An Unconventional Journey into the Aerospace Industry – Angelica Lee
“It has always fascinated me how beautiful and vast the universe is and how little we know about it,” said Angelica Lee, a fourth-year Accounting and Financial Management student at the University of Waterloo. Angelica was recently nominated for the Student Leadership Category for the Women’s Space Awards from the Women's Aerospace Network for her exemplary leadership qualities that helped enrich campus life. Not only is this a remarkable feat on its own, but Angelica is also a non-Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) student and is the only Canadian student nominee in this year’s competition. Her perseverance, self-determination, and love for space are inspirations to students pursuing unconventional career pathways.
Angelica’s interest in the aerospace industry began as a hobby during her youth. “I’ve been amazed with all the spinoff technological innovations we’ve been able to transfer from a space-context to real world applications on Earth, such as water filters or GPS satellites for Google Maps.” Despite being enthralled by career possibilities in space research, Angelica was initially hesitant about getting into the field. “It all seemed to be too prestigious for me,” she remarked. Still, Angelica's love for space filtered into her daily routine and she joined the Cube Satellite Design Team for UWaterloo, where she connected with other students who shared her common interest in space.
Soon after, Angelica landed a co-op position at the Canadian Space Agency. “Working in such a welcoming environment changed everything for me. I’ve become particularly interested in the space health sector regarding Earth’s remote communities, and the healthcare of astronauts during their missions.” At the CSA, Angelica focused on transferring budgets between CSA sectors to help finance projects and helped ensure that budgets were efficiently maximized. She was the only student to present to the members of Astroclub (an in-company space club) and was invited as an official presenter to the CSA visitors in the Fall of 2023. Angelica was also invited onto the Astroclub’s executive committee within her first four months of internship, making her the youngest member to join.
“Imposter syndrome” was a struggle Angelica learned to overcome over time and with the support of her peers. “After I joined the Canadian Space Agency as a student, my passion felt validated, even though I was from a non-technical sector.” Landing a position with the CSA was one of the first times that Angelica felt a sense of equal belonging in her new field. She continued building connections in the industry by contacting her role models for coffee chats.
Angelica also thanked her friends for guiding her through moments of doubt. “When I told my Grebel friend, Aradhna, about potentially giving up the opportunity to submit my nomination so other deserving candidates could apply instead, she helped affirm that I had earned this opportunity.” Angelica admitted that she sometimes felt the need to prove her love for aerospace to others because she began working in aerospace as a non-STEM student. However, these challenges only added to her drive to seek out more opportunities and initiatives to satiate her curiosity.
Living in the Grebel residence while studying at UWaterloo helped Angelica open up to others and improve her social skills. She lived at Grebel for two terms during her second year, where she met many friends whom she is still in close contact with today. “Having that strong sense of community made me open to more experiences and become more bubbly and welcoming as a person in general.” Grebel’s emphasis on relationship-building and conversation during mealtimes helped Angelica nourish her spirit, mind, and body, and is a habit she has carried into her own life.
Motivated by ambition and childhood dreams, Angelica has become the role model in STEM that she had yearned for when she was a child. “I am absolutely delighted to be among the nominees for this award,” she said. “I love learning what other women are up to, and I'm always amazed at their accomplishments and pathways.” Angelica is proving every day that there are many ways to fuel and fulfill a dream. “In my program, it is highly encouraged to work at big accounting firms, banks, and insurance companies. I would love to show that it is okay to diverge and use the versatility of our education to jump into any industry you’re interested in pursuing.”
The Women's Aerospace Magazine celebrates the achievements of women in aerospace, including scientists, students, engineers, astronauts, and financial analysts. There will be multiple finalists chosen from a mix of open public voting and a judge panel. Help support Angelica by voting for her on the Women’s Aerospace Network voting site. Nominations will close May 1st.
By Jiho Mercer