I apologize for not writing in a while! I have had such a busy summer, but I finally have some downtime to tell you what I've been doing.

This past July, I had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Summer Bridge Program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK). The program was designed to develop our academic, teamwork, and communication skills through lectures, workshops, and hands-on projects.

Upon arrival, the faculty divided us into groups based on our majors. I was placed in a group with five other mechanical engineering majors. Four of us were attending in person, while two participated remotely. From the first day, we were eager to dive into our project: re-engineering an RC car. This challenging yet rewarding task required us to understand and improve various components, including the plastic frame, motors, gears, batteries, tires, and wires.

The program had a structured daily layout with optional morning sessions and required afternoon sessions. The morning sessions covered essential TAMUK resources, career development, and skills needed for academic success. These sessions were highly beneficial and included topics such as:

Resume Building: We learned how to create compelling resumes highlighting our skills and experiences, making us stand out to potential employers.

Internship Tips: The sessions provided valuable tips on searching for and securing internships, including interview skills and your elevator pitch, which are crucial for gaining practical experience.

Transfer Guidance: The program offered guidance on transferring to universities for community college students, ensuring a smooth transition.

PowerPoint Skills: These sessions provided helpful tips for using Microsoft PowerPoint, an invaluable resource for STEM majors and professionals.

In the afternoons, we attended faculty lectures relevant to our field. These lectures provided us with theoretical knowledge to apply to our project. After the lectures, we broke into groups to work on our projects from 1 PM to 5 PM, sometimes even later.

The hands-on experience of disassembling and optimizing RC cars was stimulating and challenging. It enhanced our technical skills and deepened our understanding of theoretical concepts, such as torque and translating circular motion into directional movement. Collaborating with my peers, I discovered the importance of teamwork and the power of collective problem-solving. We used SolidWorks 2023 to model our 3D prints and went through constant testing and redesigning. I didn't have proficient skills in SolidWorks before this project; however, after, I became more comfortable with the program.

After work hours, the program ensured we had activities outside of our daily lectures and projects. One of the highlights was the campus pool, where we could swim and cool off from the Texas heat. This balance of work and leisure allowed us to return to our projects refreshed and recharged. Additionally, Dr. Alexander had weekly movie and game nights so that we could get to know each other and talk to others outside of our major.

In the end, we successfully redesigned an RC car and made it in the style of the mystery machine from Scooby doo. There are some pictures on this page showing the final product. My time at Texas A&M Kingsville's Summer Bridge Program was unforgettable. It was more than just an educational program; it was a personal and professional growth journey. I gained invaluable knowledge, made lasting friendships, and developed a clearer vision for my future career in mechanical engineering. If you can participate in such a program, I recommend seizing it. It's an investment in your future that you won't regret.

Growing up in a family business dedicated to custom apparel, I would hear the constant rhythm of the needles of embroidery machines moving up and down after school. This environment nurtured my creativity and inspired many aspects of my life, including my academic major, work ethic, and problem-solving skills. I mention academic major because the ability to make something and work out a solution planted the seed that I wanted to become an engineer from a young age. Recently, I was inspired to start customizing my jeans. Here's a glimpse into my journey through customizing different pairs of jeans, each segment accompanied by pictures!

Smiley Face Patch Jeans

My introduction to customizing jeans was born out of necessity. (It's a debatable necessity.) During art class, I accidentally spilled paint on my favorite pair. Rather than discarding them, I covered the stains with something cheerful! Initially I tried to paint it into a heart shape, but as you can see the outline from behind the patch... it didn't look pretty. After this, I crafted smiley face patches, sewed them on, and turned a mishap into a statement piece. This pair marked the beginning of my customization journey and taught me the beauty of turning mistakes into art. It coincided with the unit we were studying that month, kintsugi. Britannica says, "Kintsugi, a traditional Japanese technique of repairing ceramics with lacquer and a metal powder usually made from gold or silver." While my jeans are not ceramic, these projects have a similar idea of restoring objects and beautifying their cracks or damage. 

Embroidered Flower Jeans

Encouraged by my first project, I ventured into direct embroidery. I directly embroidered flowers onto another pair of jeans, adding a touch of nature's elegance. My biggest challenge was fitting these into the machine and ensuring I didn't sew the leg closed. I learned much from this pair and what I want to try for future pairs. 

Sublimated Album Cover Jeans

Music has always been a significant part of my life, and I wanted to reflect that passion on my jeans. Using our heat press, I sublimated album covers onto fabric, cut out the squares, and sewed them onto my jeans. Each patch represents a favorite album, turning my jeans into a wearable playlist. This project combined my love for music with my growing expertise in customization techniques. To each their own! So, if you wouldn't have put these album covers on your jeans, I definitely get that. 

Celestial Jeans

While thrifting, I found a pair of jeans with stains and paint splatters. To me, they looked like stars in a night sky. Inspired by this celestial theme, I added embroidered planets and stars and sewed old space-themed fabric behind the rips. I dyed some red denim and cut out a moon and star, incorporating them into the design. This pair became stellar art and a conversation starter.

Suit Jeans

Like most pairs of jeans I made, I saw something similar and thought, "I could make that." I saw a design similar to this; it had swirling designs like bandanas in suits of cards. Then I saw a pair of jeans with something on the back of the knees. I thought this was a classic business in the front and a party in the back. Thats what led to the creation of this pair. 

Valentine's Day Heart Jeans

When I was making the space-themed pair of jeans around Valentine's Day, I was working with red-dyed denim and infused some love into them. I cut out red hearts and sewed them onto another pair. The vibrant hearts celebrate the season of love, but just one material would be lonely. On this pair I added some direct embroidery hearts as well to contrast the apliques. This pair is a testament to how different themes and times of the year can inspire unique designs. I feel that valentines are one of those year-round themes; you can always wear hearts, but it is harder to say for holiday-themed pants!