Jennifer Childress ’27, a student in the Engineering Academy program, constantly looks for ways to act as a role model for her family.
As the 2020 National Physique Committee’s overall champion in women's bodybuilding, a loving mother and a devoted grandmother, Childress does whatever it takes to act as a positive role model for her family. But Childress is currently facing one of her greatest challenges yet — pursuing a Texas A&M University engineering degree.
“Initially, I decided to return to school and get a degree because I wanted to motivate my [youngest child] and encourage her,” Childress said. “[She] is 14 years old. She was struggling in middle school, and I feel like she needed to have a positive influence to look at academically.”
Although she was at the top of her bodybuilding career and ranked fifth in the world in 2020, Childress knew that it was time to focus on strengthening her mind like she strengthened her body.
“I was using my body to its highest ability, and I knew that I wanted to challenge my brain in the same way,” Childress said. “I knew I wanted to be in the oil and gas industry, and I knew that I would like to be a petroleum engineer. Although that sounded scary, I went for it.”
After searching for an affordable university that would provide quality engineering courses — while allowing her to stay close to where her daughter was attending middle school — Childress stumbled upon the Texas A&M Engineering Academies program.
The more I investigated it, the more I realized it's just a great opportunity and opens a lot of doors for students who may not have had the opportunity to automatically go to A&M from high school.
The Engineering Academy program stands as the premier engineering transition program of its kind in the United States. Participants are co-enrolled in Texas A&M and one of nine affiliated partner colleges. Students engage in mathematics, science and core curriculum classes at the partner college, complemented by engineering courses taught by Texas A&M faculty on the partner college campus. After one or two years at the partner college, students transition to Texas A&M to complete their bachelor's degrees. This unique approach distinguishes itself from conventional transfer programs, ensuring students are recognized as Texas A&M University College of Engineering students from day one.
Childress was shocked by the benefits that the Engineering Academies offered. Not only could she stay near her family, but she could also save money without having to study at a large university.
“The more I investigated it, the more I realized it's just a great opportunity and opens a lot of doors for students who may not have had the opportunity to automatically go to A&M from high school,” Childress said.
Because of these benefits, Childress decided to enroll in the Engineering Academies, hoping to inspire her family by earning a degree in petroleum engineering, with the goal of one day working as a well-owner consultant.
“I want to learn as much as I can about the field and make a great impact on my fellow women in petroleum engineering,” Childress said. “I have a leader’s mentality, so I would love to be a leader of some kind however I may fit.”
“Sometimes things can happen in life that are unfortunate”
Despite her successes, it has not always been a smooth journey for Childress. Shortly after joining the Engineering Academy program, Childress faced a family dilemma that forced her to move across Texas.
“Considering I am a mom, a wife and a grandma with lots of family, sometimes things can happen in life that are unfortunate,” Childress said. “I didn't know what was going to happen with my process at the Engineering Academies — I knew in my heart that I probably was going to have to drop out of the Academies and take care of what comes first, which is family.”
The advice that I would give other students is to not be afraid to reach any goal that seems to be too much or too great for them to achieve.
Nevertheless, after speaking with her professors and the Engineering Academy program staff, Childress was told the Engineering Academy team was willing to work together to help her stay in the program by allowing her to transfer from the Texas A&M-Chevron Engineering Academy at Alamo Colleges District to the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Tyler Junior College.
“I honestly don't think they know how much it meant to me and will always mean to me. I truly do feel like this is a family — all of our professors and the people who run the Engineering Academies truly do want you to achieve your full potential, and I am so grateful for that,” Childress said.
Childress advises students to stray from any fear that may hinder them from reaching their goals.
“The advice that I would give other students is to not be afraid to reach any goal that seems to be too much or too great for them to achieve. I want other students to know that they are all in the same boat and everyone is going through the same thing together,” she said.
Childress said that her journey discovering the Engineering Academies has been a wonderful process and that she has learned from the people she has met along the way.
“I feel my initiative in making this experience worthwhile would have to be making solid connections with people,” she said. “Having a close group of friends helps motivate each other, keeps each other accountable and encourages each other not to give up.”
Childress is incredibly thankful for all that the Engineering Academies staff has done in the hopes of furthering her education and laying the foundation for her success.
“Everyone who works at A&M and is a part of this Engineering Academy program has been so helpful,” Childress said. “They have given us all the tools that we need to succeed, and you can see the passion in their eyes when they speak to us, that they really do care about our success.”
Now I want them to see me become a petroleum engineer at the greatest school in America.
Living “above the line”
Childress said as she earns her engineering degree, she will apply the guidance provided by Engineering Academy team members like Dan Ball, who is an associate professor of practice.
“Professor Ball always seems to say the most motivating things at the right time,” she said. “The very first engineering lecture is one that I will never forget. He taught us how to avoid distractions, be more productive in life and live above the line.”
Childress said when it becomes difficult to live above the line, she motivates herself by considering what her education means to her and her family.
“What motivates me to work hard and finish my degree is to show my family that it is capable of being done no matter what age or what you have going on in your life,” she said. “[My family] has seen me start from the beginning of bodybuilding and reach the ultimate top, making it in such a competitive world. Now I want them to see me become a petroleum engineer at the greatest school in America.”