The feeling of flight is paramount to Jess Penrose, a third-year student studying aerospace engineering and a member of the Penn State Club Figure Skating Team.
The feeling of flight is paramount to Jess Penrose, a third-year student studying aerospace engineering and a member of the Penn State Club Figure Skating Team.
First touching the ice at the age of 6, Penrose was a natural at skating, taking her first lessons without the need for skate trainers. Then, from the age of 7 through her sophomore year at Penn State Abington, she received competitive coaching at her hometown rink, 20 minutes away from campus.
First touching the ice at the age of 6, Penrose was a natural at skating, taking her first lessons without the need for skate trainers. Then, from the age of 7 through her sophomore year at Penn State Abington, she received competitive coaching at her hometown rink, 20 minutes away from campus.
During her time at the Abington campus, Penrose was already involved in engineering, being a part of lab research projects including designing, constructing, and testing rockets under the guidance of Masataka Okutsu, an associate professor of engineering. ​ “I wish I had a chance to use them [engineering labs] more and that my major afforded for that. Something about a lab is, like, a second home to me.”
During her time at the Abington campus, Penrose was already involved in engineering, being a part of lab research projects including designing, constructing, and testing rockets under the guidance of Masataka Okutsu, an associate professor of engineering. ​ “I wish I had a chance to use them [engineering labs] more and that my major afforded for that. Something about a lab is, like, a second home to me.”
Now, having fully entered her major at University Park, Penrose struggles to find time to skate, with most of her schedule being filled with classes, projects, exams and general studying in west campus, opposite of Pegula in the east. Though when she is able to go to the rink, the ice functions as an escape from Penrose’s daily workload.
Now, having fully entered her major at University Park, Penrose struggles to find time to skate, with most of her schedule being filled with classes, projects, exams and general studying in west campus, opposite of Pegula in the east. Though when she is able to go to the rink, the ice functions as an escape from Penrose’s daily workload.
“I don't think I have once thought about homework or projects or anything while I'm skating, but I'm still employing,” Penrose said. “I think the reason that I'm able to completely detach from my work, or whatever's stressing me out at the time, is because I'm still employing that engineering side of my brain like the problem solving, the mechanics, because jumps are so mechanical.”
“I don't think I have once thought about homework or projects or anything while I'm skating, but I'm still employing,” Penrose said. “I think the reason that I'm able to completely detach from my work, or whatever's stressing me out at the time, is because I'm still employing that engineering side of my brain like the problem solving, the mechanics, because jumps are so mechanical.”
The time commitment to engineering is essential to completing Pensrose’s dream of working for NASA, which she says requires her to continually polish her skills. ​ “Aerospace Engineering is one of those fields where if you are like the best of the best, you end up in NASA, you end up on world-changing missions like Artemis. But otherwise, you work on weapons, and I would much rather not be doing that, at least with my career in general.”
The time commitment to engineering is essential to completing Pensrose’s dream of working for NASA, which she says requires her to continually polish her skills. ​ “Aerospace Engineering is one of those fields where if you are like the best of the best, you end up in NASA, you end up on world-changing missions like Artemis. But otherwise, you work on weapons, and I would much rather not be doing that, at least with my career in general.”
Striving to be the best in a strenuous major comes with its own shortcomings, though, for Penrose, this is reflected in increased sleep deprivation and stress, accompanied by a decrease in social activities.
Striving to be the best in a strenuous major comes with its own shortcomings, though, for Penrose, this is reflected in increased sleep deprivation and stress, accompanied by a decrease in social activities.
“You only have X amount of time, 24 hours in a day. You've got to sleep for some of it. So you just need to figure out how to balance it. I truly don't have a lot of time to do things, like my friends are like, " Hey, you want to go do karaoke, we can go out. 
And I'm like, well, I have 2 tests tomorrow, and that usually kills it.”
“You only have X amount of time, 24 hours in a day. You've got to sleep for some of it. So you just need to figure out how to balance it. I truly don't have a lot of time to do things, like my friends are like, " Hey, you want to go do karaoke, we can go out. 
And I'm like, well, I have 2 tests tomorrow, and that usually kills it.”
Luckily for Penrose, many of her friends are also undertaking difficult majors, if not multiple at once, allowing for an understanding of the stresses posed by their studies.
Luckily for Penrose, many of her friends are also undertaking difficult majors, if not multiple at once, allowing for an understanding of the stresses posed by their studies.
“I would like to have found a better balance for skating and aerospace,” Penrose said.
”However, knowing the major and seeing the people around me, I don’t know if it would’ve been physically possible. But, I love aerospace, just like I love skating.”
“I would like to have found a better balance for skating and aerospace,” Penrose said.
”However, knowing the major and seeing the people around me, I don’t know if it would’ve been physically possible. But, I love aerospace, just like I love skating.”