Chriselle Galapon
Assistant Thermal Systems Engineer
National Solar Observatory - Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope
Maui, HI USA
“At the end of the day, it's all you. Who cares what other people think? You have to do what makes you happy.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationChriselle Galapon
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
When she was in high school, she took place in competitions building bridges, small planes, and rockets.
But when she started at community college, she didn’t really know what she wanted to do with her life.
Her family really wanted her to go to medical school, but she just felt lost.
When she transferred into the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she thought she wanted to go into mechanical engineering.
The program proved to be difficult, so she took a year off; the break made her realize how much she missed engineering.
After returning and graduating, she wanted to stay near her family, but was worried there weren’t many opportunities for engineers in Maui.
She joined the Akamai Workforce Initiative, a networking / mentoring program for Hawaii’s scientific and technical workforce.
Through Akamai, she was able to find a career on Maui, working on the construction of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope.
Education
High School
Career
Assistant Thermal Systems Engineer
I assist in the construction of the DKIST Project and associated thermal and mechanical systems.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Technology
Building Things
Day to Day
In construction a great day would involve great weather, sunshine, low wind, and a full crew working in their various trades with all their materials / tools on hand and with little to no safety hazards being observed.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
Network within your career path.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Parents:
"You should go to medical school. "
Challenges I Overcame
First-Generation Immigrant
Interviewed By
Setting Course
Science, tech, engineering, arts, and math careers in Hawaii
