Career Roadmap
Melanie's work combines: Engineering, Travel, and Problem Solving
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Plainfield High School
Bachelor's Degree
Civil Engineering, General
Purdue University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Civil Engineers:
Bachelor's Degree: Civil Engineering, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You are a woman, what are you doing on my construction site?
How I responded:
I realize that I may perceived as knowing less than my male counterparts in the industry, but once people hear me speak and see my work, most quickly realize that I am just as valuable in this society. I've learned that, because I'm a woman, I can see things from different perspectives which sometimes leads to better solutions. Instead of believing that I'm a woman, therefore I can't do X, Y and Z, I decided early in my career to set my own standards and then surpass them.