Grit & Growth Creating Stronger Futures

When we celebrate the accomplishments of our students, it is easy to overlook why these achievements are worth celebrating. It’s because college is hard, plain and simple. Everything that Bradley students attain is earned through tough resolve and immense dedication.

This isn’t something alumni often share because they never want to discourage future Braves, but for Taylor Gawthorp-Cruse ’16 it is something she reflects upon often when facing down new challenges as a Senior Sustainability and Energy Consultant for IMEG.

As a high school student deciding to attend a four-year college, Gawthorp-Cruse didn’t have a family precedent to follow. “It was very scary because I felt so unsure,” she recalled, “but I honestly wouldn’t change a thing.” After reassuring talks with Bradley faculty and personalized support from the financial aid office she finally took the leap and enrolled at Bradley as an engineering student. But this was only the start of what she’d overcome to pursue her future.

Gawthorp-Cruse vividly remembers how much her first semesters tested her: “Academically, college was nothing like high school, especially in the engineering department. I was suddenly not breezing through my math classes and it was a huge challenge for me just to keep up. My advisors and faculty were all helpful, and I look back now and I’m proud that I rose to the occasion and found my way through an incredibly difficult freshman year.”

Fueling her through the whirlwind of balancing part-time jobs, friends and class work was her focus on a future in engineering. “I always liked math and science,” she shared, “and I always wanted to do something to help other people, but I didn’t know how those would connect.” The clarity she was needed came through an internship opportunity. “I knew that sustainability was probably the path for me, but working with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency really made things click,” Gawthorp-Cruse said.

The struggles and stresses of college may have tested her mettle, but she is now applying that grit to fight for important global changes.

“I love my job because it allows me to make a positive impact on our planet through reductions in carbon emissions and other conservation efforts. My team and I work to improve operational efficiency of buildings,” Gawthorp-Cruse explained. “Around 40% of carbon emissions come from built environments, so my job allows me to tackle this by educating others on efficiency and reducing energy consumption and cost by implementing sustainable optimizations in building across the United States. The impact I am able to create makes me excited to come to work every day. I just love it so much!”

The big decision to go to Bradley opened a whole life path for Gawthorp-Cruse, one she had never expected to find. She overcame tremendous challenges as a student, which went a long way towards building her professional capabilities that are making a remarkable difference in the world.

“College is hard as hell! Every single experience at Bradley has positively impacted me professionally today. I look back and still can't believe I graduated, and although it was difficult I wouldn’t change anything about the path I took!”