Rebekah Tsang, Home Economics to Mechanical Engineering

Rebekah Tsang’s journey to engineering has been a winding road. Fueled by her passion for cooking, Rebekah focused on home economics in her undergraduate education. She found herself drawn to the scientific principles of physical life. And so she began thinking about a career where she could study the “why” behind the way things work.

It took Rebekah a few more years to truly realize her propensity for engineering. She worked as a math tutor, business manager, cooking show intern, and accounts receivable specialist. She got a job in the solar industry and discovered an interest in the physics principles behind solar energy systems. Rebekah learned that she had an affinity for hands-on projects throughout the different phases of her career. She was also a skilled problem-solver. These interests fueled her curiosity for engineering.

She wanted to know more, and needed an engineering background to get to the “why.”

“There was a seed planted where I thought engineering could be my thing,” said Rebekah. “I thought, ‘Rebekah, you should have been an engineer.’”

Rebekah’s horizontal career steps led her to some self-reflection. 

Said Rebekah, “I needed to figure out what engineering meant and what it was. As a woman, I saw engineering as a male-dominated field. I had to realize that if I have the skills to do it, it doesn’t matter what the stereotype is. It’s about embracing who I was meant to be.”

That’s when Rebekah found BU’s LEAP. She felt a pull toward LEAP for one reason in particular: it is specifically designed for career changers, opening the door to an engineering career. When she arrived on the BU campus, the unique cohort experience enhanced her program experience. She describes the LEAP cohort as having a “common drive,” with a “dedication to our goals.”

Since enrolling in BU’s LEAP, Rebekah has found success. Last summer, she interned at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, Rhode Island. Working in their systems engineering department, Rebekah learned about engineering project management and partook in the documentation process of company projects. She recalls that her involvement in BU’s Rocket Propulsion Group (BURPG) and her product development classes helped hone the skills needed for her internship.

Rebekah’s journey led her on a zigzag path from home economics to engineering, with many stops along the way.  Reflecting on her experience in BU’s LEAP, Rebekah said, “You have to be bold. You need to know that you can hold your own in an environment where you feel like you might not fit in because you have different experiences than someone else. Because I know I like engineering, it makes being bold that much easier.”