LILY TSO RisingbyLiftingOthers

BY RACHEL LYNN MASON

College is a time for growth and exploration: a time to face challenges, find interests, and gain both leadership skills and technical experience Lily Tso, mechanical engineering student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is taking full advantage of the opportunities to learn and to help others do the same.

Tso first fell in love with engineering at an elementary school STEM Outreach Program . One particularly thrilling memory of launching a plastic straw rocket stands out to her: “[it] flew to a height of about 10 feet –not impressive – but impressive to me, who was 3 feet tall at the time” As time went on and college neared, Tso became increasingly interested in engineering, enrolling in engineering electives and even getting accepted into NASA’s Virginia Aerospace Scholars program. Getting the opportunity to engage with the applications of engineering and experience different kinds of projects she could contribute to helped Tso make thedecision to study mechanical engineering in college During high school, Tso helped design a mock NASA mission to measure the electrical composition of the Van Allen Belts: large belts of solar radiation located in the magnetosphere. When the project ended, she was inspired, wondering, “what can I do once I have a college degree?”. Inspired by the innovation at NASA and the myriad of directions her projects could take, she realized, “I was able to contribute to the aerospace community, even as a high schooler ” Her mentors helped her understand all that she could accomplish on her own, and all that she could contribute through her innovation.

These moments helped show Tso the importance of experiential learning, and she strove to continue to participate in these experiences in college, while also facilitating them for others As the President of the Invention Studio, Chair and Mentor for Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and Horizontal Caving Instructor at Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech, Tso has centered her involvement on campus around facilitating positive growth experiences for others and contributing to positive initiatives

One of Tso’s most significant contributions is her service as President of the Georgia Tech Invention Studio. The university is well known for its experiential learning approach, prioritizing hands-on experience through classes, research, and undergraduate internships – and one of the biggest supports to the student experience is its makerspaces, environments with trained staff and state-of-the-art technology that allow students access to the tools they need to learn to be engineers, creators, and innovators. The Invention Studio is the largest studentrun makerspace in the country. With Tso at the helm, the Invention Studio continues to provide support to students’ personal creative projects, as well as courseassociated learning experiences

When reflecting upon what forces have pushed her toward success in her own journey, Tso remembers the mentors who have guided her along the way, saying, “the biggest impact for my journey is leaders in my community giving me a hand to move up to the next rung”. Understanding the value of her own experiences as a mentee, she seeks ways to share the benefits she has received with others In every leadership role she has occupied, Tso has emphasized mentorship, “asking people directly to connect them with ways to grow and going for the individual person ”

Despite her impressive profile, Tso, like many, has encountered imposter syndrome When Tso was selected as a Brooke Owens Fellow, a prestigious honor that recognizes outstanding young women and other gender minorities in the Aerospace Industry, she felt “intimidated by being among 50 of the best undergraduates in aerospace together in one room ” . Despite this, she has learned to see others (and herself) as more than the accomplishments plainly visible from the outside “Don’t compare yourself to others because there’s always someone doing something better,” she says, “but, despite this, everyone has something to bring to the table, even you!” It seems that this belief is what pushes her to create space and opportunities for others, while pursuing her own growth. In a world that highlights individual success, Lily Tso is a refreshing reminder of just how much we can accomplish when focused on growth over perfection, and service over competition