Who Am I?
My name is Ashley Okpara. My last name is pronounced O-par-ah (essentially, the k is silent).I was born and raised in Raleigh, NC. My ethnicity is Nigerian, and my parents are Igbo.
I want overall comfort in the future and a job that fits the future that I want for myself. I also really enjoy math and solving problems with it, so studying mechanical engineering made the most sense.
I will say that, unlike others, nobody in my family is in engineering, so I learned about the career path from one of my favorite science teachers in middle school, who taught me about biotechnology and let me solder a piece during their lunchtime. This set me off on a path to where I am today.
I'm interested in a lot of things. I think mechanical engineering equips one to make a plethora of things. I want to work on medical devices and design things that can be worn and can only be done with engineering experience (refer to @cameronhughes on TikTok), if anything, as a hobby. Specifically in 2156, I enjoyed designing a trophy for 2156 and making something useful for my everyday life. I made a tool that helps me 'break in' new paperback books.
I am looking forward to taking Advanced CAD/CAM and Computer Methods for Engineering in the fall. Outside of my major, I am also taking a literature class with the extra credits I have for the fall. I like designing things and finding ways to solve issues I find in my day-to-day life. As a result, I find design-centric classes more compelling.
Strengths and Weaknesses
I am good at mathematics and I am currently enjoying my 'History of Mathematical Thought' class. I really enjoy presentations and showing off work I've completed (individually or otherwise) because I love making a presentation. I enjoy visual design in my spare time using Canva. Another strength I think I've exhbited while working is my adaptabilty espcially when starting at a new job. Making conversation with co-workers and entering a new space can be challenging, but I think I make the best of the new environment I'm in. When it comes to my shortcomings, I admit that I lack the ability to multitask. I also have difficulty moving forward in a project or assignment that I don't fully understand. Having next-to-absolute clarity is at times what I need to proceed while working.
5 Things on my Bucket List
I made a bucket list a couple years ago, here are 5 things I have yet to do. First, I want to become fluent in Igbo. My parents have always spoken it around the house but never taught us, so I want to be able to speak in the second language they know as well. I want to buy my mom a house. Mainly because I know it would have such a great effect on her life and make her more comfortable. I want to sew my own dress because in 2020 I was gifted a sewing machine, but I haven't done a project bigger than gloves or hemming old clothes. A bigger project like making a dress from fabric and measurements would be a great accomplishment. I want to learn the saxophone because that's my instrument of choice. I think that at some point I must learn how to play an instrument, and the saxophone is the most compelling to me. Lastly, I want to learn ASL. I think that learning ASL would make me a better member of my community. And ASL is a fitting langugage for me as I love to talk, and ASL is a quiet language.
Need to Know on Ashley
For what you need to know, I may need help on a number of assignments throughout the semester. I also might need to do office hours online if available. You can contact me most easily by email, at aokpara@charlotte.edu
Learned from assignment
I gained the ability to make a webpage portfolio using HTML. I spent roughly 3 hours on this assignment.
.gif)