Q: (Initially posted on January 2, 2003) FROM MENTEE SANA A. IN CT
Also-What are some places that I can volunteer at that will
help me with becoming an engineer. Currently, I
volunteer at a hospital and at the community center
calling bingo numbers but neither of these volunteer
jobs help me with learning something about physics or
math. If I was planning on becoming a doctor, then the
hospital would be a good place, but I want to learn
more about engineering. Also I was wondering if there
were any other programs for 16 year olds that are
academically informative about physics and math.

January 7, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR BARB KONTOGIANNIS IN CO
Here are some ideas for volunteering, although what you choose will
depend on the kind of engineering in which you are interested. If you are
interested in aerospace, you may want to see if there is a planetarium or
aircraft museum in your area. They will often need volunteers for tours and
exhibits, and you could indirectly learn about aerospace engineering.
Similarly, volunteering for a trail or park conservation project, or even
builing a house for a Habitat for Humanity project or similar, could expose
you to environmental or construction engineering. You may even meet
engineers while volunteering for these types of efforts. Volunteering at a
hospital, which you already do, could provide exposure to biomedical
engineering - perhaps you could request to volunteer in an area that deals
with rehabilitation after knee replacement or prosthetic body parts, or even
ask lots of questions about some of the medical equipment that was no doubt
designed by engineers. Engineering touches so much of our lives. If you
think creatively along your lines of interest, I bet you can find some of
the exposure you are seeking.
********************
A: FROM MENTOR JACQUI JURGA IN MA
Being a mechanical engineering manager I would love to have a young person
to work around the office. Filing, making prints for the shop to build
from, doing some computer filing, maybe some basic CAD/Cam work. May I
suggest you visit local engineering companies or manufacturing companies in
your area. You will be amazed at what you will learn in an old factory
setting. The surroundings may not be modern or fancy - but the education
and experience you will receive will help your career immensely. If your
intention is to become an engineer, I am sure they would help you by giving
you a summer job within the organization to help familiarize you with the
daily work engineers do on projects. I can only bet - that the engineers
themselves would like part-time help with their functions.
You are certainly on the right track in trying to find experience in your
chosen field. Show your enthusiasm, and let your goals be known when
visiting them and asking them to give you the opportunity to prove you are
serious about learning all you can. Sell yourself to them, don't give
up.... if one company says no, go onto the next.
Pick the engineers brains with many questions; and don't worry- they love
to show off how smart they are and the whole time turn yourself into a
sponge and try to absorb all they tell you.
Good Luck!
****************

January 6, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR SUZANNE FRANKS IN KS
Regarding volunteering for engineering experience - contact your local
chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. You can use the national
web site to help you locate the nearest local chapter, www.swe.org.
Your local chapter may be involved in outreach activities and might
welcome having you along to help run some of them. Or, who knows,
one of the chapter members may invite you to job shadow her as a way
of learning more about engineering!