<strong><img class="size-medium wp-image-50921 alignright" src="https://bme.fiu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/monica-224x300.png" alt="" width="224" height="300" />What is your name and where are you from?</strong>
<blockquote>My name is Monica Karas, and I am from Cairo, Egypt.</blockquote>
<strong>What degree are you pursuing?</strong>
<blockquote>I am pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering and looking forward to applying to medical school.</blockquote>
<strong>Why did you decide to study biomedical engineering?</strong>
<blockquote>I decided to study Biomedical Engineering because it combines two of my favorite fields: medicine and engineering. Not only do I learn more about the mechanics of the human body, but also I get to learn how to engineer solutions to medical issues.</blockquote>
<strong>What’s it like being a woman in engineering? Do you feel that your gender gives you a different perspective and/or experience from your male colleagues?</strong>
<blockquote>Being a woman in engineering allows me to break the current stereotype about women not belonging in engineering by showing that, just like anyone else, women can also exceed in such a difficult field of engineering.</blockquote>
<strong>What is the most challenging part about being an engineer?</strong>
<blockquote>The most challenging part about being a woman in engineering is trying twice as hard to prove to others that you are up to the task, which can be something as simple as acing an engineering class.</blockquote>
<strong>Are you a part of any clubs or organizations at FIU? Carried any leadership roles?</strong>
<blockquote>I am currently the President of Coptic Students Association (CSA) at FIU, and am a member of AEMB and STITCH. I was also part of the founding e-board of FIU SHARP as the Event Coordinator.</blockquote>
<strong>Do you have any female mentors or role models that you look up to?</strong>
<blockquote>My female role models include Sana Nasim, Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, and Mother Teresa.</blockquote>
<strong>Which part about your BME experience are you most proud of and/or excited for?
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<blockquote>I am most excited for Senior Design, which I’m currently enrolled in. I am also eager to apply my Biomedical Engineering skills to medicine when I go to medical school.</blockquote>
<strong> Do you have any advice for women in BME?
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<blockquote>Don’t let anyone’s opinions on your dreams influence you to actually change them!! Follow your dreams, and always believe in yourself. I am the first Biomedical Engineer and first female engineer in my family, and although none of my family understood what a Biomedical engineer is, and had the stereotype that engineering is only for men, I was able to get all the way through to senior year of Biomedical Engineering.</blockquote>