Marisa Maiava's path as an undergraduate electrical engineering student has been marked by determination and an eagerness to learn. Born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii Marisa's background is a blend of Japanese and Samoan descent. Like many students, she did not necessarily know exactly what degree to pursue after graduating from high school. Marisa embarked on her academic voyage by first taking basic classes at Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, Colorado as she decided which major to pursue. Focusing on her ambitions to study electrical engineering, she transferred to Maseeh College in 2020 and plans to earn her degree this year.
A driving factor behind her choice was witnessing her sister's engaging projects as an engineering student in the same program years earlier. "I find it exciting being able to create anything you can imagine," Marisa explains that “most of the time, people are discouraged by starting a project because they don't know how or where to start. Through this program here at Maseeh College you're taught how to find/create/make the building blocks to start."
One particularly formative experience was ECE371 Microprocessors with Douglas Hall, which Marisa views as a rite of passage for electrical engineering students. "You have five minutes to feel overwhelmed, but after that, you have to get to work," she recalls of Hall's philosophy, which taught her to push through challenges. This experience was formative and taught Marisa that “it’s okay to feel all the negative emotions that come with a difficult degree, but it’s about pushing past it and getting back to work."
Challenges inevitably arise, and Marisa is candid about confronting self-doubt. As Marisa continues her engineering studies, she shares some helpful suggestions for future engineers. Emphasizing the inevitability of setbacks and the importance of perseverance, Marisa imparts, "As things become difficult and maybe even more challenging after that, stick with it... To fail is to succeed in a different form."
"Imposter syndrome is real,” and her advice for combating this type of insecurity is to ask questions and seek collaborative wisdom, Marisa urges others to "be a sponge, learn all that you can from those around you. It's amazing how much knowledge, experience, and skill can be picked up from the people you interact with."
This appetite for growth guides Marisa as she looks ahead to a career designing impactful engineering projects after graduation in June. While the academic road she is traveling has not been easy, Marisa points to accomplishments like her team's tie for best presentation under Professor Andrew Greenberg's tutelage to her role as an Electronic Prototyping Lab (EPL) manager.
Her hopeful outlook and career ambitions are palpable: "Electrical engineering concepts are limitless and evolving - I'm excited to work across this wide variety." As she prepares for the next phase, her story reminds us that success starts by–and is perhaps defined by–believing in oneself in the face of self-doubt. “To believe that you are capable makes you capable," she asserts. Marisa's advice to current Maseeh College students is grounded in practicality and perseverance. She emphasizes the importance of resilience and encourages active participation and learning from peers and professors, recognizing the value of collaboration and mentorship in academic success. Resilience is primary in the face of challenges; the trick is to view failure as a stepping stone to success.