WOMEN’S WEDNESDAY: meet committee member Aditi Reddy!

This Wednesday Women in Engineering Society presents a new interview and this time we have talked to one of our committee members – Aditi Reddy! Aditi is a second-year Electronics and Communications Engineering student at the University of Sheffield and she is also a Vice-President for two societies – Women in Engineering and EEE for the 2019-20 year. Aditi gives us an insight into what it is like to be involved in two different societies and why did she choose to go into engineering so keep reading to find out!

How is your experience so far?

I became a part of the committee as the first-year representative for both the societies in my first year at the university.  I enjoyed my roles so much that I wanted to take up bigger responsibilities in my second year and now I am the Vice-President of both the societies.

The experience of taking an important role in 2 societies is extremely rewarding and challenging at the same time. I am meeting a lot of inspiring people and it is an amazing opportunity to surround yourself with a lot of motivation.  The network of friends and mentors I have built because of my roles constantly pushes me not just towards being a good engineer, but also towards becoming the best version of myself.

My roles have helped me develop my soft skills and taught me the value of working for something that is much bigger than myself. I have also seen how genuine efforts can make a positive impact on people around me and fulfil the goals of the societies.

What challenges have you faced so far and how did you overcome them?

It has been extremely challenging to balance my responsibilities with my coursework. Some weeks are extremely busy while others aren’t hence it is very important for me to plan my days ahead and stick to my schedule no matter what.  Planning has helped me manage time efficiently and never miss deadlines.

It is very important to remember that my roles are an addition to my degree, not a replacement.

Another thing that I initially found challenging was to do the same role in two societies. It is very easy to assume that if I do the exact same thing in two places, but the reality is that performing the same role in two places leads to two completely different experiences.

The objectives, structure and functioning of both societies is completely different and I am working with a different set of people altogether, which means I need to take different approaches while performing my roles. But all the effort is worth it when I see the positive impact our societies make on the students and the university.

How did you get into STEM? Who inspired you to get into it?

Whenever I thought of a career, I wanted to do something that makes this world a better place and adds value to it and I believe that an engineer’s work has the power to change the economy and environment in any direction.

I also wanted to get into a field that challenges me frequently and encourages me to push my limits.

After I finished high school, I knew that I loved maths and I wanted to do a course that involves maths and teaches me about the modern electronic devices, so I decided to study electronics and communication engineering.

My family and teachers have always been a constant source of support and inspiration for me to pursue engineering. I wish to use my knowledge and skills to inspire the next generation of women to pursue engineering without any fears or preconceived notions.

What would you say to inspire young girls in order to get them into STEM studies?

You don’t always have to know everything, but when you don’t know something don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions about it. Before choosing a career path research it well and don’t let the societies notions of any field effect your choices.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Once you overcome your fears the rewards will be endless.

Also, say yes to every opportunity that adds to your knowledge or skills.

Most importantly if your intuition says something is right there is a high chance that it is actually right!

 Thank you, Aditi, and good luck in the future!