Music. It is a universal language, an escape, an emotional release, and the most important thing in the world to me. When I saw a group of musicians at a musical instrument assembly in fourth grade play the Star Wars Theme, I wanted to play the trumpet, and I did until I graduated high school seven years later. It wasn’t until middle school that I picked up my best friend’s dad’s guitar and tried to play Day Tripper by The Beatles. Although I could barely press the strings down all the way and I couldn’t tune it, the guitar spoke to me. It was the first thing I ever stuck with and although it would be a while before I would consider myself a competent guitarist, I have always wanted it to be a part of my life.

I am a musician; moreover, I am an engineer. I graduated high school and was told, “You’re good at math and science. You should be an engineer.” Upon researching the role of an engineer, I was particularly intrigued by the hands on aspect of mechanical engineering. The thought of transforming an idea into a tangible object excited both my analytical and creative brains. I graduated college and entered the work force to hone my expertise.

Fast forward three years. My professional experiences introduced me to a manufacturing process straight out of science fiction. The technology was 3D printing. The gears in my mind began to turn and I wondered whether a guitar could be made this way. I wondered if anyone else had thought of doing this. I wondered, “Could I be an engineer and a musician?”