When I was young, I remember being awe-inspired by large structures and how things so massive could stay standing. Then on the Navajo Reservation, where I have lots of family, I would see collapsing houses and imperfect roads. That’s when I realized civil engineering could be a way to positively impact my community and the world around me, using my math skills to improve the lives of fellow Natives.
Growing up in Chandler, Ariz., I had a wide support network of family. My parents were always encouraging, and I had several awesome role models. My older sister went to Yale, which signaled to me that attending a high-caliber school was something I could achieve, and my maternal grandma (shimá sání) was the first female district judge on the Navajo Nation. She meant a lot to me.
When I went off to college over a thousand miles away, I was afraid that my family would feel abandoned or assume I thought I was better than they are. But spending time back home taught me that neither of those things was true and that some of my older cousins even looked up to me.
I’ve always felt as if I belonged at MIT and have made some lifelong friends here. I joined AISES my freshman year — I knew I wanted to be a part of the Native community at whatever college I attended — and am now going into my third and final year as president. It has deepened my connection to my culture, helped develop my leadership skills, and connected me to awesome opportunities like working with MIT Solve and being a judge for their Indigenous Communities Fellowship. I’ve met inspiring Native scientists and entrepreneurs trying to improve their communities.
I do my best to create an environment where students feel welcome and part of our community. This semester we implemented a buddy system for new students because everything is virtual due to COVID-19. We have been working on establishing a dedicated Native space on campus and renaming Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day, which MIT actually did!
One of the first meetings I led as president was about what we could do to stop celebrating Columbus. I didn’t want people to think it was okay that a holiday celebrating a propagator of genocide existed just because Native Americans are often forgotten or treated as invisible. So we formed the Indigenous Peoples Advocacy Committee to connect with allies all across campus.
I think with the Black Lives Matter movement that really took hold this summer, the administration finally realized that they ought to be doing more. After many meetings, MIT’s president publicly announced the name change and committed to helping us find a space on campus. It certainly could have happened a lot sooner, but I was filled with so much joy that I, as a Native student, was widely visible.
I appreciate my Indigenous culture even more than when I first came to college. The community values of helping out and taking care of one another provide my life purpose. Sharing what little I know of Navajo traditions reminds me of home and family. I love having the chance to introduce myself in Navajo or wear my jewelry, and it’s so nice when my friends feel a strong tie to their culture as well.
My Navajo culture has been a source of strength for me at MIT, which can be intense at times. The fall semester of my sophomore year, when I began taking all my engineering classes, was especially challenging, but at least we all struggle together. A lot of my work at MIT has been finding ways to reduce the impact of building design on climate change, which will disproportionately affect low-income communities.
My internship experiences have given me the confidence to know that I will succeed in the working world and have the ability to forge my own path. I want to be a structural engineer who designs more environmentally friendly structures. Climate change is a colossal issue that needs to be addressed, and that’s one way I can give back. I also would love to find more direct ways to use my engineering skills to contribute to my community and tribe.
