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About Me

Hi, I’m Alex. I love building things, solving problems, meeting people, and chasing experiences that push me to grow both personally and professionally. I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in May 2026 with a degree in Mechatronics Engineering, and I am currently pursuing my MBA.

Portrait of Alex Ayala

Why I Chose Engineering

I chose to go to engineering school because I love to build and create. Engineering taught me how to solve problems, and solving problems really encompasses what I want to do with my life.

I learned the mathematical foundations behind mechanical and electrical systems while also developing hands-on skills with manufacturing, circuits, automation, and controls.

Beyond the technical knowledge, engineering taught me how to think through problems logically, stay calm under pressure, and not be defeated by failure, but instead learn from failure and become better because of it.

Alex Ayala working

Why I’m Pursuing an MBA

While I enjoy the technical side of engineering, I realized I am most excited by the idea of connecting technical work with people from completely different backgrounds and areas of expertise.

I want to work on an engineering project, then sit down in a meeting with accountants and have real conversations using their lingo while learning from their perspective and expertise.

Then I want to do the same thing with marketing, management, operations, or whoever else is part of the team.

After I complete my MBA, I hope to have the educational foundation to better practice and apply those communication and collaboration skills in industry.

Portrait of Alex Ayala

What Kind of Work Excites Me

I am often asked if I have a dream job, and I honestly do not have one specific answer. I enjoy work when I am surrounded by a great team.

Being able to chase goals with my coworkers with a sense of community and passion turns work into something much more meaningful to me. It becomes an adventure and a challenge that pushes me to be my best.

If I had to point toward one role that captures a lot of what interests me, product planning in the automotive industry would probably be it.

I love the idea of balancing technical knowledge, creativity, business thinking, and people skills all at the same time. But honestly, to me, the people matter more than the exact role itself.

Alex Ayala working

Life Outside of Work

Outside of work and school, I am always chasing adventure. I love meeting new people and finding new experiences.

I am always up for a road trip on a shoestring budget, a night out with friends, or a night in writing and playing music with people I care about.

I think some of the best opportunities in life come from simply being open to experiences and saying yes to things that sound interesting.

Looking Ahead

At the end of the day, I just want to keep learning, keep building cool things, and work alongside good people who are passionate about what they do.

Projects Experience Resume

Guiding Principles

Design with Ingenuity

Designing with ingenuity means pushing beyond familiar solutions and being willing to rethink problems from the ground up. When I face challenges, it can be easy to rely on approaches that have already been tried. My strongest personal and professional work happens when I step outside of that comfort zone, learn from people who are more experienced than I am, and take time to truly redefine both the problem and the solution.

By approaching challenges with curiosity and openness, I aim to create solutions that are not only functional but thoughtful and original. Ingenuity, to me, is about creativity, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous learning in pursuit of better outcomes.

Ingenuity: the quality of being clever, original, and inventive.
Clarity: the quality of being coherent, understandable, and precise.

Communicate with Clarity

Communication is essential to the success of any project or goal. While I am capable of working independently, I do my best work when collaborating with others and drawing on the collective knowledge of a team. True collaboration happens when ideas can be clearly expressed, understood, and built upon.

I view communication not as a natural gift, but as a skill that must be practiced and refined. I work intentionally to shape my thoughts into clear language so that complex ideas become accessible and actionable. Whether discussing technical concepts or coordinating across teams, I strive to ensure everyone shares a common understanding, allowing progress to be limited only by imagination rather than misunderstanding.

Lead with Integrity

Leading with integrity means committing to honesty, accountability, and consistency in both actions and decisions. I believe in playing the long game by building trust through ethical behavior and thoughtful decision making, even when doing so requires patience or difficult choices.

While no one is perfect, I strive to continuously reflect on my actions and improve where I can. By holding myself to high standards, I aim to create positive environments rooted in fairness, respect, and responsibility. Leading with integrity allows me not only to grow personally, but also to support and uplift those around me.

Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

Hobbies

Travel

After studying abroad in the summer of 2022, I caught a serious case of the travel bug. I quickly fell in love with travel in a nontraditional sense. Rather than luxury hotels or polished itineraries, I am drawn to backpacking, staying in hostels, meeting new people, and finding meaningful experiences on a tight budget.

To me, travel is less about destinations and more about connection. It is about shared stories, unexpected friendships, and experiences that challenge my perspective. The imperfect moments often become the most memorable, whether it is navigating unfamiliar places, sharing meals with locals, or learning from people whose lives look very different from my own.

Travel photo

Cars

Cars have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. My family likes to joke that I could recognize makes and models before I could name extended relatives. As I got older, that curiosity turned into hands on experience, from taking apart my own vehicles to learning how systems work together mechanically and electrically, and I could not seem to get enough of it.

That curiosity eventually grew into a love for road trips and finding excuses to take the long way home. A few years ago, I even parted out a Mazda Miata as a learning experience and small side project. Working on cars has taught me patience, problem solving, and how complex systems rely on simple fundamentals working in harmony.

Cars photo

Music

Music has been a constant part of my life since middle school. I played trombone and baritone in both concert and marching band, where I learned discipline, teamwork, and how individual contributions come together to create something larger than any one person. Those early experiences taught me how structure, timing, and collaboration shape meaningful outcomes.

Toward the end of high school, I picked up guitar and began exploring music more independently. Since then, music has become a personal creative outlet and a way to express ideas and emotions that are sometimes difficult to put into words. Occasionally, with a bit of encouragement from friends, I will play original songs or covers in small live settings.

What I enjoy most about music is its ability to slow things down and create space for my own personal reflection. Whether I am listening, writing, or playing, music helps me process experiences, reset my focus, and think more clearly. It allows creativity and emotion to coexist with structure, rhythm, and intention, making it both grounding and energizing at the same time.

Music photo

Storm Chasing

My interest in weather began early, sparked by watching storm documentaries and learning about severe weather while growing up in the Midwest. Tornadoes in particular captured my attention because of their power, complexity, and unpredictability. Over time, that curiosity developed into a deeper interest in meteorology and the science behind how severe weather forms and evolves.

As I got older, I began studying forecasting techniques and safely traveling to observe storms and capture photographs. I am especially interested in how data, pattern recognition, and real time decision making come together in weather science. Storms represent a powerful intersection of nature, uncertainty, and analysis, and studying them has strengthened my appreciation for preparation, observation, and respect for complex systems.

Through this interest, I have learned to think critically under changing conditions, remain patient in uncertain environments, and balance curiosity with caution while embracing the sense of adventure that comes with exploring complex and unpredictable systems.

Storm photo