you don't want to take the job because you know, you want to know a little bit more about it. So then when you get into industry that you like your job, uh because a lot of times many engineers will tell you they really don't know what if they really like what they're doing just yet. It takes you a while. I think for me, it took me like three or four years to really say this is what my calling, my passion is, until you rotate around someone's company or did you have multiple internships and experience. So it matters, right? So it's good that you had some insight. So now that you're in the role, is it everything that you knew it was going to be?

SPEAKER_00 24:14

I think it I think it like I said, I think with the prior internship experience, it helped, but I do think that there were some like key differences from just being, I guess being on the operation side versus being on the manufacturing side specifically. And so I can get into my role a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

Um about like the day to day of a manufacturing engineer because it's a cool role if you're into like processes for sure. Um the operation side is most definitely a whole different piece. I've I've seen all parts of a compass. So let's talk about, let's tell the people what your day-to-day looks like as a manufacturing engineer.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

Yes. So for me as a manufacturing engineer, but more specifically as a line support engineer, my day-to-day ranges, which is something that I do like. I don't like every day just doing the exact same thing over and over again. So sometimes my day could be sitting at a laptop all day just doing process document updates, running numbers, looking at yields, just in a computer all day. And then another day I could be on the line all day talking with our operators, trying to troubleshoot, trying to figure out how we could bring our yields up, learning more about the operators, because that's something I love. And that's something that really drew me to manufacturing is that I love the people aspect. I like to talk, I like people. It did take me a while. I will say I used to be very introverted, but throughout the years, I've definitely grown to love to talk to people and love to love the customer facing. Because what I like to say is that for me, yes, as a company, we have customers, but my job as a manufacturing engineer is to make sure, make my operators' lives easier in any kind of way. Because at the end of the day, they're the person working on the line, they're the person on their feet eight hours a day, all day. So if they feel like they can do their job easy, then that makes my job easier. That that is what runs my job.

SPEAKER_01 26:33

So no, I love that you say that. So I mean, I think the operators would appreciate that as well. So a fun fact so I've done some manufacturing engineering and most definitely in like from a construction lens, not the engineering, but everything I built was for operators. And let me tell you something. Those operators are amazing, they are brilliant, they know a lot. And when you make their lives easy and you show up for them, boy, they're gonna show up for you. And that's what's the beauty of the job is. Um, they most definitely will take care of you. I have still to this day so many operators, contractors that I worked with years back that still we follow each other's lives and things like that because they care about those things. I know for me, my my main goal for them was always to make sure they were safe. It was around chemical facilities. But all those things matter. The the documents, the process documents are important because people need to know how to do the process. Of course. That's a safety piece. The yield mattered, everything you mentioned mattered, but just your mindset of wanting to make their lives easier is a great way, especially as an entry-level engineer, to have that perspective. You'll go far because a lot of people forget the people part of it. Um a lot of times people just get the degree and feel like we've made it. Like, you know, we're on the top of the crowd. But the people part is the most definitely the most important part of working in this space. So I'm happy that like you are discovering that very early. That's gonna take you far. So I'm happy that you said that because most times people don't. The engineer titles is good, and sometimes I feel like it gets you in trouble because it can go straight to the head. Um, and I um I can say for myself working in the industry, you you want to keep yourself humbled and most definitely take care of your people. So happy that you have that done. So, like, so you've been doing this for almost a year. Does it feel like it things from college still resonate, or when you're doing stuff, you're like, I remember this stuff. How does it feel?

SPEAKER_00 29:03

Yes, I will say there's some things, it kind of just depends on I guess what I'm working on at the time. But yeah, I definitely do still take a lot of engineering principles with me. But I think something that I have kind of learned and taken with me the most, especially working in manufacturing, where you are working with so many different people and so many different people of different backgrounds, is the soft skills has been super, super important. And specifically communication. Um above all things, just learning. I mean, it even goes back to like we were both saying, with process documents, learning how to communicate, whether that's within a document, in an email, face-to-face, what have you. So I think something that I've taken with me and that I can trace back to getting involved so much in college was the soft skills for sure.

