Demi Ruiz
JHU/APL
"If you don't like the first thing you do, keep trying new things!"
Career Roadmap
Demi's work combines: Armed Services, Engineering, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Mechanical Engineering
Duke University
Graduate Degree
Mechanical Engineering
University of Maryland-College Park
Graduate Degree
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs
Johns Hopkins University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Senior Engineer/Analyst:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Degree: Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Degree: Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
In high school I took auto mechanics and my dad told me I should be an engineer.
2.
I got a degree and worked for the Navy.
3.
I left engineering while I had kids, started my own education business and got another degree.
4.
I returned to engineering and began working in a professional capacity with STEM students.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
When I left my first job my boss congratulated my on deciding to quit working and stay home to raise kids.
How I responded:
It's important to always stay engaged with the field that you are dedicated to, even if you take a break from the daily, professional work, stay connected through your peers, your hobbies, and professional societies like the Society of Women Engineers.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I have had to repeatedly prove my capabilities to my male colleagues and been denied opportunities that I deserved. To get what you deserve you have to stand up for yourself and be willing to take the backlash from it.