When she’s not in the classroom or studying, mechanical engineering student Kaylah Chambers can most likely be found in the Temple Formula Racing (TFR) workshop. Balancing a heavy academic schedule and time-intensive projects with TFR, Chambers has found her rhythm as an engineering student. She served as the safety lead for TFR for the 2024-2025 school year, is currently leading a fuel tank project for the team and was this year’s recipient of the Dr. Richard Cohen Endowed Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering. 

While her current resume of engineering achievements is impressive, success didn’t come easily to Chambers. Creating new study habits and embracing the difficulty of engineering allowed her to overcome some of the challenges she initially faced as a first-generation student. 

By the end of a tough and whirlwind first semester, Chambers found herself with a failing grade in college algebra — a course crucial for the mathematics sequencing in engineering. While she had the option to retake the course, she knew she needed to go a step further for future success. 

“I decided to go back all the way to intermediate algebra because I knew that my math skills were not as strong as others around me,” Chambers explained. She buckled down, committing to new study skills and maintaining a positive attitude towards any challenges. 

In addition to focusing on her math skills, she found a support system within TFR. Team members worked with her as study partners and older students provided advice on how to proceed through engineering. The projects she worked on in the club, like the fuel tank and fuel rail design, as well as static load simulations and part drawings, helped her build foundational engineering skills outside the classroom. 

Her decision to focus on her math skills while staying involved with her club paid off. She worked her way up in the math sequencing while simultaneously participating in club leadership roles, like safety lead and powertrain lead.

Now able to dive into more engineering-focused courses, partnered with her hands-on experience, Chambers is excited for a career in the mechanical engineering field.  

“I know that I want to do...something fun, something interesting, and I know I have to work my way up to that, which I’m not afraid to do,” she stated. 

The lessons she learned from her academic struggles allowed her to develop successful habits and skills that have taken her through even more challenging courses like calculus and physics. She credits some of her positive thinking and perseverance to the support of her parents in addition to the support of her peers in the College of Engineering community. 

“I’ve been overwhelmed at times, and I’ve completely shut down, but once you shut down, just make sure you get back up and do what you need to do to succeed.”