engineering career...

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>I have a few questions for the working engineers here...</p>

<p>1.) Do you love what you do? If you could go back in time, could you see yourself pursuing another career, (eg. in law/medicine)?</p>

<p>2.) Do you feel like you aren't paid enough, and your job is just to make profit for someone else?</p>

<p>I'm starting a chemical engineering program soon, and while I feel like I would like the material, I can't ever see myself working in the field... what are the other options for someone like this? The main part that is bothering me is I dont want to spend my entire life working for a company, when I know I could've helped more people/made better money had I pursued another career (like med)</p>

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<p>I don’t see a lot of people who love engineering. For most, I think it presents a very stable upper middle class income that lets us pursue those things we do love. The work is not physically demanding and as a mentor once said: it’s better to rely on your brain than your back. Your back will wear out your brain will not.</p>

<p>Can engineers help people? Absolutely! I built water supply systems for rural villages in Africa. (Though not front page material, lack of access to clean water is among the biggest issues facing humanity.) As a ChemE how many people would be helped by your developing a way to sequester carbon from coal fired power plants? ChemE’s are the guys who take the drugs that the research scientists make in their labs and mass produce them. </p>

<p>Would I rather be doing something else? Yes – I’d rather be in East Africa digging up the bones of our human ancestors. I can do that when I retire. I’d rather be out sailing – or golfing but can’t do those professionally so they’re relegated to hobbies. Would I rather be a doctor or lawyer? Not a chance. One thing about engineers is we have fairly regular schedules and get to see our kids grow up.</p>

<p>Is it a problem that we make money for someone else? Sure. But, not every engineer works for Parsons or Bechtel. You can work for a small company where you have a direct stake in the success. Eventually, maybe you can own the company and everyone will be working for you.</p>

<p>If you do something that interests you whatever money you make will be good enough. If you do something that doesn’t - all the money in the world won’t make you happy.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

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<p>A thousand times yes! That is a great way to put it!</p>