Kodi Low

I am a Customer Quality Engineer at Sika Corporation. My factory in Grandview, Missouri is an automotive supplier - sending products to most OEM car makers in North America. I have worked here for five years and have been afforded much opportunity for advancement and growth.

After graduating in 2015, I continued to work at Hy-Vee as it was my existing part-time job. During this time I applied to all of the federal security agencies that I could (FBI, CIA, NSA, etc.) In 2018, a study abroad classmate posted her new job opportunity at a Chinese glass manufacturer; "Fuyao" in Ohio. I messaged her, and turns out they were looking for bilingual speakers (Mandarin and English). I interviewed, visited the plant, accepted a position as Production Planner and moved to Ohio. At the exact time that this process was underway, I received a call from the NSA asking me to interview somewhere outside of Washington; they had followed up on an application that I must have submitted two or more years prior. I was flown to an NSA office, interviewed and language tested, and flown back to Ohio. I passed the interview and language test and was mailed a conditional offer. The security clearance process then started, including in-person visits by NSA staff. I was working at Fuyao during this whole time.

I became homesick and started the job search to come back home. My experience at Fuyao ended up paying off and I was hired by Sika; by 2019 I was back. To my knowledge, I am still on file with the NSA for security clearance processing - though I have not heard from them. My time with EALC opened opportunities in the private and government sectors - and is the reason for the place I am now.

I studied Chinese language and Literature. I had fallen in love with the language and quickly fell in love with the culture. Through the EALC department, I was able to achieve true fluency in Mandarin Chinese. My time studying abroad (Princeton in Beijing and Chinese Government Scholarship: Nanjing University) from 2014-2015 was certainly the highlight.

Do not just focus on what "interests" you, but ask what disciplines are marketable in the career world. Keep a low profile on social media, it can come back to visit you in your career.