Meet Natalya Whitla
Natalya Whitla is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering Science, Integrated Engineering from Western University. In her spare time, Natalya likes to cross country Ski, compete in triathlons, and practice yoga.
When did your love of STEM begin?
Growing up with a mom who is a doctor and always placed a significant importance on academics, I was encouraged to be involved in science at every stage of my education. For my 8th birthday, I had a science theme with dry ice and vinegar and baking soda volcanoes. Going beyond that, my passion expanded when I was able to pursue sciences individually in high school and really get in depth with physics.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
The best part about my degree and my experience pursuing STEM is that you get be analytical in your approach to solve problems. I love the option it has to look at a problem critically from all angles to determine the best solution, and this is why i picked the diverse degree of Integrated Engineering. Additionally, you get to figure out the reasoning why things are the away they are - a curiosity many STEM focused people share.
Also, I got a chance to be part of the build team where we build 40ft tall structures for orientation week, and the act of erecting these structures is so amazing; it allows you to see the combination of your work in a physical form and is super rewarding. Plus, getting your hands dirty and using tools is also very satisfying.
Overall, I feel like I have yet to find out the best part of working in STEM, but am excited for all of the possibilities.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
Whatever field you want to pursue, it is possible. If you have the passion and the dedication, you can get whatever out of the STEM field that you put in. Additionally, you don't have to go into a role that is super technical if you don't want to - you don't have to actually write the software or manually build the machine to have a meaningful impact of the field. There are many opportunities outside of that scope that may suit you better, so don't feel you have to constrain yourself to one. For me, I chose a diverse program to stay away from the super technical roles and am happy to take on more of a management or leadership role going forward where I can speak the languages of many disciplines.