When’s the last time you rode on a hover board…that you made yourself? 2nd year Lexie Goldberger can say that she accomplished such a task earlier this year.
Growing up with parents who are both pilots, Lexie developed an interest in aviation that peaked while she was in high school. The summer preceding her junior year, Lexie received her pilot’s license, a moment she regards as a landmark in her life. In addition to her aviation activities, Lexie volunteered at a hospital machine shop where she learned to test and fix heart monitors and repair cables. These activities led to an increased interest in engineering and the physical sciences, in general.
During her 1st year, Lexie, along with her friend, Alex, started the RSO, SOAR (Student Organization of Aeronautics and Robotics). The two then met Max who had created his own RSO, Engineering Society. As the trio recognized their similar interests and goals, they decided to combine the two clubs under the Engineering Society name.
Since the University of Chicago does not offer engineering as an area of study, Lexie wished to provide a setting where students could continue to learn about the subject and make their own creations. Lexie states that the act of constructing something with her own hands provides her a “huge endorphin rush”. Lexie has helped with a rocket project organized by co-founder Alex and led a hover board project which her team completed before this year’s RSO fair. The Engineering Society gave people rides on the hover board for the duration of the event.
While physics and engineering are often viewed as predominantly male-dominated areas of study, Lexie notes that more interest has been shown by females this year. In fact, their RSO listhost has an equal number of women and men members. Additionally, Lexie notes that the geophysical sciences, which she is majoring in, has a more even ratio between men and women.
When she’s not building 7-foot rockets, Lexie is involved in Dream Believe Smile, an RSO focused on doing small, random acts of kindness around the university campus including chalking and free hug days. Though the two RSO’s may seem unrelated, Lexie believes that they are similar in that she is completing projects in both, just of a different type. However, the sense of accomplishment that arrives upon completion is equally gratifying.