When people asked me what I wanted to study in college, I never really had an answer. I grew up in rural Ohio with blue collar parents who pushed me to do well academically.
During my senior year of high school, I received a brochure in the mail with a bunch of LEGO® creations on the cover. The advertisement was for an engineering college. As a kid, I really enjoyed playing with LEGO® bricks and my older brother encouraged me to get involved in math and science early. I figured engineering could be a good fit. I applied to the Mechanical Engineering program at The Ohio State University and was accepted.
As I went through my college courses, I faced another challenging question of “What do you want to do with your degree when you graduate?” Again, I did not have a concrete answer. I had chosen Mechanical Engineering specifically because of the opportunities it could provide in several industries. Since I knew the importance of work experience, I made sure to intern with a few different companies before I graduated. Through those experiences, I learned the value of an inclusive and collaborative company culture. This is why I first sought out BP.
During my two internships with BP, I worked in the upstream business exploring the subsea operations group and the onshore drilling business, which allowed me to see what the oil and gas industry has to offer.
I started my full-time career at BP as a Subsea Engineer in the upstream business, working for the deep-water Gulf of Mexico assets. I was able to travel to the field (offshore), which is what I enjoyed the most. Field work on a platform has its own challenges as several jobs happen at the same time. The most important thing to remember is everyone may be there to do a different job, but at the end of the day everyone has the same goal – to get home safely.
In addition to the job obstacles offshore, being one of a handful of females on a boat or platform can add complexity. Having a mentor and finding a support network is key to overcoming these kinds of challenging situations.
Recently, I have had the opportunity to transition to a new role in BP’s downstream business. I am currently working on projects for one of our refineries in Fuels North America. The projects can vary widely, from gasoline blending improvements to infrastructure builds. Each day is different in this role, but what I enjoy most is the time spent in the field. The field is the best place to learn new things, especially from the more experienced refinery personnel. It is also where you get to see your engineering on paper come to life!
To anyone who is worried about choosing the “right” company or industry, consider a company which has a culture that fits your personal values and a diverse business model. At BP, I have never felt like I am “stuck” doing one type of job or task. Even within roles, I have had the opportunity to learn new skills and expand my knowledge of different disciplines. If you want to have many opportunities in a fast-paced and transforming environment, check out Mechanical Engineering and the energy industry!
Post written by Adriana who is a Mechanical Engineer with BP.
