“Why engineering?” is a question I get often. The answer for me is simple: I like to solve problems. Engineering is a popular field for many reasons. Perhaps this is because almost everything around us is created by engineers in one way or another, and there are always new, emerging and exciting technologies impacting the lives of people. people. For me, engineering is such a creative field in which I can collaborate with others to solve problems and create effective and innovative solutions.
While in college, most of your engineering classes can be very stressful, and I often struggle to understand some of my classes. Fortunately, engineering is a very collaborative field, and you are never the smartest person in the room … there is always something to be learned from someone. Here are some tips I learned from other engineering students and professors that I applied to my studies and that have helped me immensely as an engineering student.
STAY MOTIVATED!
Find people and ideas from your field of study that inspire you, and learn as much from them as you can. It is sometimes difficult to stay motivated; most recently I was studying electromagnetic energy and was having a hard time understanding the physics behind it. Dr. Franklin Chang Diaz is a former Costa Rican-American NASA astronaut who has flown over 1,600 hours in space in 7 missions! His company, Ad Astra Rocket, is working on launching a plasma propulsion system. This source of electrical energy comes from electric fields, heating and accelerating the plasma through magnetic fields in the right direction as the spacecraft is ejected into space. Just learning this amazing technology has given a new image of what I study and the real impact of what this promising technology is doing for us! Hopefully by 2035 we can get to Mars in a lot less time with this new form of electric propulsion. Franklin Chang's story inspires me every time, and he's one of my main sources of inspiration whenever I need to remind myself why I want to be an engineer. This brings me to another tip: stay in touch with the latest technology in your field of study and think about how you might contribute as an engineer in the future. by 2035 we will be able to get to Mars in much less time with this new form of electric propulsion. Franklin Chang's story inspires me every time, and he's one of my main sources of inspiration whenever I need to remind myself why I want to be an engineer. This brings me to another tip: stay in touch with the latest technology in your field of study and think about how you might contribute as an engineer in the future. by 2035 we will be able to get to Mars in much less time with this new form of electric propulsion. Franklin Chang's story inspires me every time, and he's one of my main sources of inspiration whenever I need to remind myself why I want to be an engineer. This brings me to another tip: stay in touch with the latest technology in your field of study and think about how you might contribute as an engineer in the future.
REAL LIFE MODELING / STUDY WITH ME VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE:
A friend of mine recommended this unusual but effective study technique to me. Just search for the “Study With Me” videos on YouTube and you will find videos of people focused and studying during certain times. Just play their video in front of you while you study. This real-life modeling experience by studying engineering textbooks helps your brain stay focused and almost feel like you need to study harder because the person on screen stays so focused in their studies. It has become a popular trend and it seems to be working for many students.
GROUP STUDY SESSIONS
This is probably my favorite part of studying engineering – learning from others! Through my math and science classes, I've met friends who have different engineering majors, and it's so cool to learn about where they come from and what they want to do in their field. When we come together to solve differential equation problems, for example, we all come up with different views on the same subject, and that only enhances that collaborative environment that so many engineers enjoy.
PROBLEM SOLVING ON YOUR OWN, WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP
Ask your mind to struggle a bit and think outside the box when it comes to problems. It's easy to get frustrated and want to look at the answer sheet for some issues. However, as an engineer, you have to train your brain to solve problems creatively and critically. Looking at the answers right away won't help. As long as you do your best, over time your brain will develop the skills you need and you will be able to solve problems more easily.
FIND MENTORS
Just like a business has a board that guides and advises, you should have a board of mentors and professionals who want what's best for you and advise you on your career and personal goals. Whether it's family, friends, teachers and / or professionals, be sure to seek advice. You weren't supposed to live alone; relationships are very important and wisdom is found in those who seek advice!
WORK ON YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
I have heard this time and time again from engineers and professors: being able to communicate effectively is your best asset as an engineer. I worked as a Machine Learning Data Analyst for Amazon's Alexa Brazil launch, and the biggest challenge I faced was having to do my job in a foreign language: Portuguese. I spent more time improving my language skills as best I could in order to properly understand the data and code it into our system accordingly. I now love Portuguese! Communication might be a challenge for you, but take it as an opportunity to grow and make it your strength. As an engineer, we Hope these tips will help you achieve your goals as an engineer and help you have a more enjoyable study experience!