The truth is that I chose not to believe this myth. People can whisper both positive and negative ideas into your ear, and to our detriment, we sometimes listen to the negative. I heard it all, the supportive and unsupportive comments.
Fortunately, this is where my biggest teacher stepped in: my mother. She always taught me how to choose for myself and not let others stand in the way of what my heart really wanted. She taught me what she calls discernment: to choose what is best for me, to see what "serves" me and what does not -- of course, in consideration of not hurting others. And although it may seem hard to ignore the negative, I always remember that the only person who makes the negative comments hard to forget is you.
I went into engineering because I loved math and science. When I got to college, honestly, I rethought my decision, because the work was more difficult than that I had experienced in the past. But what held me through it all was facing the challenge and the knowledge that this was all my choice.
I chose to take advantage of the opportunity to go to school, and I chose at every moment that I was not going to let a little difficult time defeat me. When I needed help, I searched for it; when it was not there, I used my creativity to make it appear. The bottom line is that I was not going to give up. The engineering curriculum is designed to make you challenge yourself and discipline yourself to accomplish your goals of success. Cornell Engineering taught me not only the science of engineering but also the indispensable skill of discipline and having "tough skin."
So now, two years after I completed my bachelor of science in industrial engineering, I find myself incredibly grateful for sticking to it. I gained experience with such companies as Procter & Gamble, Citibank, and Hewlett-Packard and not only applied what I learned in school but also learned "soft skills" that have proven very useful in all aspects of my life. In addition, I got the opportunity to live in various parts of the United States and even travel to Mexico with the internships. I saw so much utility in the education that I decided to pursue my master of engineering. But, in the middle of my degree program, I decided to get out of my comfort zone for a small adventure: I participated in the Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2001 Pageant. I feel it was the discipline, hard work, and dedication that I learned in pursuit of my bachelor's degree that led me to the semifinals.
After I completed that adventure, I returned to school to complete my master's in engineering and now my master of business administration, which I will complete in May 2002. My next steps will include pursuing business ventures, among other things.
As you can see, I do not allow anyone to tell me where I should and should not be. I simply follow my heart and use my discipline and discernment to work hard to get what I want. I hope that I can forever remember to do this. It has worked for me so far!
Anaiza Morales received her bachelor of science degree in engineering in May 2000, her master of engineering degree in 2001, and her master of business administration degree in May 2002 from Cornell University. She is now back in Puerto Rico exploring entrepreneurial opportunities. She can be reached at AMorales@ccgmag.com.
