The Triggers Of My Decision To Study Electronic And Electrical Engineering
For every advancement in technology there has been a core group of people at the forefront of developments; my ambition is to become someone who will have a key role in further enhancing technology. I have a keen interest in cars, and as fully autonomous vehicles are becoming more of a reality with the likes of Waymo and Tesla, I believe this has given me the perfect opportunity to combine two things that I really enjoy.
This is why I have decided to pursue a degree in electronic and electrical engineering. The speed with which data is transferred around the world constantly amazes me, and as a keen problem solver, I am readily available to tinker with my home network to get it up to scratch and remain in sync with the ever-flowing stream of data. My fascination for networks and communications goes much further than my home. One aspect that I like to keep track on is the extent to which self-driving cars are communicating with other autonomous vehicles and also the traffic infrastructure. I believe that self-driving cars will not become a viable transportation method until they are able to maintain a constant flow of real-time vehicle data whilst correlating it with precise digital maps.
The arrival of fully-autonomous vehicles will be a landmark event for mankind and I would certainly love to have the necessary skills to be a member of the team that successfully achieves it. After watching a podcast with Elon Musk, one statement that really stood out was that, “humans and electronics (are) all interfacing… and now constantly connected. ” This is certainly the reality of the world in front of us, electronics power most of our lives and the way in which we interact with each other and therefore, I believe it is vital to make electronics seamless within society. By studying maths and physics as my A-levels I have developed my ability to think analytically and also revealed the best ways to systematically solve technical problems. Moreover, my time in history has enabled me to improve my written communication; necessary when writing detailed reports.
Throughout year 12 I undertook an EPQ on the Effect of Money in Football. During the project I have gained many vital skills that will certainly help further on in my academic life. For example, I have learnt how to analyse sources effectively. In addition, I discovered the best ways to manage a large project.
As the project is almost entirely independent study this experience will certainly be beneficial when transferred to university life. Moreover, during my school life I have achieved a gold award in the UKMT challenge; highlighting my ability to successfully answer problems with efficiency. A key aspect of engineering is identifying and solving problems, and through my sporting activities I have been able to advance these skills. Whilst at the England Performance Centre for Hockey I was encouraged to establish solutions to issues quickly and effectively and I know that this experience will be beneficial when taken off the sports field. Being able to effectively lead a team is vital within engineering as without this skill the productivity of a project declines and so with it the rate at which new developments can be pushed out. I have found myself in multiple positions of leadership throughout my time at school. Most notably being selected as a senior prefect. Communication is also highly important in being able to lead effectively; and through the Sports Leadership Award and the CFIT course, run by the school CCF, I have been given the tools to communicate my ideas across a group. I look forward to the challenges that further education will offer.