SPEAKER_01 30:01

I'm happy you mentioned that communication definitely is the key. And when you're out there in industry as an engineer, you're the brain of the process. So when stuff shifts or go wrong or it needs an answer, you have to have that answer. Right. And communication is key, especially when it comes to leadership. Like you have to report out, you have to be able to have presentations or whatever they require of you, because you have to, you're like, I don't want to say the middle person of making everything right, but it kind of does feel like that because you have to have the people skills for like the operators, the day-to-day and the field. And then you have to transition into when you get into the leadership room to make sure everyone in leadership understands what you're trying to communicate. Because sometimes as an engineer, you can either be too technical, most of the time, we're too technical. We're how to say things where people can understand. That's a skill you have to develop as well as an engineer. Because, like, you could be talking about floor flow rates and all these units and all these things. But when you get into those leadership rooms, you gotta remember it's not just engineers in there, it's a lot of different backgrounds. So they want to understand what you're saying too. So that translation, you have to learn how to master that. But it is for sure a lot of talking on both. And we are introverts. I wouldn't say all of us, but most of us don't mind being in a corner with our head down doing the work. If the issue is what we got to come out of that corner to talk to everybody, that's that is hard. So you having that going out in college and being a part of so many groups, that really helped you there. Oh, yes. So, like you said, everybody should be engaging, finding something when you're a college student, because these are skills you have to learn. And self-skills, people don't talk about them. I don't feel as much. It used to be like a hype word that people were saying now. They may be using a different word now. Words are just changing. Um but I can say, like, I know for us at Black Girls Do Engineer, everybody's on presentation as young as six years old. Like, you're gonna learn how to present. Because but we hold symposiums as with girls as young as six years old. So they learn how to do research and build and prototype and stuff. That's because you have to develop those presentation skills. And I and I watched, like, because I've watched these girls grow up. So I watched them now as college students or in high school students, and they can present you now. And I just remember the first time I will call them to go to present, they'd be all looking at me side eye, like man, what is this? But now they're a great presenter, so it takes practice, and you have to do it multiple times, and so yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_00 33:06

I it's it's hard though, yeah. But I I love that, and I love what you're doing. Whenever we first met and you were just describing Black Girls Do Engineer and describing what you do and what the org does, I was in awe, and all I could think was yeah, okay, gosh, I I wish I would have known about this.

SPEAKER_01 33:29

That's my number one thing. Yeah, I always get everybody I meet. Yeah, I wish I would have known this or had this when I was their age. You know, it's it's not easy, but it's rewarding. So, and you've created that too. That, you know, with CBW is going to be for many, you know, college students. That is in this thing. They're gonna always remember those moments where they have that sisterhood. And so that's what's gonna keep them dry. So you've done great too. So it's just the soft skills part. I agree. Many people, many different ways. It's I I think I can't really express a lot on it because like with AI and everything, I just don't I don't really know what the next level of communication will be. Um, I do want us to keep like the authentic part into our conversations, right? Because that's we need people to continue to shine through with their personality and make those connections. Right. But if we be so dependent on, I mean people know I'm an innovator, I love AI, but if we're so dependent on it, we're not gonna be able to speak for ourselves. From in the brain because we're so used to using the tool without that's why I always tell people, check the tool, make sure it's in something, rewrite it. So you can still keep you in it. So that's why I think I haven't heard as much around soft skills because of how fast tech has changed to kind of act as a speaking force for many people. So we'll see, we'll stay tuned. Maybe one day at life I'll do a whole podcast just on that to see how we can stay our selves. But but I want people to continue to use their voice. So we didn't talk about you working as a manufacturing engineer, your whole journey to getting there. Um, let's talk a little bit about outside of soft skills. What is a some other skills you wish that you had learned in college, or maybe you did learn in college that has helped you a lot in your world today?

