“Find a good support system, whether it be friends or a few classmates or the CSE group who are always willing to help; you don’t have to do it alone, you shouldn’t have to.”

Tiffanie Williams is a Senior majoring in Civil Engineering. She was born and raised in Jamaica and came to the US to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering.

What inspired your interest in civil engineering?
I was inspired to do engineering by my father who worked in the welding industry in Jamaica and interacted with a lot of engineers. He knew I had a passion for Mathematics and Technical Drawing in high school and told me it would be a good match for me, so I decided to do it. I also hope to obtain my Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering along the way.

Since starting college, I have gone back home to Jamaica for two summers and completed an internship each time. While I was there, I realized that there was a need for a Civil engineering firm that would be equipped to manage large jobs the country would normally have to outsource to more developed countries. My dream accomplishment would be to open a Caribbean-wide civil engineering firm that fulfills this demand.

How did you hear about CSE?
I heard about the Center for Student Empowerment during my sophomore year. I was invited to the office by my friend TJ, he told me there were numerous opportunities available for international students and he encouraged me to join. Since then, I have been a part of CSE, and I can say that the biggest benefit is knowing that there is a support system on campus rooting for you behind the scenes. Additionally, I recently received a scholarship towards my tuition.

What would you say to someone experience a personal challenge that is affecting their academics?
I would say, take a step back and really think about why you’re in school pursuing your degree. Having some context has really been my motivation when I felt down or lost, and hopefully that can help someone else as well. Also, as much as we all want to be independent, we can’t be completely. Find a good support system, whether it be friends or a few classmates or the CSE group who are always willing to help; you don’t have to do it alone, you shouldn’t have to.