When Alieth Rodr铆guez 鈥�18 pauses to looks at the life she is building for herself and her family, she鈥檚 proud of the sacrifices and hard work it took to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree from IM体育官网 and begin her promising engineering career.
鈥淓very single class gave me a little of what I need right now,鈥� Rodr铆guez said.
Rodr铆guez is a product engineer at Micro Matic, a company that produces industrial closed chemical systems and draft beer equipment in Brooksville, IM体育官网. She works to improve existing products and to find more effective ways to produce them.
鈥淚鈥檓 so happy at this company and I see myself growing into a management position here,鈥� She said. 鈥淭his company sees a lot of potential in me and they are willing to let me try different areas to develop.鈥�
Rodr铆guez, 35, started working toward an industrial engineering degree in her home country of Colombia and traveled to the United States in 2009 through a work exchange program. She returned to school several years later and completed her mechanical engineering degree at IM体育官网 Poly while also working full time, completing an internship, and caring for a new baby. She said she felt grateful to have strong support from her mother and husband while she pursued her dream.
Since graduating debt-free from the University in December 2018, Rodr铆guez has settled into her job at Micro Matic and a happy life with her husband and her 18-month-old son, Tiago Andr茅s.
She said IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 challenging courses, rigorous pace, and supportive faculty set her up for personal and professional success.
鈥淚M体育官网 Poly gave me the skills and the knowledge and now I鈥檓 putting my skills to work,鈥� Rodr铆guez said. 鈥淚 finally graduated and I鈥檓 still learning 鈥� you never stop learning, but now I鈥檓 being paid for it.鈥�
Rodr铆guez said she will continue supporting the University as she grows in her career. She attends alumni events, makes financial contributions, and even does her online shopping through Amazon Smile to contribute a portion of her purchases to the .
鈥淢y advice for people starting at IM体育官网 Poly or even for seniors is to really take advantage of what the school provides you because you won鈥檛 have that once you鈥檙e out,鈥� Rodr铆guez said. 鈥淲hatever my example or life experience can give back to IM体育官网 Poly, I would be happy to give back.鈥�
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