About Erika Healy
Name: Erika Healy
Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology
Grad year: 2014
Hometown: Hammond, Indiana
Activities: Minority Technology Association (MTA), Women in Technology (WIT), College of Technology Student Ambassador, regular community service, rollerblading, movie nights, etc.
Favorite place at Purdue: I love exercising, so the recreational center is one of my favorite places to go and release some stress before, after, and between classes!
What is technology? Technology, to me, is EVERYTHING! Anything that makes life easier for you and I is technology, from a pencil to a blow dryer to a GPS navigator to airplanes!
Why I chose my major: I originally was accepted to the College of Engineering, but quickly realized the College of Technology was a better fit for me, as was MET versus ME, because I love ‘learning by doing’! In the College of Technology, we read our books, yes, but then we go into the lab and actually do what we read about to solidify the concept! The reiteration of theory is very helpful!
Bio
Hiya, future and fellow Boilermakers! I’m Erika and I am a sophomore in the amazing College of Technology (COT) at the fantastic Purdue University, studying Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET)!
I originally was accepted to the College of Engineering, but quickly realized the College of Technology was a better fit for me, as was MET versus ME, because I love learning by doing! In the College of Technology, we read our books, yes, but then we go into the lab and actually do what we read about to solidify the concept! The reiteration of theory is very helpful!
Hammond, Indiana is home for me, 45 minutes from downtown Chicago by train! Purdue is perfectly located for me; far enough from home to experience life on my own, but close enough so that when I’m really missing my family, or craving a home-cooked meal (lol), I could make the trip in about 2 hours. However, home-sickness is a thing of the past for me since I’ve become a COT student!
The friends I’ve met and my professors and advisors make me feel so at home! There’s a common bond shared between us in the College of Technology, and that is unity. United we stand, divided we fall. Everyone looks out for each other and your superiors have your best interests in mind, which is one aspect of the College of Technology here at Purdue that I absolutely love!
Staying busy is a key to success, so I stay very actively involved in my college. I’m a COT Student Ambassador; COT Ambassadors is a group that promotes our college and talks to prospective students about all of the wonderful things we have to offer! I am secretary of the Minority Technology Association (MTA). Through MTA, we strive to gain, retain, encourage, and help minority students in the Purdue College of Technology succeed. As secretary I keep track of the minutes at each meeting, send out reminder emails regarding meetings and upcoming events, and monitor attendance. I’m also the Mentor Chair for Women in Technology (WIT); I’m responsible for maintaining and improving WIT’s mentoring program, which involves pairing an upperclassman with an underclassman of the same major in hopes to help assimilate the underclassman to college life, classes, and gain a better understanding of her major.
The College of Technology is focused on producing world innovators. It’s up to us to make the world a better place, one step at a time. And with that said, I look forward to your feedback and questions. Feel free to contact me, my email is: emhealy@purdue.edu! BOILER UP!