Q&A: Jessica Kunzat
Jessica Kunzat, audience engagement editor, is one of the women featured as part of The Signal’s #HawkHerStory coverage, celebrating Women’s History Month. This special coverage focuses on the stories and perspectives of the various women within the UHCL community.
Read The Signal’s Q&A with Kunzat below and see the other Q&As conducted with students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni here.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, on both a personal and professional/educational level?
A: I am an undergraduate student here at UHCL and the Audience Engagement Editor at The Signal. I graduated with my Mathematical Sciences B.S. in 2019, but decided that I wanted to take a slightly different path and pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. I believe strongly that it is never too late to begin pursuing your passion.
I was born in Troy, Michigan, but have lived most of my life in Texas and would consider myself a Texan at heart. I made the decision to be on my own shortly after turning 18, and navigating life by myself continues to be an on-going adventure.
I am a plant mom, cat mom, wannabe world traveler, and collector of tattoos. I believe strongly in creative expression, and spend as much of my free time reading books, watching movies, and making music as I can. I hope to leave my own creative mark on the world one day.
Q: What are some activities you enjoy doing?
A: I have always been very passionate about music. I begin playing the piano when I was five years old, and have continued into adulthood. I have also picked up violin, guitar, and a bit of singing over the years, but piano remains my go-to instrument. Aside from that, I really enjoy exploring and trying new things, and try to challenge myself to get outside of my comfort zone as much as I can.
Q: Are there modern day women role models that you wish you had growing up? Why?
A: Going into a STEM field, I really wish I had more women around me growing up that had technical jobs like that. Although I grew up surrounded by strong women, a part of me always felt like because I wasn’t exposed to women in my field, it was something I wouldn’t really be able to do. It wasn’t until I had nearly graduated with my first degree that I realized there were women leading in my field and that I could do it too.
Q: What are some problems you anticipate/have encountered as a woman in your field?
A: I think more than anything it can be discouraging some days to realize that there is a small population of women in my field. In my entire time as a STEM student, I’ve had very few women professors. In my classes, I look around and notice that there aren’t nearly as many women as men. I think it will continue to be an ongoing challenge being one of few women in any room in my field. I hope, though, that this will inspire me to continue to use my voice as a woman of STEM.
Q: What advice would you give to other women and young girls?
A: My biggest piece of advice to other women and young girls would simply be to do whatever you want to do. I know this seems more like sense and less like advice, but I’ve always found that I spent a lot of time worrying about what others would think about my life choices, and weighing their opinions over my own. I worried that people would judge me or think of me as indecisive for going back to school and seeking a degree in a new field after already graduating. Never forget that it is your story, not theirs.
Q: Is there anything you would like our readers to know?
A: It took me too long to realize that I should be living for myself and no one else, and to truly understand that there is no singular designated path in life. Don’t be afraid to be the first to do something, to challenge what you know as your norm, or to be the only woman in a room. Our individual journeys offer us all a unique perspective, one that makes each and every one of our voices relevant and important. Use them.
