Inshera Abedin

What inspired you to pursue a degree in engineering and what drew you to Cornell CEE?

During high school, I was always drawn to higher level math and physics. Even my choices in extracurriculars reflected that. One of my favorite extracurricular activities was Science Olympiad where I competed in the Towers competition, which involved designing and constructing your own tower. I knew that I wanted to major in civil engineering, and Cornell had a strong structures program that seemed like the perfect fit for me.

Tell us about your internship experience at Clark Construction.

During the summer after my junior year, I interned at Clark Construction in Bethesda, Maryland. I was assigned to the renovation of the Cannon House Office Building, which houses the offices of several Congressional Representatives. I spent most of time developing Site Plans and attending meeting with the clients and design team. I learned a lot about the construction industry, the different types of construction projects and the different stages of a job. I enjoyed how I was being challenged and learning something new every day. My favorite days were the most hectic ones: running from meeting to meeting and working up to the clock to finish deadlines.

I gained a lot of confidence as a young professional soon-to-be engineer. Toward the end of my internship, I wasn’t afraid to approach different professionals and learn about the different aspects of construction. I learned to make the most of my opportunities during my summer. I am currently planning to join Clark in August 2015 as a full-time employee.

What are some of your extra-curricular activities?

I am an involved member in the Cornell University ASCE chapter, which has given me a lot of opportunities to network with other civil engineers and develop my professional skills. I am also a member of Chi Epsilon and am currently the President of our chapter. In addition, I have been Team Leader of Steel Bridge since the beginning of my junior year.  The Steel Bridge Project Team is a regional and national level competition based team that designs, fabricates and constructs a 20ft long steel bridge based on national guidelines.

What's your favorite part about the CEE major? 

This is a difficult question to answer. There are so many things I’ve been grateful for during my time at Cornell CEE. I guess I can sum it all up into one answer: Steel Bridge. I’ve met my closest friends through Steel Bridge, and the faculty and staff have been so supportive of our project. Steel Bridge has been my biggest challenge but also my greatest reward. I learned about leadership and working on a team. Lastly, my time on the team has led me to many different professional opportunities that I never imagined I would’ve had.