Club – SWENext Cedar Park https://swenextcedarpark.jbavera.com Inspiring Future Engineers Today Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:06:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/swenextcedarpark.jbavera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-SWENEXT-CP.webp?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Club – SWENext Cedar Park https://swenextcedarpark.jbavera.com 32 32 247445193 Flight Prep https://swenextcedarpark.jbavera.com/flight-prep/ Sun, 10 Aug 2025 03:49:24 +0000 https://swenextcedarpark.jbavera.com/?p=288 I love things that fly and plan to become an aerospace engineer!

Before a pilot can be cleared for takeoff, there is a lot of preparation that has to happen.

The pilot must complete:

  • PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST: Ensure the aircraft is in good condition, including visual inspections and emergency systems testing. 
  • PAPERWORK: Ensure all necessary paperwork is completed, including signing out from the airport and filing a flight plan if required. 
  • PAVE Checklist: assess risks related to Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, and External Pressures.
  • Self-Assessment: Evaluate one’s fitness for flight, considering physical, mental, and emotional state, and any potential distractions.
  • Safety Standards: Understand the safety standards and procedures for takeoff, including the exchange of controls between pilots.

Similar to how pilots take measures for success, so do high school students as we get ready to embark on our journeys after graduation. The STEM career exploration and club activities we have in our SWENext club are key components of the due diligence, self-exploration, and personal development that we need for building our own successful “flight plans” for life after high school.

The pre-college activities, club discussions, and leadership training we have available with the support of the Society of Women Engineers give us opportunities we need to find our passions and grow into being people who are well equipped and ready for what comes next.

And as importantly is the collaborative and fun community that we build along the way. Though our eyes are on our destinations, these relationships and the joy they bring on the journey is what life is all about. Just ask Maverick and Goose!

So dig in, find your wingman, and prepare for takeoff!

Over and out,

Vivian Avera

Courtesy: “Top Gun” produced by Paramount Pictures (1986)

]]> 288 Why SWENext??? https://swenextcedarpark.jbavera.com/why-swenext/ Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:39:42 +0000 https://swenextcedarpark.jbavera.com/?p=243
Vivian Avera, July 17th, 2025

This summer, I spent some time reflecting on where I was in my academic career and where I wanted to go. As a freshman entering high school, college was entering school and family conversations more frequently. At my school, we are encouraged to productively use our summers in high school, not just to enjoy loafing by the pool or sleeping til noon each day, but to delve into our interests and pursue projects, maybe even internships, related to our interests.

This seems easy enough if you know with clarity what you want to do…

But what if you don’t??

I knew I wanted to be an engineer, but I wasn’t sure what kind I wanted to be or what sort of work I might enjoy doing. Furthermore, I realized that many young people my age felt the same way!

When I learned about SWENext and the opportunities it could provide and realized there was no active SWENext chapter in a 25 mile radius, I knew it was time to form a SWENext chapter in Cedar Park! With the backing and support of the Society of Women Engineers, what better way could there be to explore engineering careers and opportunities?

My sisters and I located a sponsor and established this new chapter, SWENext Cedar Park, the first of it’s kind in our region in July 2025. Without ties to one particular school, we have the flexibility to be more inclusive and available to students across our district and beyond. As a student-driven club, we can also chart our own direction for guest speakers, businesses and schools we visit, social activities, and more.

I can’t wait to see what unfolds!

Over and out,

Vivian Avera

Do you want to learn more about SWENext Cedar Park and how to join our club?? Email us for more information: cpswenext25@gmail.com
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