<p>well I guess I’ll add in my 1.5 cents since Im still learning too and ill even put in my experience. Please take something from my story and others, feel free to add insight to me if you want</p>
<p>When I entered college, I had no idea what engineering was at all or even what I wanted to do with my life. I was just suggested by my HS guidance counselor to go into since it coincided most with my grades and I generally enjoyed Math/Chem (for what they were at my school). When I thought of “Chemical Engineering,” I just assumed it would be basically chemistry combined with some kind of math at all. I had no idea that there was physics involved. computers, all that other good stuff that I either never had in my high school (since my school kinda sucked academically) or never even heard of. But nonetheless, I went to school somewhat confident that it would be just like high school and I would just do incredibly well (even though I had never even heard of my school until I got accepted to it, another story, another time). </p>
<p>when I got there, I’ll never forget move-in day: I was on a floor with all guys at a pretty academically oriented college with a good engineering program. We had a floor meeting where we introduced ourselves and said our major. Out of the 20 guys on the floor, 18 said they were engineering majors. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I said my major and everything and someone asked out of the blue, “How many AP credits do you have?” and I was just confused since I had never even heard of AP until that point. Fast foward the intros, everyone dispersed and started talking among themselves. I kept hearing the same thing over and over about engineering being hard, calc being hard, stuff about AP, etc… and i just felt alone. I was wondering what I had gotten myself into, but I made a resolve to myself to put it behind me and reach my potential.</p>
<p>1st semester of freshman year did not go as I had expected as an engineering major. Classes I thought would be really easy to me (calc, computer programming, chem) where unbearbly hard for me and as a result i ended up dropping down to 8 credit hours (barely passing chem and getting an A in freshman seminar). I remember talking to my mom on winter break and we decided that maybe engineering isnt for me due to everything that happened. So I went back 2nd semester as a psych major.</p>
<p>2nd semester was a little better as far as credits go. I was getting through alot more classes than i had before but barely missing the good standing mark by 1 credit hour. I took my first psych class then also along with calc 1 again and some other biology and spanish class. I remember feeling “off” in a sense that I felt that I could/should be doing so much more with my life. I talked to my freshman advisor and a couple upperclass Chem E majors and told them my situation and about me. They told me that I needed to work harder to get where I want to be in life. Any major isnt going to be a walk in the park neither is school. Yes Im going to have those classes that I hate and not do well as others in, but there will be others where I will do better than everyone else. It balances out. If I were really heart set on engineering of some sort or felt that I had a higher purpose in life, then I need to make a stand and stand by my choice. It was a few days after I talked to those various people that I decided that no matter what it takes, Im going to finish my engineering degree. so back to my story, I felt “off.” I had just discovered that I absolutely loathed psychology and I knew that I did not want to flounder for the rest of my life due to the lack of opportunity, so I switched back into engineering and even declared Chem E. </p>
<p>Over the summer, I had to take classes at my school to get back on good standing. It was then when I met my Chem E advisor for the first time. We sat down and talked a bit and he went over my grades. Since they were less than stellar for an engineering major (I’ll admit I knew that was comming as a couple of C’s and an A/B here and there isnt really that good), he asked me if I really wanted to be an chemical engineer to which I answered, yes. At that point, he started talking down to me, saying that he doesnt understand how I could even think that Chem E is even a feasible option since my grades indicate a lack of passion for math/science. I was crushed here. As a 20 year old man, I just wanted to break down and cry like a baby. It stung, but regardless, that is his opinion that he’s entitled to. So I sulked for a few weeks, not even caring about my classes, feeling useless and just generally thinking that he was right. Then something amazing happened. I went to talk to my Portuguese teacher and asked her advice. She told me that I should never feel sorry for failing or feel lesser than anyone who does well with little effort. Life is full of trials for anyone, regardless of passion/lack of passion for whatever subject or anything. Who cares what one person’s opinion is? I just need to have a strong opinion of myself, confidence in my abilities, and the mettle to stand by my convictions and my calling to do something great in the world. It doesnt matter if I have to work harder at it than others as long as I got it done.</p>
<p>1st semester of sophomore year. I may have taken that a little far, since I overloaded my schedule with a bunch of engineering classes and due to other things, was prevented from having a social life. I was determined to work like I never have before to do well, but alas to no avail. Multivariable calc and computer programming again did me in gpa wise. This taught me harsh but very valuable lesson, Take life in strides and know your limitations, then try to exceed them little by little. I took physics for the first time ever, didnt get an A, but found out that I actually enjoy it when I can relate the material to something or come up with my own scenarios. I still hate computer programming with a passion tho (I just fail to see the logic that im supposed to see in it). nevertheless I finished up that semester and due to outside factors, I was forced to take an extended break (another story, another time). Now Im at home at a community college taking these hard classes (science/math) and Im actually enjoying them. Call me crazy but I took P2 and actually was very intrigued by it and most people hate it. Now Im in Diff Eq and doing well in it.</p>
<p>So basically, what I want you to take from my story and struggle, OP, is that life isnt so black and white. Sure there’s engineering that will be easy to some people, hard for others, some people will only have to study for 2 mins while people like me have to study for at least 3 days and barely get by. but thats ok. The important thing is taking life in strides and then going beyond your limitations little by little. next thing you know, you’ll have accomplished more than you thought you could do. If you get into college engineering and do well with little effort and minimal suffering, great. If you find yourself struggling, but still have the heart to stand by it, excellent. There is no set “life” of an engineering major since different types of people major in it. but remember: Stand by your convictions, exceed your expections, and be something in this world. As a wise rapper said “God will take you through hell, just to get you to heaven.”</p>
<p>P.S. Im happy to say that Im not ashamed of leaving my regular school with a 3.0 gpa. I know some people on here are going to belittle it, but its a great accomplishment for me.</p>