For siblings Grecia Paola Siono Gutierrez and Jose Enrique Siono Gutierrez, the path to electrical engineering has always been something they traveled together.

Growing up in Mexicali, they were surrounded by the cultures of both Mexico and the United States and encouraged by parents who took their ambitions seriously. When Grecia decided she wanted to pursue an education in the United States, their family helped make it possible. The siblings began at community college, commuting with their mother from Mexicali to Indio before eventually transferring to UC San Diego.

Along the way, mentors helped them imagine possibilities they had not always seen around them. Grecia recalls being inspired by engineers and scientists with backgrounds similar to hers, experiences that helped turn electrical engineering, research and even a career connected to space exploration into achievable goals.

At UC San Diego, however, finding community did not happen automatically. Entering engineering classrooms where few students shared their background could feel isolating. Grecia found support through the Raza Resource Centro and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, as well as mentors who encouraged her research interests.

Jose has followed his own path within electrical engineering while continuing his passion for music. He describes the discipline of daily vocal practice as something that strengthened his approach to engineering. He has also brought the two interests together, using electrical engineering to create a project that translates voice inputs into colors.

Through all of it, the siblings have remained one another’s sounding board, encouragement and example.

“We see each other as a team, not as two separate islands,” Jose says.

Their advice to other students reflects that experience: seek out people who support your goals, keep going after setbacks and do not assume that struggling means you do not belong.

For Grecia, that also means thinking about who comes next.

“We need to keep pushing forward because we need to open more doors for our community,” Grecia says.

Their journey shows how family, mentorship and community can help turn an ambitious goal into a path forward.

Watch: Side by Side: From Mexicali to Electrical Engineering

For more programs in this series, visit: Mi Camino: Latinx/Chicanx Speaker Series