Meet Valerie Melecio!
Start the first Friday of the year with more stories of Girls in Civil.
Today we present to you the fantastic Valerie Melecio!
Valerie is a first-generation Mexican American student at Drexel University currently studying Civil Engineering. Read our post to read a bit of her story.
Pronouns: She/her/hers
From: Cheltenham, Pennsylvania of Mexican Descent
What motivated her to be a person in that field?
“Ever since I was a kid in 5th grade, I always thought about what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I was little, my grandma took care of me while my parents worked, and I grew up around my aunts and uncles, some of which were in high school & college at the time. My grandma always talked to me about college & the importance of education, even if she herself never went to school past 7th grade in Mexico. When I got to high school, I thought I wanted to be a nurse, but when I realized I didn’t like blood, I knew that was out of the picture. I found that I liked math & so my dad said I should try engineering. I told my high school counselor & she put me into a Technical Drawing class, in which I was the only girl. My teacher encouraged me to join an after-school mentorship program called ACE MENTORS, exposing me to the different engineering fields. After that, I took more science and math classes, continued with my mentorship, and the rest was history.”
What have been the main challenges she has encountered throughout her career?
The imposter syndrome is rough. Being in Philadelphia, I am one of the only women, and I am the only Latina in my classes. I’d never so heavily felt the importance of having someone that looks like you that you can relate to. It wasn’t until I joined SHPE (The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) that I found those mentors. Having those people around me helped me remember that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
Being a 5 foot Latina in construction is a different beast within itself. I got the chance to work on a project site for six months during my sophomore year at Drexel, and there were things that I dealt with that were isolated to them happening because I was a woman of color. Some days I cried in my car after work, and other days I advocated for myself with the help of my managers, but at the end of the day, my parents’ support was my biggest helper. My dad has worked in construction ever since we were 19, so he has always been there to hype me up when I was down. He always tells me his stories and how he handled difficulties and having that advice has been the biggest help I could have.
Some days, when the assignment I am doing isn’t giving me the outcome I need, or when I didn’t do so well on an exam, it’s natural to feel defeated. On those days, however, I remember the sacrifices that my parents, grandparents, and family have made for me to have the chance to be doing what I am. I get this strength from being a first-generation Mexican-American in STEM, which reminds me that I can keep going.
When has been a time that she felt empowered?
“There was a situation in which I was more qualified for a job than my male counterpart. When the offer came around for the same position, their offer was higher even though I was significantly more qualified. Although I was shaking with emotions, I called my parents, and they cheered me on to go to my boss and ask for a fair amount. I ended up getting a higher offer, which was fair given my higher qualification. I was able to experience this early in my career and advocate for myself. A big part of me wanted to say nothing, mainly because of how nervous I was to have that conversation. However, in the end, I was so incredibly proud of myself for having my best interest at hand.”
Why is she a Girl in Civil?
“Simple - por mi familia. They have encouraged me in ways that I know not everyone has. When the town elders asked why I was studying engineering, seeing as how "that's a man's job," they advocated for me and my dreams. I do it for the other girls like me who could go into STEM and deserve to see women who look like them.”
Here's a piece of advice she shares with you!
“Remember who you are. It is so easy to lose yourself or feel defeated. But just remember that you are strong & you can do it. Don’t be scared to ask for help, don’t be scared to ask questions, and don’t let anyone let you feel inferior for it.”
