Why Engineering? Inspirational Eng Story

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I was browsing the aforementioned title and I started writing and pretty soon it was long. So I'm going to turn it into a thread about a non-engineering dude happened to fall so completely head over heels for the subject. I'm not perfect but hopefully this inspires others who want to do engineering but don't think they're good enough. I'm here to tell you that you are.</p>

<p>I am pretty all over the place and was thinking about careers from directing films to teaching to neuroscience to urban planning (believe me, I was beside myself with options) and I hadn't found an area I lacked skills in yet. But my parents pushed science and engineering and I had actually liked chemistry. Why I didn't know but I always found chem & bio awesome ever since I was little (physics was okay but meh). Only problem I hated math. At all. Even in a science I was interested in [chem] I still only got a B (one of my only B's). My proven strength lie in my English writing and grammar. So I was a bit apprehensive. I mean, I really wanted to direct. Seriously. So it was with a bit of a heavy heart that I went to a school with no film major.</p>

<p>Before I got there I landed an amazing internship with on of the 100 Top Young Researchers (he went to Princeton to receive the award) of the country. I was amazed at his research and all the exciting things engineering can do for the world. I could be on the forefront of technology. The very brim of Invention. I was actually excited (I made it into the Campus Honors Program [125 out of 705 applications out of 7300 freshmen], and I had taken a physics class at my local junior college and aced it . . . barely) about school and what it held in store for me.</p>

<p>College was a different story. I was no longer the bright guy (even in high school I wasn't considered the bright guy due to my stupid actions but still at least everyone said I was smart when I was forced to tell them my grades) and knew I would have to work harder to gain the engineering brain so many others seemed to have naturally. I just didn't think I had it. (I did find out I truly had ADHD that semester and was basically in denial about it all of these years but that's another story.) I took way too many hours (18 long hard credit hours) and fell into state of hopelessness not long into the first semester.</p>

<p>Thoughts of doubt ran through my mind all day. 'Yeah my classes are interesting and I like them . . . sort of. Except I'm kind of failing. Math still blows. I really like my theatre course. I like my psych course. Did I pick this major for my parents or myself?' or 'Yeah one good quiz, won't save you from all the others you bombed.' or 'Why is lab so much different from the summer. How can I do English writing so well and suck at lab writing?' or 'Do I really like any of these people? I'm not like anyone else in this major. Do I fit in? Could I see myself working with these people in 5-10 years?' These thoughts prevaded my mind but something kept me going. I still liked the ideas and concepts but maybe these just werent the classes for me. Maybe when I got my Adderall everything would be better . . . </p>

<p>I made it out that semester with barely below a 3.00. How I managed that, I'll never even begin to fathom. I never studied once for calc or chem. I just couldn't. I couldn't sit still through my 2 hour chem discussions. But I did end up liking my classes even with the hardships (except math and Calc 2 was HARDER? oh no) and next semester would be the real test. Next semester was supposed to be the Lab of the Century. The rite of passage for ChemEs. Terrified? Yes. Doubtful I'd make it? A little. Ready to give up? No way. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment.</p>

<p>I started a little slow. I took my first wave of exams and none were below or above the average. Not the way I was expecting things to start out but not horrible. But suddenly something kicked in (after a few raises in dosage) and I was able to concentrate which meant I could actually learn. Study even! So my second semester was like what the first semester was to many. I was keeping up with the smart kids for the most part but still hadn't gained the confidence I needed. What I needed was a good exam grade.</p>

<p>And then it happened. I was studying all day for a calc test (didn't get it at all) and went to office hours the next day. He was shocked I was getting as far as I did with as little understanding. I left his office with a little confidence. When I started studying again after dinner I found that I still couldn't do any of the problems. I worked my ass off from 7 til 3 in the morning. Around 3:30 AM a miracle occurred. I got an answer right. Not just right but perfectly right! I did a few more and got them right too. So I went to bed, ready to study the day of the test.</p>

<p>As soon as I woke up I made a decision to skip all of my classes for the day and study. I did problem after problem getting most right and all very close to being right. Then at 3:00 PM, I aced my first math test since high school. Not just any test either but The Series & Sequence exam (the Wall of Calc 2). And not just aced it, I tore it up--110/120 when the average was an 84! I not only did well on the test but actually understood math. Then it happened again in physics. I never understood physics in high school yet I just got an A- on the exam.</p>

<p>I was set. Chem lab still sucked but being that it was obviously going to be what I had to cover the most ground in. Chem was a bit of a problem b/c although I knew what I was doing [even explained it to a friend who had no clue what he was doing and then he did better!], I still only did average. But I aced the final. Awesomely too.</p>

