UC international student pursues childhood dream career
Student makes a transition from biology to aerospace engineering, inspired by transportation systems in her home country
Until this year, University of Cincinnati student Sabrina Shrestha didn’t think engineering was in the stars for her.
Formerly a biology student in UC's College of Arts and Sciences, Shrestha joined the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) aerospace engineering program this fall.
Shrestha came to UC from Nepal, and had chosen to study biology because it is a rapidly-growing industry in her home country. She thought it would be a viable career path once she returned home as planned. She is interested in cell and molecular biology and genetics, but not to the same degree as her fascination with space.
Aerospace was her first choice of study, but she worried that her opportunities back home may be limited — or non-existent.
“Nepal is still a developing nation," she says. "The aviation industry is not huge, despite the Nepali economy’s heavy reliance on tourism.”
“I have loved outer space, planes and spacecraft ever since I was a little kid.” Shrestha recalls. “I had never thought engineering per se; I just knew I’d always dreamed about working with air- or spacecraft.”
For a while, she pushed aside her ambition, convinced that the aerospace field was beyond her reach.
“I didn’t do well in high school physics and mathematics for various reasons out of my control, like frequent teacher changes and my own health issues,” Shrestha explains. “I was not fascinated with biology, but I knew that I ultimately wanted to bring biology together with my love of space.”
Shrestha reached a turning point last semester when her roommate, also a biology major, switched her major to chemical engineering. Shrestha had a revelation.
“I thought about my future. It made me realize, ‘Wow, people can do that!’ Who cares if I take a year later than expected to graduate?” she explains.
Once she realized that biology is not a passion area for her, she decided to finally follow her heart to engineering.
“I like how engineering is really hands-on, that you can tinker with things and learn how it works,” says Shrestha. “Luckily, I chose UC, the only school I applied to that had both biology and aerospace engineering,”
After her first couple weeks as an engineering student, Shrestha is still thinking about her next steps.
“I am still exploring. Everything excites me at this point,” she says with a laugh. “I had never found the same excitement in biology that I found in aerospace. I want to know more about every topic I see in the aerospace program!”
If you are passionate about something, if you can’t let go of it, then go for it. If you go for your passion and work hard, it is going to be fulfilling.
Sabrina Shrestha, UC aerospace engineering student
Shrestha feels well supported by the UC community, especially UC International Services.
“UC is very welcoming to international students; that has been indispensable,” Shrestha says.
UC International offers programming and services—retreats, events, seminars, even an international prom—to help international students acclimate to US culture, as well as to help mitigate homesickness and culture shock.
Last semester, she joined International Partners and Leaders (IPALs), a group of UC students (American and international), who meet to share their cultures, make friends, and help other international students feel welcome in their new home of Cincinnati.
“They care so much for international students that they made a whole organization for students to meet people from different places,” says Shrestha.
Shrestha hopes to return home to Nepal and work in the STEM community once she has developed her professional skills. One of her dreams would be to upgrade the international airport system for Nepal. There is only one international airport, which is in a large valley surrounded by hills, near Kathmandu, the capital city. Not only could the country’s economy benefit from streamlined tourism, but so could their national security, she notes.
“If you are passionate about something, if you can’t let go of it, then go for it. You should be doing something with your life that you love and enjoy. If you go for your passion and work hard, it is going to be fulfilling,” she advises.
Featured image at top: Sabrina Shrestha (front row, far left), attends a meeting with IPAL members. Photo/provided.
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