From Miami to outer space: engineering freshmen talk about building the future

Space is a beautiful mystery — a mystery that has intrigued freshman Ryan Perez since he was a child. 

"Space is so massive," he says. "There's so much stuff out there that we don't know. I want to be a part of exploring it."

Perez began at FIU this summer as a mechanical engineering major with a goal: to break into the space engineering field. 

His love for space began with his dad. When Perez was about eight years old, he would watch space documentaries with his father.

"I adore spending time with my dad," Perez says. "My dad likes to learn about everything. He watches documentaries on lots of topics. We really got into the space documentaries when I was little. We watched the documentaries by Neil deGrasse Tyson, and we loved it."

Perez’s dream is to help humanity uncover more about the planets and the stars -- the things that lie beyond Earth. That's why he chose engineering as his major.  

"I want to learn about the science behind building spaceships that can withstand going up into space," Perez says. "I always wonder what it's like to be out there, to experience the Zero G's. I love space. If I'm not going to be an astronaut, I want to contribute to society by helping make spaceships so that we learn more about space."

And FIU is the place that's going to help him reach that dream. 

Perez is a graduate of Cutler Bay Senior High School, where he completed the Cambridge program. Throughout school, he spent his time volunteering at the Mau Foundation, where he worked on efforts to collect food, clothes, toys and other items for those in need. He also participated in intramural basketball tournaments at his school since freshman year. 

As he begins this next semester, Perez says he's enthusiastic about taking hold of every opportunity that FIU has to offer — from his classes to the vibrant campus life. 

He's already finding his stride as part of the Panther community. "The gym is really nice. My friends and I play basketball there," he says. As for some of the FIU things he's hoping to experience this semester? "I really want to see the actual D1 basketball players at FIU. I also want to go to the first football game of the season."

He's also enjoying his classes.

"The professors really pay attention to you and listen to you," he says, adding that he knew FIU was his top choice immediately during the college-choosing process. "I knew FIU offers a great education. I just thought, 'This is the place for me.'"

This semester, Perez is gearing up to take his first engineering courses, including an engineering lab and an introduction to the CAD software for those in his major. He is also interested in learning more about the astronomy club. 

Whatever the future holds for Perez, we know it'll be out of this world.  

Seeing everything come together

Engineering is also freshman Brandon Daguer's calling. His area of focus: civil engineering. 

"Engineering has been my passion my whole life," Daguer says. Like Perez, Daguer was also inspired to pursue the field by his dad. "My dad is a handyman. He works on lots of construction-based projects."

Seeing his dad's work opened Daguer's eyes to the construction field, and then to engineering. 

Throughout high school, Daguer joined a variety of clubs, including the engineering club and robotics club at TERRA Environmental Research Institute. Daguer took 10 AP classes and also balanced becoming the "head of tech" — the leader of a student group (supported by a few faculty members) that helps other students with audio and technological support during school concerts, theatrical productions and performances. 

"I was in charge of the lights and the sounds on set," he says. "I would see the production from start to finish during rehearsals and take notes on how the lighting would be done, and we would re-run the show again. As they were practicing, I would test out the lighting, the timing, everything to get it right for the show."

When searching for the right university to pursue his degree, he chose FIU.

"FIU is a top 50 public university," Daguer says. "Also, my sister went to FIU. She works for Microsoft now, and she is my role model. She has been my inspiration since I was really young. It's been awesome to see her grow and become such an amazing woman."