By Julianna Enriquez | February 16, 2024
Mariela, BS- Electrical Engineering
Do you have any student leadership positions at SFSU? Or have done anything to give back to the SFSU community?
I am Co-President of The American Society of Civil Engineers at San Francisco State University (SFSU). I am Project Manager for SFSU’s Concrete Canoe Team. Lastly, I am a Resident Assistant for on-campus housing supporting first-year students.
What has been the most memorable time you’ve had at SFSU so far?
It’s difficult to choose my most memorable time that I’ve had at SF State; as my classmates have become my best friends, my professors are my biggest cheerleaders, and our campus is located in such a lively city! However, I will always cherish the long study sessions with friends that turns into spontaneous trips to different beaches, Twin Peaks, The Palace of Fine Arts, and other random locations around the city.
What is a big goal in your life that you have planned out for yourself?
My life goal is to travel the world while I’m young. I really want to see The Northern Lights! My career aspirations include being a field engineer during the construction of a new bridge. I think bridges are beautifully symbolic of union and connection.
Where do you see yourself after graduating?
I’m in love with the city and so I plan on staying in San Francisco for a few years after graduation afterwards I’ll go wherever life takes me.
Why did you choose SFSU?
I was born and raised in the countryside; and so I knew I wanted to leave the countryside and live in a major city during my college years. I toured different schools around The State of California, because I wasn’t sure exactly where I wanted to enroll. During each campus tour I began to learn what I liked and disliked about different campuses. San Francisco State was the last campus I toured as San Francisco State placed emphasis on my two major preferences which were: 1.) I wanted to attend college somewhere that the campus felt big enough to feel like a “true” college campus but small enough to still feel a sense of community. 2.) I wanted to go to school somewhere that was filled with internship and job opportunities. As SF State is centralized in San Francisco, the opportunities to gain internship experience and job offers are endless. I loved my time at San Francisco State.
If you could choose a dream birthday itinerary what would you do?
My dream birthday itinerary would place me back home and would begin with me waking up to my mom’s birthday tradition of a decorated house filled with birthday banners, balloons and confetti everywhere, cake and flowers on the kitchen table on top of a homemade birthday tablecloth that my mom made, and the smell of her cooking her famous southern food, chocolate gravy and biscuits.
If you could choose one skill to master, what would it be and why?
If I could choose one skill to master it would be learning how to surf! I’ve always admired surfers because it looks so fun!
Is it better to regret something you have done or have not done?
I believe it’s better to regret something you’ve done rather than regretting something you never did but wished you did.
Have you regretted anything you have/haven’t done in your life?
I regret not learning the act of fire breathing. Someone who was fire breathing randomly offered to teach me how to breathe fire but I was scared I was going to burn myself so I declined the offer. Now I think it’s such a cool and unexpected party trick that I missed the opportunity to learn!