My Interest In Constantly Evolving Field Of Engineering
Engineering is one of the pillars of modern life. Almost every aspect in our lives has been influenced by engineers – the buildings we live in; the car you drive; the computer you’re reading this on. Combining their knowledge and ingenuity, engineers have the skills to solve society’s problems in an eloquent and efficient manner. They are at the forefront of the future. With their own two hands, they are building a path to a better, more sustainable world. I am fascinated by the progress made on a day to day basis in the engineering world and subscribe to the New Scientist and specifically delve into the “Technology” section to keep up with the new advancements.
In my own future, I wish to take an active role in helping the world: to leave my mark. One way I am currently helping is through running a Coding Club to help inspire and teach Year 7’s about programming and helping to shape the next generation. From this I have gained valuable skills like patience, communication, and leadership. My first insight to engineering was at a taster day at Queen Mary’s University. There, I enjoyed developing my problem-solving skills, adapting my theoretical knowledge to new and challenging practical situations beyond the scope of my schoolwork. They taught us how to solder a PCB board and tinkered with an Arduino to build a device which could display messages or images using a grid of lights. The work of an engineer is tangible and it’s satisfying seeing to see the fruits of your labour take physical form and have purpose. Something you can take pride in. Unfortunately, my school didn’t offer an Engineering A-Level, so I took it upon myself to read books to develop my interest and increase my breadth of knowledge.
I have just finished reading “Engineering: A Beginner's Guide” by Natasha McCarthy. This book was a start point which emphasised that engineering is broad, with many disciplines, and affirmed my decision to do a General Engineering course to have a taste of everything before specialising. Over the summer, I participated in a work experience programme at Leonardo. There, I realised that engineering is not only about Maths and Physics but also puts a large emphasis on interpersonal skills. For example, an engineer must be able to talk to their clients and elicit the requirements from them. A client who does not understand the engineering process cannot always identify the most important requirements or those that are actually achievable in engineering terms. We took part in an activity where we were split up into teams and had to create a product and pitch it to the clients. This was a fun and engaging activity which helped me get out of my comfort zone and boosted my confidence in public speaking. This was a brilliant opportunity as it allowed me to see real-life engineers in action as well as allowed me to gain hands-on practical experience which is so valuable as it’s so rare in school. I earned a place at the Summer School at Bristol for Engineering. During the week, I lived the life of a typical engineering student attending lectures, taking part in experimental and project work. The week gave me an insight into studying engineering at university, confirming that it is the right degree for me. One of our projects was to create a contraption around an egg which, when thrown, will be propelled the furthest as well as not crack. This posed to be a difficult task as it had to be both streamlined and lightweight but also have the necessary support upon landing. My team won which demonstrated our tenacity, teamwork, and ingenuity.
Overall, I would love to study engineering and work at the forefront of research and development. It’s a constantly evolving field with new challenges to overcome and new problems to solve. Reading engineering at university will help propel me into a fulfilling and exciting career.
