I studied electrical engineering, and I totally understand if you don't know what that really means. Sometimes I've been asked if I can change a light bulb (which yes I can, but that's not what a degree in engineering teaches you).
So what is engineering?
One skill that all engineers have in common is problem solving. That is what engineers do:
"Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it." - Sir Henry Royce
You can find engineers in all sectors and industries, civil engineers creating roads and railways, electronic engineers designing the circuitboard in your phone, product design engineers developing new clothing and textiles.
Why study engineering?
Engineers get to work on some of the biggest and most exciting projects on the planet, that most people don't get access to. Plus, helping people and solving problems is a really rewarding and fulfilling career path.
If you're a curious person and eager to learn new things, engineering is a great world to be in. There are always new developments and design ideas. As Lily Tomlin puts it:
"The road to success is always under construction" - Lily Tomlin
Why did I chose to study electrical engineering?
Did you ever wonder why plug sockets were dangerous as a kid? I did, it almost seemed like magic. And engineering gets pretty close to magic. Asking these kinds of questions led me towards engineering, and electrical more specifically. The more I grew and realised everything now relies on electricity, the more it became clear to me that I wanted to know more. Whilst finding the right studies and work for you won't happen overnight it is helpful to think about what questions you have and what problems you want to solve in the world. This road has led me down a path where I am keen to contribute to a greener, more sustainable electricity system. That's my why. What are the issues in the world that are important to you? Here are some starting points from the UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Quality Education
- Clean Water and Sanitation
- Innovation and Infrastructure
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Responsible Consumption
- Climate Action
Look further into the issues that you care about, and you may find a career path within there that suits you. It doesn't have to be straightforward either - if you care about health and wellbeing you don't HAVE to be a doctor. You could design or maintain medical devices like MRI machines, work as a data analyst in public health to gain insights and improve outcomes or become an allied health professional like a pharmacist, nurse, midwife, physio and lots more.
Engineers are involved in solving all of these problems and more, so it's worth considering no matter what area you are looking to go into later. At the end of the day, engineering is about solving problems. So what problems would you like to solve?
For more info on the UN Sustainable Development goals click here.