Alexa Blanco started at Texas ECE in 2020 and is in the software Engineering Tech Core. She has served as Vice President and Chapter Director of the UT Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and she is a member of the Women in Engineering Program (WEP), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and served as the propulsion subsystem lead for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Austin (UAVA). She is a UT for Me Scholar and won the Mark and Kathy Papermaster Endowed Scholarship. We sat down with Alexa to learn more about her student experience in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

HOW DID YOU END UP AT UT? WHAT PATH LED YOU HERE?

I was born and raised in Austin, Texas and I chose to attend UT Austin because that meant I was able to stay with my family while studying in one of the best Electrical Programs in the nation. I decided to study ECE because in high school I attended engineering courses at a different high school since mine did not provide any and electrical stood out to me the most. I also really enjoyed programming since I started my own Girls Who Code club at my less privileged high school and I was amazed to find out UT provided me with a mixture of both.

WHO HAS BEEN A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE?

My parents have been a major influence in my life because they immigrated to the U.S. when they were young and had to stop their studies in 6th grade. Due to this they always pushed my siblings and I to pursue our studies and attend college. While being in college I have always strived to do my best for my parents and because it has been such a blessing to be in school.

IF YOU COULD PROVIDE ONE POSITIVE MEMORY OF YOUR TIME AT UT SO FAR THAT STANDS OUT, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

One positive memory of my time at UT that stands out would have to be getting elected as Vice President Internal of SHPE. Due to Covid-19, I spent my entire first year on zoom so when I began to attend in person my second year I didn't know anyone on campus. I spent the first two months completely alone and when I got involved in SHPE in October I began to meet and hangout with so many people. Getting elected in November made me so incredibly happy because it made me realize how far I have come and that people believed in me. I remember celebrating with my friends and I just looked back at all of those times I spent alone on campus. It gave me hope for my time here at UT.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS?

Graduate school, academia, industry, what type of career will you pursue, etc. My future goal in life is to become either an electrical or computer engineer working in a company that allows me to learn. My goal in life is to learn as much as I can to be able to give back and teach everything I’ve learned to less fortunate communities. Growing up in a low income neighborhood has made me realize how blessed I am to have even finished high school. I remember losing 30-50 students every year because they had to drop out and begin to work. Not everyone is blessed enough to attend college and learn everything I am so grateful to be learning so I want to make sure that education is provided for those who can’t afford it. I also hope to teach those who are unable to attend school due to not having citizenship.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN SHPE AN/OR WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO BE INVOLVED IN STUDENT ORGS?

I decided to become involved in SHPE because when I first got to campus it was difficult to find people who looked like me in my classes. Every culture goes through different experiences and I was looking to meet Hispanic people who were going through the same struggles I was. I also loved the idea of motivating Hispanics to pursue STEM related jobs and professions because many of us are first-generations and that can be very overwhelming. Being involved in student orgs is so important because you get to meet people and connect with them but it also makes campus incredibly smaller. I enjoy being in an engineering org because there are many students who can help me and it has also shown me that I am not alone in my struggles.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO HAVE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY?

It is important for the university to have a diverse community because it encourages more minorities to attend and feel welcomed on campus. It also allows the students more opportunities to learn because we learn so much from each other especially with the different cultures and religions. Everyone should feel encouraged to pursue their studies and I believe a more diverse community would provide that encouragement.

WHAT DOES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH MEAN TO YOU?

Hispanic Heritage Month means celebrating the uniqueness and struggles of being Hispanic. Those struggles and experiences of being Hispanic have made us work harder and strive for more, which should be celebrated. It means being proud of where you come from and who you are. It means pulling out your jerseys and flags and representing your culture. It is a month where you get to be proud of your people and how far we’ve all come.

HOW HAS YOUR HISPANIC HERITAGE AFFECTED YOUR LIFE IN A UNIQUE WAY?

My Hispanic heritage has affected my life in a unique way because it has provided me this culture that has made me who I am today. It has made me humble and hardworking because I grew up in a low income Hispanic community and it has taught me a different point of view in life. I am beyond grateful for this culture that I have. My heritage has also taught me to be grateful because being in school isn't common in my community and it is something I will always be thankful to have.