SPEAKER_00 35:42

I would say I would think just keeping uh kind of the technical side, I will say, I mean, I did the work. I did the work, I got my degree, but whenever it just comes to, I think I was so focused on like and this was something that professors would even talk about, like in these different engineering classes, is kind of like applying those technical skills and not just okay, what do I need to do to pass this class? Because sometimes it does become what do I need to do to pass this class? What do I need to know to pass this test? And so I kind of wish I would have taken more, I guess, from that and kind of, and I mean, I could always go back and restudy, you know, what I learned as a mechanical engineer, but still I think just like I said, just kind of diving into that a little bit more while I was in school. Um, because like I said, it is it's important and you need to know that working as an engineer no matter where you go. So yeah, I think I would have, you know, taken a little bit more time to really sit and think about okay, how am I applying these things? Yeah, that all of this knowledge that I'm gaining instead of just how can I pass this class? How can I get out of here?

SPEAKER_01 37:05

Yeah. So so getting out of the world of theory, huh? Because everything was a theory. Right. And going into applying applications and all those things. So I did a podcast a few weeks back. I just really could like week with Isabel, and I'll encourage you to watch it. She had a great way of how she made sure she chose her school for her. And some of those things were she was a hands-on learner, so she wanted to choose. Like, then this was like her her graduate school, but like made sure it was going to be a hands-on learning environment. Um, those are things as you continue to go out in your journey. If you choose to get more degrees, just keep in mind, like those hands-on learnings. I mean, you have labs in school, but also I love what I loved about my school was some of our professors had worked in industry or spent a lot of time to research. And so when they have that experience from industry, they can bring it to the classroom to really like prepare you forward so that you don't have those moments of like, when was I supposed to when am I supposed to use this, right? Um, and they can tell you a little bit better. But a lot of times as a college student, you are trying to just survive and courses. These courses are hard. I remember there was days when I was doing mathematic problems that took like four or five pages. And I'm like, why is it taking to prove this theory? You know, but it happens with these degrees. And when you're now as you're working, you can see why, because you're brains behind the process, and then these working you when they are in doubt of what's happening to ask you what is happening, then you're supposed to be the one with the knowledge to tell them right. So it all starts to make sense, but yeah, in school, I wouldn't I would suggest, like what Isabel said, like knowing your learning style and really finding those courses where you can get those things that you need out of it. So sometimes it's not, I'm saying it's not just you probably feeling that disconnect. Yeah, you know, sort of it could be the other way around too, just making sure you're catering to your learning style in those classes that you're selecting to take. So yeah, watch that podcast episode because we me and like we connect. Like, so we we on the same wavelength with the the way her mind's be going. And so I she's very uh she's a powerhouse and she is straight to the point. So she would enjoy it. I think being early career engineer, she would kind of help you as you want to level up because you will, you'll be we'll be working that way to level up real soon. So, how has it been? Let's just focus a little bit on how it's been transitioning just from college to working, because you had to move to work. So, how has that adjustment been?

SPEAKER_00 40:04

So, in all honesty, I I love it. Oh my goodness. So I did, like you mentioned, I mentioned I moved across the country. So I know I live on the West Coast, yes, and I oh my goodness, I love it. But also at the same time, it took me five years to get out of LSU, and I by that fifth year, I was ready to go. I had done my time, and so I was very ready to graduate, and I will say, not even in a sense of like being burnt out because I did, I was still involved. I was I was president of CBWE my last year, I was working, and so I was in senior design, and so I was I was still, you know, fairly motivated to get out and still putting as much as I could into my classes, orgs, jobs, but I it I was it was time for me to go. And so now being on the outside world, I I just love it. I love that I could just go home and not think about homework, not think about an exam. And I I just have I have money to spare. All those things matter, yeah. So I I really do love it, but especially living where I do now, there's just so much, it's so much more fun than Louisiana.

SPEAKER_01 41:30

Yeah, now Louisiana got the food now, of course.

SPEAKER_00 41:34

Yeah, I do it's crawfish season right now, and I am every time I see somebody else post on their Instagram and they got crawfish in their hands, I'm just so upset. Um, but but the web coat is a blast. Yeah, I've been having a blast. I can I learned how to ski this year. Oh wow, and I was I was saying that I could ski and go to the beach in the same day if I wanted to. Like I really do love it. I've been making friends since I moved. I mean, it it's just like I say I've been having a blast.

