Simonett Rodriguez

1.	Give a brief description of your job telling what you do, (a day in your life) but also what you do specifically in your position.
	As a graduate student, I take classes that will provide me with the background knowledge needed to perform scientific research in the areas I am interested in. To complete my graduate program, I must perform original research (meaning no one else had previously done exactly the same thing), and then must write a dissertation about the work and how I did it. I am in a Ph.D. program now, my masters program at Cornell University followed a similar course.
2.	How did you decide upon your career? When did you know you wanted to do it and how did you prepare for it?
	I decided to do this quite late in life, after having worked as an engineer in industry for some years. I slowly realized that the parts of my job that I liked best, were the parts that involved research and teaching. To do this all the time, involved going back to school for a Ph.D.
3.	What is the best thing about your job?
	Research (discovering new knowledge), and teaching (sharing knowledge with others).
4.	What do you like the least?
	Perhaps the sheer length of time that it takes to become fully qualified to do it, although the time is obviously necessary. Also, I may actually earn somewhat less money doing this than what I earned before. But doing what I really enjoy, makes these things worthwhile.
5.	As a kid, what kinds of things did you do to prepare for this job? What books did you read or what things did you do that let you know you would like this field?
	I was always interested in science and math, and never let anyone make me think that was not cool. As a kid I read the entire World Book Encyclopedia by age 12. In my job as an engineer, I sometimes had to teach, and often had to do certain kinds of research.
6.	Was there any person (parent, teacher, mentor, professor) you felt influenced you to pursue this field?
	My mother was involved in computer science before that field existed in any university. She had a very profound effect on me. Whatever mommy does is normal!
7.	What is your favorite quote?
	"As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs." (quoted from the writings of 'Abdu'l-Bah', circa 1910)
8.	What advice do you have for young women who might be interested in the field of science?
	DO NOT GIVE UP!