Civil Engineering Student Paige Norris’ Determination is Concrete

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PAIGE NORRIS

Civil Engineering | School of Computing and Engineering | 2016

Where is UMKC taking you?

UMKC is taking me far. I’m the president of the UMKC chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. I’m the co chair for the National Student Steel Bridge Competition 2015. UMKC is hosting more than 50 schools around the nation and around the world.

Why did you choose UMKC?

It’s close to home in Pleasant Hill — the proximity helped to save money. And because Kansas City is one of the centers for engineers in the United States; I’m meeting great connections.

How has college inspired you?

College has inspired me to be a more open-minded and creative person. All of the opportunities I have had here have also inspired me to become a more confident person.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received from a professor?

That it is okay to fail sometimes, as long as you learn from the experience and improve yourself in the process.

What do you admire most at UMKC?

People in my department. They want what is best for us and they work hard to make sure that that happens. The faculty truly cares about the students and I respect that.

What’s your greatest fear?

I can’t really think of anything meaningful right now, but I do have a downright irrational fear of bees and wasps.

What motto do you live by?

Good, honest hard work will pay off in the end.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Ten years from now I see myself as a project manager at an engineering firm. I see myself obtaining my Professional Engineers license at the earliest opportunity. I also see myself as having a well-stamped passport and maybe even a small family.

What is one word that best describes you?

Determined. I started college with the goal of obtaining a degree in civil engineering. I wasn’t great at math, but I had decided that I was going to meet this goal no matter how much work it took on my end. Many late nights and a lot of hard work later, and I am two semesters from graduating and I am going to be inducted into Chi Epsilon, the civil engineering honor society. If I wasn’t a determined person, I probably would not have made it this far.