Molly Blystone ’29

For Molly Blystone, the ideal career is anything but stationary. The sophomore mechanical engineering technology major thrives when she can solve problems, work with something physical, and turn curiosity into practical results.

Blystone grew up in Horsham, Pa., where she always knew she wanted a career that kept her engaged and moving.

“I’ve always been curious and good at problem solving,” she explains. “I never wanted a job where I just sit somewhere all day and don’t work with something physically.” Engineering, she says, felt like the perfect fit.

When Blystone first explored Pitt-Bradford’s engineering program, she immediately noticed how personal and intentional it felt.

“I really liked how the class sizes are small, the professors are passionate about what they teach, and willing to help,” she says. The structure of the curriculum also stood out. “The curriculum order and classes make sense, and it doesn’t seem like I’m taking irrelevant courses.”

One of Blystone favorites aspects of the program is how grounded it is in real-world experience. Many of her professors have worked directly in the field, and they bring that perspective into the classroom every day.

“Most of the professors I’ve had have real-world experience that they relate their lessons and content to,” she says. “It helps form connections in my brain.”

She also appreciates that many courses incorporate hands-on projects with physical results rather than focusing only on theory. “I enjoy that most teachers and classes incorporate real-world projects into the coursework.”

Choosing a single favorite class hasn’t been easy for Blystone, but one that stands out is Technical Differential Equations.
“The professor was a really fun and also funny teacher,” she recalls. “We had a project that used real-world applications of the math we were doing, and he always made sure we knew what the equations we were solving were for.” 

Outside the classroom Blystone says that Pitt-Bradford’s environment has become one of her favorite parts of college life.

“I really like the campus and the location,” she says. “It’s really pretty here. I like the lack of light pollution, being able to walk the trail whenever I want, and generally just being a small school with a mechanical engineering major.” She also enjoys the people, the facilities, and the overall community.

Blystone’s favorite places on campus reflect her hands-on personality: the study rooms in the George B. Duke Engineering and Information Technologies Building for focused work, the makerspace for personal projects, and anywhere outdoors, “no matter the weather,” she says.

For new students, Blystone’s advice is simple but meaningful: “Get all of your work done on time, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Do things that make you happy and never stop learning. Try to learn something new every day, no matter the topic.”