I am a commuter student at Stony Brook University. Currently, I am a declared Engineering Science major with a concentration in mechanical engineering. Although, at heart I am a fine arts major, I chose to pursue my interests in science. I used to believe that art was where I belonged, but my strengths in science and math could not easily be ignored. Therefore, I tried to come up with some that could combine science, math and art into one. That's how I came up with the idea that I wanted to get under the wing of NASA as an aerospace design engineer. I am hoping that my path in engineering will help me get to where I need to be.

But as any science major, my interests are wide spread to include topics such as law, philosophy, psychology, physics, writing and atmospheric sciences. I come from an equal background in science and art. Science has fueled my artistic career. For example, I constructed an entire 24-piece portfolio concentrated on the mysterious beauty and power of natural phenomena. At this time, I should mention my most prominent source of inspiration. The incredible journey of legendary rock band Aerosmith has proven to be most motivational and influential. I find both their music and their personalities to be intriguing. Their career has played an important role in my life, giving me a new source of artistic inspiration and to motivate my self-confidence.

Overall, I am still keeping the doors open to all other pathways of experience in a variety of fields. I hope that the plethora of courses and opportunities provided by Stony Brook will help me to narrow down my interests and prove that engineering is where I belong.�

Jessica Newman
February 2004