STEPHANIE (TESSE) ROBERTS, Engineer-in-Training/Planner, Los Angeles, California

Why did you choose this field?
Every single person on this earth is affected by transportation, be it walking, hopping, driving, biking, riding a train, or flying. I like knowing that I'm working on projects that address issues that affect so many people.

I always loved math and science, but found I excelled at writing as well. My job at PB allows me to combine the technical aspects of engineering with my creative side.

Four main influences in my life led me to the engineering / planning fields:

• When I was 7, I would build entire cities in my sandbox. I'd put in roads and public facilities, parks and schools. Then my younger brother would attack with the hose (think tsunami) and I'd have to start all over again. Good thing I liked the process of designing the street layouts more than finishing the actual town!
• Throughout high school, I would draw house plans in my notebooks, and I was certain I wanted to be an architect.
• In high school, I had a wonderful physics teacher who encouraged me to think about civil engineering instead of architecture. His selling point was that engineering was a terrific base for whatever I wanted to do after school, be it architecture, planning, or engineering.
• Once at Bucknell University, I had an amazing transportation engineering professor who introduced me to planning and the myriad opportunities in the transportation field. He encouraged me to get my Masters in Planning (at the University of Southern California), which is somewhat unique among engineers. The combination of my two degrees has been invaluable; it proves to prospective employers and clients that you are not only a good engineer, but you can explain your conclusions to others.

What is a day like at your job?
It really varies. Every day is different, depending on the project. I analyze traffic volumes and accident data using traffic modeling programs; I write parts of environmental reports for light rail and highway projects; I attend public meetings to introduce and explain our projects; I do field work (from assessing person movements at airport terminals to measuring parking space utilization in an urban neighborhood); I assist with writing marketing proposals; and I try to fill in wherever help is needed in our office. Eventually I hope to be a Project Manager, and run my own projects.

What advice do you have for students considering your field as a profession?
Communication is one of the most important aspects of the engineering and planning fields. So many engineers limit themselves by not being able to communicate their work. Being able to write well and speak coherently is what will set you apart from your peers. Even though public speaking may not be your forte, force yourself to take a class in it; the skills you learn will be invaluable in your future career.

If you get the chance to go abroad in high school or college, DO IT! It's so worth it, even if it means you have to spend an extra semester at school. The experiences you'll have as a student in a foreign country will stay with you for the rest of your life. Some of my best friends are those I met while studying in Denmark and New Zealand.

Finally, make sure you like what you are doing. The fields of civil engineering and planning are fueled by people with a passion for making life better in their towns, cities, counties, states, and countries. Don't go into any profession for the money, or because everyone in your family did it, or anything other than because you genuinely enjoy it.