The Ocotillo Flowers Pathway: Students with Competing Responsibilities Outside of Engineering 

Fouquieria splendens: Ocotillo flowers are shrubby plants with spines. They tend to grow in rocky areas and serve as a dependable food source for hummingbirds, even when other plants do not bloom.

Overview of Students’ Experiences:

These students typically had to contend with external responsibilities that impeded their advancement in engineering. For instance, they often had financial constraints, which required them to work any job that would help them cover their bills, even when those jobs did not align with their coursework (e.g., working at restaurants and grocery stores). Women represented by this pathway also frequently had to be responsible for the people in their lives--such as children, parents, siblings, and other relatives. And since their schedules were already so full of priorities outside of academia, they had little time for co-curricular engagement--like joining clubs, leadership opportunities, and networking. Overall, this meant that they had fewer opportunities for academic engagement and professional development.