Hi everyone! I’m Callie. I’m from Tulsa, Oklahoma and I graduated Oklahoma State University with my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Spanish just a couple weeks ago. It felt strange to leave what I had begun to consider my home at OSU and my newfound family there. But, life is moving too fast for nostalgia and with the start of GMI already here, I’m caught up in the excitement of a new beginning.

I am in the GMI program because I aspire to use my engineering skills to help people, specifically in the medical realm. With my undergrad in mechanical engineering, there are few opportunities to break into the medical field without a master’s degree, and even fewer that lead to a worldwide impact. Thus, the GMI program is my opportunity to learn the hard skills, and the soft skills, that I need to fulfill my dreams of living overseas and aiding those with a lower standard of health care than we have in the United States. My heart longs to do this and jumps at the opportunity GMI affords.

My expectations of the GMI are very high, but after meeting Dr. Richardson and several of the former GMI students, I’m not sure my expectations are high enough. My aspirations for my year in the GMI program include:

  • Learning the theory and the technical skills of medical devices and solutions
  • Improving my soft skills of leadership, teamwork, and communication
  • Establishing connections for future partnerships
  • Becoming immersed in the medical industry
  • Improving my cross-cultural interaction skills
  • Practicing my Spanish (no soy el mejor para español)
  • Transitioning from college into the working world

I am excited about many aspects of the GMI program, but three currently stick out as the most prominent. First, I am looking forward to meeting the entire GMI team. The only contact we have had so far is a virtual video meeting for Costa Rica and a few group messages. I know that every team member is dedicated and very talented, so I can’t wait to meet everyone and begin to develop friendships that will last a lifetime. It gives me goosebumps just thinking of everything that we can accomplish as a team. Second, I am looking forward to visiting Costa Rica. I have been to several Latin American countries, but have never been to Costa Rica. I am excited to be immersed into a new culture and to discover new perspectives, and of course, to practice my Spanish. And thirdly, I am excited to learn: about the medical industry, about Costa Rica, about engineering design, and about working as a team.

I know that this year will be difficult, probably the most difficult year of my life so far, but the countless rewards will make it all worth it. So I am ready and excited to begin the good work. ¡Vámonos!