I have heard the word “engineer” my entire life, but the meaning of it has changed for me over time. At three years old I thought my parents were “silver” engineers. I had no idea what this meant, but I knew that’s what they called themselves. I later came to learn that I had mistaken the word “civil” for “silver”. On Saturday mornings, we would travel five minutes down the road and arrive at their office. Not knowing or caring what went on there, I simply used the office as a place to run around and play. A few years later, I finally learned what it was that they did everyday on a weekend trip to a few of their jobsites. They were given a set of plans from the state and from these plans built roads, bridges, and landfills. From small $500,000 sitework jobs to $36 million road projects, their job is to improve society. I’ve come to learn that this is the overall purpose for engineers-to help the public whether it be by inventing new technologies or by demolishing a faulty bridge and building a new one.
I’ve always wanted to be an engineer. This was partly due to my parents telling me nothing else was worthwhile. I’ve seen this firsthand as my sister has decided to study history, and now with three months left in her college career has no idea what she wants to do with her life. My parents just sit back and shake their heads. Luckily for me, math and science were the subjects I excelled in and enjoyed the most. But the only field of engineering I knew of was civil and I did indeed know it well. After working for my parents the past four summers, I have learned the ins and outs of civil engineering. From surveying a landfill to estimating how much each item on a bid will cost, I have been involved in it all. And the question is: Could I see myself doing this for the rest of my life? Absolutely not. The company is there with open arms waiting for me to take it over. I’ll be set for life, but I don’t want it. Perhaps I just want to do something different than my parents, set my own path, but I know I don’t I have civil engineering in my blood as my parents once thought I did. I knew I wanted to be an engineer, so I needed to find another field that caught my interest.
Biology was one subject in high school that really interested me especially when it came to studying the human body. From growing hair to healing wounds, the human body is amazing. But I know I don’t want to be a doctor, so I’ve decided to try biomedical engineering. Perhaps I’ll be able to create new devices that will help doctors do their job in a more efficient and safe manner. I really don’t know too much about biomedical engineering and all that it entails, but I think my calling lies somewhere within it.
Laura this is really interesting. I myself come into engineering blind. No one in my family is science oriented at all in my family, they are strictly math and only math people . I didn't get blessed with the best math abilites yet i still love math and many other subjects. I was never sure that engineering is the full side that i wanted to pursue. Although i love it, i like the selling and business side of most jobs but wanted to pursue my passion of science and how things work as an undergrad. I do have to give you props for your ability to pursue what you like instead of taking the easy way out in a company your parents have already started. If your passion is as high for biology and biomedical engineering as your parents love for civil is, you will be just as fine off. But again i applaud you and like how you choose to blaze your own path!
ReplyDeleteIt's really cool that you were able to experience what civil engineeriing is all about. So,even though at first you didnt know what other field you wanted to do you at least knew what you didnt want to do. That's the first step. One of the cool things about engineering is that there are so many different routes in the field. Its good you where able to link biology and engineeriing together. Trying things out should make for a fun experience.
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