Leigha Woodard

At the internship with E. R. Snell Contractors Inc. I was able to work on a base crew, the quality control center of an asphalt plant, a paving crew, the estimating department, and an erosion control crew. All these experiences gave me the beneficial achievement of learning about the different aspects of construction. It is one thing to study a topic in school, and another to learn about it through hands on experience. While I was only expected to learn about the different aspects of construction and what a contracting company does, I was able to exceed the expectations of my role as an intern by attending a Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, GASWCC, Certified Erosion training course. I was able to successfully obtain my level 1A certification.

Through my internship with E.R. Snell I was able to experience many different parts of the construction industry and see what all goes into building a project. It allowed me to experience different opportunities I have in the construction industry with a civil engineering degree through working in the office as well as in the field. I realized that civilians, who do not understand the hard work that is required for the construction industry, end up looking down on it. With the new knowledge I have gained this summer, I have also gained a newfound respect for what the people who build infrastructure do and the demands of their job.

Construction is an industry that permeates every aspect of America. From helping baseball to helping prevent tragedies caused by natural disasters; construction is widely prevalent and should be just as widely respected. As a female student in engineering, paving the way for the women who come after me is important because women in the field of construction are currently few and far between. I aspire to help pave a way for future women to feel comfortable and encouraged choosing a career in this field. As an industry that does not currently have much respect, I believe that helping to grow the respectability of the field will encourage more women to aspire for careers in construction. To me, I Build America stands to help that. I Build America stands for the opportunity of the men and women in the construction field to receive the respect they deserve. I Build America stands for building the respectability of an entire industry that is crucial to America’s future.