Karen Grace Bryan ‘27, Engineering Academies student and industrial distribution major, discovered her passion for engineering later in high school, thanks to an inspiring engineering teacher who made the subject fun, sparking her curiosity and enthusiasm for the field.
"The thing that interested me in engineering was all the possibilities that come with pursuing this career," she said. "When I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. That is when I discovered what engineering really is."Bryan researched opportunities to pursue her engineering degree. That’s when she learned about the Texas A&M Engineering Academy program at Tyler Junior College (TJC).
"I had such a one-track mindset, that I didn’t even want to step foot into a junior college, but after talking to some family friends, I made the decision to enroll in the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at TJC," she said. "I chose to be a part of the [program], because it would allow me to enroll into my dream college with the comfort and safety of home."
The Texas A&M Engineering Academies are a unique opportunity for engineering students, as it stands as the first engineering transition program of its kind in the U.S. Students are co-enrolled with Texas A&M University and one of 10 partner community colleges. They take mathematics, science and core curriculum courses through the community college while taking engineering courses from Texas A&M faculty on the community college campus. After one or two years, students transition to Texas A&M to complete their bachelor's degrees. Unlike traditional transfer programs, students are Texas A&M College of Engineering students from day one.
After deciding to attend the academy at TJC, Bryan witnessed all the amazing financial benefits the program had to offer. "I live in a single-income household, but the engineering academies have alleviated some of that stress," she said.
Despite the financial relief, she faced challenges adapting to college life, particularly when it came to managing her time effectively.
"I did not know how to manage time going into college, so my grades suffered pretty hard my first semester," Bryan said. "On top of my TJC course work, there was also my academy work that I needed to stay on top of."
As a result, Bryan sought support from her academy professor at TJC. "After the first semester, momentum picked up and things started to fall into place in the second semester," she said. "Dr. [Michael] Seger has been nothing but helpful and understanding with the ENGR 217 class, and I cannot thank him enough for it."
To me, being in the Engineering Academy means that you are an ambitious student who strives for excellence no matter the situation.
Bryan encourages Engineering Academy students to connect with their professors, saying it can make a world of difference in their experience.
"A piece of advice I would give to students is to not be afraid to ask," she said. "Do not hesitate to reach out to your professor and get to know them. Reaching out to them shows that you are making an effort in class and in your schoolwork. They will be more understanding and willing to help you if they see the effort put forth."
While Bryan credits much of her success to Dr. Seger’s support, she says she wouldn’t be where she is today without taking the initiative to work hard as an Engineering Academies student.
"I have taken the initiative to make every day of class count — whether it be at my partner college or Texas A&M — I try to get all that I can from a lecture or lab," she said. "To me, being in the Engineering Academy means that you are an ambitious student who strives for excellence no matter the situation."
While Bryan is not quite sure what the next chapter of her life holds, she hopes to graduate with her bachelor's degree in spring 2027.
"I do not know my future plans yet, but I have an idea of what I would like to do in the workforce,” she said. “As an industrial engineer, I want to better the production process and improve safety in the workplace for big businesses."