Avery Dickinson Bachelor of Science, Industrial & Systems Engineering From Houston, Texas
My Sooner Legacy... I hope the legacy I created was the service and love I gave to my coworkers, classmates, and friends to the best of my ability.
Why OU
From the moment I set foot on campus, I could tell that the University of Oklahoma had something special. Unlike so many other schools, OU felt like they wanted me—my story, my ideas, and my full self. There wasn't any pressure to have everything figured out as a terrified 18 year old. I had the flexibility to explore my major and career path in order to pick something that was best for me.
What my degree means
A degree in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Oklahoma is incredibly valuable. As an industrial and systems engineer, we have the flexibility to enter into any field or industry and bring valuable tools and problem-solving skills that ultimately make systems better across the world. Over the past four years, OU has given me the skills needed for my field, and I can adequately apply the concepts I have been taught to the real world.
Opportunities With OU Career Center
I interned with American Airlines as an industrial and systems engineering intern on the Continuous Improvement team. I saw that American Airlines was coming to the Engineering Career Fair, which is a job fair put on by OU Career Center to connect students with career and interning opportunities. American Airlines needed industrial and systems engineers, and I immediately fell in love with the idea of working in the aviation industry. I have always been fascinated with the large, complex system of an airport. I jumped at this opportunity!
OU as an Out-of-state student
Coming to OU as an out-of-state student can be scary. Who will your friends be? Who will you sit by in class? Who will you call when you're having a bad day and need a late-night snack run? All of those questions and more flooded into my thoughts as I came to OU from out of state. If I could talk to my freshman self, I would tell her to take a deep breath and stop worrying because it will truly all be okay. It might be a little lonely at first, but you will make those friends if you put yourself out there and get out of your comfort zone.
What I will miss
The familiar feeling of home I have experienced every day for the last four years. The students here are home, the beautiful campus is home, the Norman community is home, the coffee shops are home, game days are home. It's all been my home since the day I arrived on campus.
What comes next
After my internship at American Airlines, they offered me a full-time position as an industrial engineer on the Continuous Improvement team in Dallas, Texas. I am so excited to get started!
