Her Story
About Jyestha
My journey into environmental engineering started when I was just a kid with a passion for sustainability and a desire to make a real, tangible contribution to our environment. In high school, my counselor introduced me to this emerging field of environmental engineering, and I immediately knew this was what I should do. The challenge was that there weren't substantial programs in India, so at 18 years old, I made the bold decision to move to the other side of the world by myself to study at Purdue University. My parents couldn't get their visas on time, so I traveled alone, and honestly, looking back, I don't even know how I did it. The journey was full of challenges - I even lost my bags when the shuttle left without me while I was in the bathroom at the airport, and I didn't have an American phone number to reach anyone. But the excitement of going to a new country and doing everything by myself overcame the anxiousness. Now I'm pursuing my degree in environmental and ecological engineering, doing an internship with a power transmission company where I focus on sustainability and data analysis, calculating emissions including complex Scope 3 emissions. I'm particularly drawn to renewable energy, though I explored many facets of sustainability before landing on this focus. I serve as the research and design project manager for the Society of Women Engineers, an organization that has given me so much - leadership experience, funding, and a safe space to connect with other women engineers. I'm also involved with the Boiler Green Initiative, where we work on innovative sustainability projects like separating recyclables at football games before they reach waste facilities. Being in this tight-knit community of like-minded people who share the same passion for environmental work has been incredible, and I'm constantly learning new perspectives from others who focus on different aspects of sustainability.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jyestha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to perseverance. Moving to the other side of the world at 18 years old to pursue my education was one of the most daunting things I've ever done, especially since my parents couldn't get their visas on time and I had to travel alone. Looking back, I don't even know how I did it - I didn't cry or feel anxious, I think the excitement of getting to go to a new country and doing everything by myself just overwhelmed the nervousness. There were so many problems along the way, like when I lost my bags because the shuttle left without me while I was in the bathroom, and I didn't have an American phone number to reach anyone. But I didn't give up. My journey is built on perseverance, and I wouldn't be here if I had just given up in the beginning. I've learned that everybody has problems in their life, and everybody's handling it and rising above it, and that's what keeps me going.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
In environmental engineering specifically, I would say don't be afraid to explore. It's definitely a really broad field, and there's so much to see. Don't hesitate to experiment - I landed on renewable energy after I saw so many other facets of sustainability, and this is what interested me the most. Don't be afraid to explore, you know? More specifically as a woman, I would say don't think that you're lesser than anyone. I've been in so many situations where I've been in male-dominated groups, like in my engineering classes at Purdue where I'm in a group and I'm the only girl, and they're just giving me the easier tasks like making the presentation or choosing the presentation template. No, I want to be asked for engineering stuff, you know, so I want to do that. Don't be afraid to take initiative when you're in a male-dominated space. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself if someone gives you less work. Just tell them that no, I also want to contribute to the actual work, you know. I'm not just gonna do the template stuff or choose the template or decorate the slide. I want to do the actual work with you. I'm happy to contribute, but I also want to do it, you know? Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself.
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