SPEAKER_01 42:08

So I know I can only imagine. I love I don't even land and I'll be like, oh boy. No, I'm happy to hear that though, that you're adjusting well and adulting, yes, and being able to have some money to spend. That's what people always tell people. Like, I talked about salaries with the girls because I went in the fee. I remember the first time I met a young lady and I asked her, How much do you think engineers make? And she told me about 5,000. And she was a little young girl, so that that made sense for her. Oh, you took her 5,000 was a lot, right? So when she said that to me, I realized I probably need to like do some education around that. Um, so I do talk more about salaries, but mostly just so they can know what that looks like, because there is a lot of money to be made, especially on the West Coast. But I also tell people you got to do it from passion. Like you have to have the passion because your role can require a lot from you. Um those days can feel kind of long, right? So you have to have that passion behind the money, but you know, it feels good to have something. Especially coming out of college, you know, those uniforms, you know, to be able to go have dinner is so it's good to hear that you made that transition well, and hopefully you're re enjoying that because the west is beautiful to hear that you're skiing. Come on with the skis. I mean, I'm being adventurous as you should. Oh yeah. It's good to hear like the way that you just light up about the just being happy. So it's good to see that you are in a new role, you are happy, you are done a lot of great things going on since the last time we met, you know. So just getting out of college, just going into the workforce is working well for you. Oh yeah. So I'm my my my last question for you before we wrap is to since you know what that feels like, right? Transitioning from college to the workforce. What advice would you give college students who are along those lines of doing the same thing to help them out along the way?

SPEAKER_00 44:41

Um I would say don't be scared and don't be scared to make big moves, don't be scared to meet new people. I think one thing that I was really worried about, like I said, I moved across country. I do have family here now, but at the time I had never met the cousins that I have out here. So I was moving here by myself. And like I said, just don't be scared to just put yourself out there. That is super, super important, especially whenever you are 21 to 22, 23 years old. You're out on your own for the first time. You're like I said, you might have family, you might not, and you're trying to meet new people, trying to make new friends. It's super important to go out, go do things by yourself if you have to. Go find little events going on in wherever city you live or nearby wherever you live, and go meet people because community, I think something, which of course I talked about how much I love it here now, but something that's super, super hard going from college to industry or going into the workforce is in college, all my friends were 15 minutes away at most of the time, 10 minutes away. I could walk across the street, go knock on somebody's door. I would see them every day and see them in my classes, see them, like I said, we would be at parties, going, you know, it'd be super, super easy, but you lose that whenever you first move out. And so it can be very, very isolating uh whenever you first move somewhere. And so, like I said, just go out, just try to meet new people, try to find people that are interested in the same things you are, even people at work. Try to, if your job has different orgs within it, try to get involved with those just so you can meet people and have people out here wherever you live. Super, super important for your mental health, but also for your safety as well.

SPEAKER_01 46:56

So no, I love that. That is beautifully said, and I'm sure it's a listener in college that needed to hear that. They may be feeling excited. Um, they may be feeling like they may have an offer in front of them that's across the country from them, and they're excited, but they're also scared. So you are pretty much gonna be that light for them, showing them that you did it and they can do it too. And I love that you used to work community, find your community, and it all will work itself out. You've been doing this now for about a year, and you're still doing it. So I think that's beautifully said. So, to our listeners, if you're listening, community, find your state. Don't sit in that house isolated. So this is why these conversations matter, because now you can actually see what the beginning looks like. Cameron's story is real, figuring it out, adjusting, learning on the job, and growing into her role step by step. And for every student listening, this is your reminder. You don't have to have everything figured out. You just have to start, stay consistent, and be willing to grow. Thank you, Cameron, for giving us a real look into early career life in STEM. And thank you for listening to Black Girls Do Engineer Podcast, where we build confidence, community, and futures in STEM. I'll see you in the next episode. To learn more about Black Girls Do Engineer, you can learn more about us on our website at BlackgirlsDoEngineer.org or email us at info at BlackgirlsDoEngineer.org.