CEA - Single Mom to an Engineer: Living the American Dream with Melody Gonzalez

This is another episode that will certainly empower and motivate many women out there who feel that inner passion for pursuing career positions in areas of expertise that are somewhat still mainly dominated by men. Today, we hear from Melody Gonzalez, a female immigrant from Venezuela, single mother of two kids, who made her way in becoming an engineer despite all the obstacles she faced in life.

As an immigrant, she had to deal with all the changes that come with an international relocation, such as environmental and cultural changes, as well as language barriers. Since she came to the US about 15 years ago, she was proficient enough for the day-to-day basic things. However, getting into engineering school requires a more technical vocabulary and good comprehension of such technical terms and texts. The SAT was her first obstacle. After daily 12-hour study periods, she finally got into Miami Dade College, and from there, later transferred to the Florida International University (FIU).

Melody is now a civil engineer for Black & Veatch, proudly working on projects that focus on water resources and infrastructure, as well as sustainable solutions for the community. One of her main pieces of advice for the generations of civil engineers to come is to love what you do, especially if it’s civil engineering. Getting through school is hard, and it doesn't get easier when you start working. That’s why working with what you love, at a company that is in alignment with your values, and alongside people that will serve as mutual mentors to each other, both professionally and personally, is the key.

This conversation is a great source of inspiration not only for women but also for men. As the “dominant” genre in the area, they have the moral responsibility to help the female percentage in the field grow. Melody is a great example that obstacles are just temporary problems that require you to change in order to overcome them, but that will certainly take you to the next level as a professional and a person. Don’t forget to check out her article telling her journey in a more in-depth, detailed, and personal manner that will certainly contribute to your perspective of life.

Resources Mentioned

Melody Gonzalez’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-a-gonzalez?trk=author_mini-profile_title

Melody Gonzalez’s Instagram (@melodygonzfiu) - https://www.instagram.com/melodygonzfiu/?hl=en

Melody Gonzalez’s Article “How I went from a Single Mom to an Engineer: Living the American dream.” - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-i-went-from-single-mom-engineer-living-american-gonzalez-e-i-/?trackingId=m1%2FqKgHkSeOXGm7Vj6mLyA%3D%3D

Black & Veatch - https://www.bv.com/

Florida International University (FIU) - https://www.fiu.edu/

Miami Dade College - https://www.mdc.edu/

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