Jay Solomon

If I can make it this far, there is no doubt you can!

At the age of 30, I moved back to Charlotte from Virginia Beach to work at a chemical sales, manufacturing, and servicing company and to also be closer to my ill mother. After working at the chemical company for 6 months, I was promoted to a position with more pay and responsibilities and projects to manage. 1.5 years later I was offered a management position that was rescinded because I didn’t have a college degree. Knowing this would be a barrier that could potentially hold me back from great opportunities, I decided to apply for school at UNC Charlotte.

I graduated with Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2019 and shortly after, I graduated with a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2021. After graduating in May 2021, I was hired at a company that I’ve admired for a while. This company has changed my life in ways that me and my family could never possibly imagine. The pay, benefits, and work/life balance is ridiculously amazing.

My advice for students or individuals interested in or pursuing education at UNC Charlotte: Get the most out of it. My story seems like it was a piece of cake; however, it was the most challenging project that I’ve ever undertaken for an extended period of time. It took me seven years of non-stop and full time enrollment to obtain my degrees. Get the most out of it. That means, join student organizations and become a chair member. Go to your major’s industry conferences and network/apply for jobs. Become good friends with your professors and constantly ask questions and write down notes from those discussions. Attend sporting and entertainment events. Go to tutoring sessions. Study with classmates. Take the time to apply for scholarships/fellowships/grants. Volunteer, tutor, or do research. Apply for summer internships or co-ops. These are the things I did, and it has led me to where I am now working my first job as an engineer in a “Senior” position. If I can make it this far, there is no doubt you can.