Some kids grow up knowing they want to go to Texas A&M University, entrenched in the Aggie traditions from an early age. Andrew Salazar '19 is not one of them. In fact, he’s a first-generation college student.
In high school, the San Antonio native realized he wanted to study civil engineering and at one of the best programs in the nation. So, Salazar jumped in with both feet.
He became part of the Student Engineers' Council, the Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers and even the water polo club team. But one of his favorite things was being a Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Ambassador.
As an ambassador for the department, Salazar loved giving tours to prospective students.
"I find that we can really recruit and inspire some of the smartest and unique high school students not only in Texas but around the country as well," he said. "It also gave me a chance to answer questions I know they have since I had many of the same questions when I was a high school student."
Salazar attended a conference hosted by the Student Engineers’ Council during the fall of his junior and senior year in high school.
"I was inspired that college students would care so much about the kids that come after them and want to inspire them to study engineering and attend Texas A&M," he said.
Salazar has nothing but love for the civil and environmental engineering department. His favorite place to study and socialize is in the Dwight Look Engineering Building, or DLEB, as the students call it.
"This department is a family," he said. "For me, this is the place where I see all my friends and the advisors. I could spend the entire day chatting with different people who come through the doors. It truly is the home of the civil and environmental engineering department. It's the one area we can all meet to eat, talk and study."
The recent graduate has some advice for future and current civil and environmental engineering students.
"The best piece of advice I ever received was 'Don't be afraid to put your pride to the side,'" he said. "I struggled my freshman year since I was not willing to accept help or tutoring. The ones who are open to learning are the ones who grow and succeed most in the end."
Throughout Salazar's undergraduate journey, he said the department's mentors and professors helped him along the way.
"For me, it was the advisors, specifically Ms. (Kasey) Sims and Mr. (Bob) Appleton. Both of their personalities are perfect for developing relationships with students and giving advice during their many open office hours," he said.
He said Dr. Michael Brackin taught him statistics in a way that made new and complicated subjects easier to understand, and that Dr. Petros Sideris taught one of the hardest classes in concrete.
"The passion he (Sideris) came in with to a 4 p.m. class was refreshing," Salazar said, "along with the candor he had for teaching us a subject that many people don't enjoy, yet challenged us to learn the proper methods and not cut corners."
Salazar said his most memorable class was Urban Traffic Facilities with Dr. Gene Hawkins.
"He is a professor who is very passionate and knowledgeable on his subject of study," he said. "Almost all of my peers in the class were transportation engineers. We bonded a lot over the class since we will be seeing a lot of each other during our professional careers."
In February, Salazar will begin work for Pape-Dawson Engineers in San Antonio. He will likely start in their transportation/roadway group and explore their traffic group as he decides which area he wants to specialize in for the company.