If you ask me why I chose civil engineering for my undergrad studies, I would probably answer that the major chose me. 

When deciding what would become my career, I think we can all agree that 16-year-olds have little understanding of professions and what they entail. I was always good at mathematics and physics, but I wanted to do something that was not only theoretical but would have a concrete application in solving the world's problems. Back then, the show CSI was on television, and I thought that maybe I wanted to become a chemical engineer. To this day, I still can not say why I decided to put civil engineering as my first option and chemical engineering as my second option. But long, story short, I got in my first option. I was on the path to becoming a civil engineer!

Thankfully I really liked that major which was filled with mathematics courses and physics. It was when I took a hydrology class that I found my passion: water. I also enjoyed geotechnical engineering, but I had the impression that there were already many of those and that there was a need for more engineers in water resources in Costa Rica. 

Shortly after my graduation, I found a job in construction. It was not my passion, but it was a job as an engineer. I believe that a lack of fulfillment drove me to pursue a degree in Water Sciences and Engineering. But what I learned during my time wearing a hard hat has been with me ever since, specifically project management.