Engineering is more than factories, blueprints, machines, or equations. To me, it is about learning to problem solve and approach problems logically and methodically. Engineering is not just a job, it transcends boundaries and all disciplines. Being an engineer, means a career, not just a job, and a career with constant learning, innovation, and critical thinking.
I love science and math, I always have and so engineering to me always seemed like the most reasonable way to apply my love of science and math. However, when I got to college everyone was talking about recruiting, especially at the beginning of the fall semester. I started to dread engineering as a career but then I realized that to me engineering is so much more than getting a degree and a job. It is not about acquiring a resume or internships, although I do want both of those, it is about learning as much as possible. To me, astronautical engineering is a means to understand everything in the universe. From black holes, star formation, and observing extraterrestrial life, outer space holds so many secrets that would unravel so many mysteries of the universe.
Most importantly, engineering is about forward thinking. It’s the hope that fuels progress, towards a more sustainable and equitable future. That’s engineering to me: passion, creativity, and problem solving.
NASA, Hubble Takes a Look at Tangled Galaxies, nasa.gov/images