<p>So here was my turning point. Engineering? Or what? I could have pretty much done any other major. I'm not bad in any subject. But what major would have allowed me to dig down deep and really push myself like that? Engineering. What other major would have shown me that I truly love the sciences and the challenges they present? Engineering. I would have never truly discovered how brilliant I can be when given the chance. Yeah I might have a personality better suited to business or psychology but what would that have proven.</p>

<p>I love technology and now I think physics and math are great, now that I have a true understanding of it. Although, it's still not a favorite and probably never will be. Orgo chem is great. I'm really good at mass balances. I'm excited to be in this major and had I not given it that chance I don't think I would be as truly satisfied as I am now. I think engineering's great. I am creative and take pride in the fact that I am not like most engineers (outgoing and sociable) and think that will only help me later on.</p>

<p>I still have difficulties but I have to remember to put my brain in math mode or physics mode (it really is like flipping a switch for me) but my GPA is currently rising. Yeah the workload can get to you and you can feel a little burned out but I couldn't be any happier (or more proud of myself) than I am now. I can't really explain it. It may not be for everyone but I surely know it is for me.</p>

<p>So that is why I chose engineering. Because I truly do love it.</p>

2

<p>great!!!!!</p>

3

<p>bravo!</p>

<p>congrats on your "discovery," and keep up the good work</p>

4

<p>I took me two years and a transfer to unlock my brain to the understanding of engineering. Everything was difficult for me, especially the mechanics classes. My savior was a very good statics book that showed me that all of my current intuition about mechanics problems was wrong. After that everything came together. That was back in 2003. I continue to do well and ace most of my tests, including a 98 that I got on Friday. It is not entirely satisfying because the tests are on par with the homework where as many schools make the exams significantly more difficult.</p>

5

<p>It was linear algebra (matrix theory) that really really helped me. I completely understand math now in a way I never knew possible. I still have problems getting algebra right now and then but then again I never took it in high school so oh well.</p>

6

<p>this story scared me even more than i already am... I dont think I will ever be able to study math for more than 1 1/2 hours and im definitely not great at it. At least Im confident that I can handle the physics though...</p>

7

<p>Yeah me neither but when you're desperate . . . But seriously it doesn't happen everyday. Or even every month. But it can happen. And who's to say you wouldn't end up liking the subject. I spent 2-3 hrs on Calc 3 last Sunday and 2-3 hours on physics yesterday (and probably another 2-3 hours on Chem today) and liked them both. I wish I was joking.</p>

8

<p>That's the thing about college... In high school, if someone tells you that they spent eight hours working on a homework assignment that ended up being forty-five pages long, you look at them like they have lobsters crawling out of their ears. You think, "What an AWFUL way to spend one's time! I cannot POSSIBLY spend eight hours working on just one homework assignment! That's ridiculous!"</p>

<p>Fast forward to college. You sit there in the library. You've been cranking out your homework since 11 PM when you got done with your extracurriculars and study group meetings. The homework's going pretty well. You're writing page after page of calculations, and you've got a pretty good stack of paper going. All of a sudden, you notice that the sun is rising. (!?!) Lo and behold, before you know it, you've spent 10 hours on that problem set, it's done, and it's so thick you can't staple it.</p>

<p>It didn't feel like 10 hours. You don't remember how the heck you ended up going through thirty sheets of hand-written calculations. You understand the material more than you did when you started. It's kind of odd. You proceed to tell your friends who are back in high school that you spent 10 hours on a problem set and couldn't staple it when you were done, and they freak out and say that they can't possibly do it.</p>

<p>Don't think about it too hard. With college comes the ability to do things you previously thought were ridiculously impossible. Everyone goes through it, you will too, and you'll be okay! Don't let intimidation stand between you and your goals, because it's not worth it.</p>

9

<p>I think the longest I spent on a problem set in one sitting was about six hours for physics, with the help of tutors because I didn't understand anything. I am currently in my 5th of engineering and I have pulled less than 5 all-nighters, which were mostly due to the fact that I couldn't sleep and not because I had tons of work to do. Even with my tough academic experience during my first two years, college was not as daunting as I imagined it would be. However, the amount of work you get largely depends on the school you go to.</p>

10

<p>Good, Good, another arts convert....</p>

<p><em>evil laugh</em></p>

<p>Echo I have personally enjoyed most of your posts on this board, thanks for sticking around!</p>

11

<p>Thanks spets, and to aibarr I know. I saw one of my high school friends away message saying, "I studied for 2 hours today, I'm such a huge nerd!" And I wrote to her, "I like how studying for 2 hours in high school makes you a nerd but in college that makes you a slacker."</p>