Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1543032
FEBRUARY 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 59 When did you apply for the Student Board Member position with the Global Electronics Association? I applied for the board position during my sopho- more year, and I wasn't chosen, which was what I expected. Then I got a little more involved in the chapter. When I became the chapter presi- dent in my junior year, I reapplied and I was selected. What are your biggest takeaways from this experience? I have a lot of takeaways. First, I had never been on an airplane. I had never even been to an airport. Now, I've been on probably a dozen or more planes. My first flight was to APEX EXPO last year in California and then right after that, my next flight was to Taiwan. That was big for me. If you can sit and do the Taiwan flight, you're in pretty good shape for any flight you're going to take. What else are you taking away from this experience? Taiwan is a 12-hour time difference, and that whole experience was interesting. Luckily, after I got through customs, someone was standing there holding a sign with my name on it, which was kind of exciting. Just the whole atmosphere of Taiwan was so different. I'm a cold weather person who enjoys skiing, but it was 100 degrees there, so that was a change. It was cool to walk around town with all the big buildings. I've always lived in more of a rural environment. International travel offers quite a perspective, doesn't it? Yes, I grew up in a village, and I graduated high school with about 50 kids. Even Michigan Tech is basically in the middle of nowhere. What are some things that you'll bring with you into your professional life? The insights from the board members and the staff were very helpful. It was interesting to find out where they started and how they got to be where they are. I enjoyed the board meet- ings because sitting in a board meeting for a small business is not on the same scale as sitting on a board for a multi- million-dollar company. Did anything surprise you about the experience? I guess I didn't know what to expect. If you don't have expectations, then you're never disappointed and you're just surprised. In that sense, everything was a surprise. You will graduate with your bachelor's degree in engineering at the end of April. What's next for you? Yes, I'll graduate in April with a BS in electrical engi- neering. I've been thinking about just going straight to work in the industry and eventually pursuing an MBA, but there is also a possibility that I do a master's degree right after graduation. Emily, what words of advice do you have for the next Student Board Member as they enter the role? I'd just say, you get out what you put in. Keep that in mind when you're networking with people. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Take advantage of the networking opportunities you have, and the oppor- tunity to see some of the world while you're there. For me, this experience provided a lot of things I had never done before. So, just take a moment, and take it all in. Emily, it was great to talk with you again. Congrat- ulations on your upcoming graduation, and good luck with everything that comes next for you. SMT007 Em i l y ' s v i ew of Ta i wa n f ro m h e r h ote l ro o m .