I was 14 when I first visited my father's offshore workplace. That's when I found my calling

At 14, Ms Tassabell Loh made her first visit to her father's offshore workplace, a massive floating facility that extracted and processed oil at sea. This experience sparked her lifelong call to become an engineer. She was immediately captivated by the self-contained city that the facility was, with living quarters, offices, control rooms, workshops, and an endless maze of pipes and equipment all working together to keep it running.

Years later, she found herself pursuing her dream of becoming an engineer in the maritime industry. It wasn't until her teenage years that she realized her passion for the engineering field. She had initially wanted to become a flight attendant or a pilot, but her visit to her father's workplace changed her perspective. She realized that the world of engineering could mean building something much bigger, something that literally keeps the world running.

This realization came with a desire to be a part of it. Her father, an engineer himself, supported her decision and encouraged her to pursue her passion without hesitation. She found that women are underrepresented in the maritime industry, making up only 2% of seafarers worldwide. Despite this, she didn't have to fight harder for respect simply because she was a woman.

Instead, she had to earn respect the same way her male counterparts did - by showing up, asking questions, learning, and contributing to the team. Her father played a significant role in her journey, teaching her that with the right attitude and willingness to work hard, she could perform as well as anyone else. She now fully appreciates the value of what engineers do and understands why.