Seyi Asa
Aeronautical Engineering MEng Part D
Seyi talks about how making the most of opportunities available to her and trying something new led to her discovering engineering. Now in the final year of her degree, she hopes more young people will explore STEM subjects.
"I chose to study Aeronautical Engineering as it allowed me to combine my interest in maths and physics. Engineering isn’t just the theoretical, it is also about the practical side of things; creating and innovating various things that make life easier for everyone. I chose Loughborough because of the sense of community and pride. The University culture is one that promotes openess and drives for growth both at individual and community level.
I became interested in engineering when I was 15. Having never heard about engineering or what it entails, I put my best foot forward and applied for an introduction to engineering for girls which was a joint event by WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and the RAF. A week in RAF Cosford opened my eyes to the world of engineering and its opportunities.
In the summer of 2018, I did a ten-week placement at Rolls Royce as a Development Engineering Intern. The following summer, I thendid a 12-week placement at L3Harris commercial aviation as a Software Engineering Intern. Though each title sounds different, they actually fall into the systems engineering umbrella. This is an interdisciplinary section of engineering, that looks at the entire lifecycle of a system from beginning to end. I chose these two placements as they allowed me to work in the different areas of the lifecycle, gaining experience and knowledge.
The biggest challenge that I’ve faced has been stopping myself from being an obstacle to myself. A lot of the time, I would not go for an opportunity because I’m scared or I feel like I’m not smart enough or worthy enough. However, one thing I’ve realised is that the worst that can ever happen is someone saying no, but that is never the end. I just have to pick myself up and keep going. One never really knows unless one asks!
Outside of my degree, I am a STEM Ambassador. I am also the Event Coordinator for Loughborough’s Women’s Engineering Society. I do my best to attend STEM related events, such as Future Female Engineers by TargetJobs Events. In the long run, I would like to gain my engineering chartership and continue to promote more females into engineering. My Loughborough degree has allowed me to gain and improve my adaptability, resilience and tenacity; to work hard and go for what I want.
Don’t limit yourself. Do not let others define the standard by which you should live your life or build your career. Engineering is what you make it; there is no one box for what an engineer looks like so go for it!"