As a young girl growing up, I was always fascinated by the things around me. When I looked at human beings, birds, airplanes, ships, and cars, one question constantly plagued my mind, “How do they function the way they do?” I remember asking my mom what makes cars move. Her response was that fuel made cars move. This was not convincing at all because I didn’t understand the process. From this moment, I decided I wanted to be a mechanical engineer, a decision further promoted by my neighbor who told me they make cars and all the machines I found fascinating.
My first day in a
Mechanical engineering class was full of mixed emotions. I didn’t know what it
would take for me to understand the machines. At the same time, I wondered if I
would be allowed to construct one, and if allowed, whether I would be
successful. I enjoyed the lectures which involved a lot of problem-solving,
which I could identify with. The course entailed a lot of units from
thermodynamics to fluid mechanics to mechanics of machines to engineering
design to engineering economics, just but to mention a few. I realized that
with mechanical engineering, my dream of inventing new machines and systems
would finally come true.
I finally came to
understand that cars move due to the combustion of fuel mixed with oxygen that
occurs at the engine. This is like lighting a match stick. Ships stay afloat on
water because of their streamlined body and they are able to maintain a state
of buoyancy according to Archimedes principle, which simply means that they
displace the same amount of water as their body weight, the same principle that
enables one to swim, the fish and even partly the airplanes. I came to
understand the science of most, if not all, machines around me, from household
items to office and industry machines. Mechanical engineering has applications
in almost everything around me, from medicine, construction, automobile,
software, and IT. This implies that my skill is handy right from my house.
My journey as a
mechanical engineer has been quite an adventure. I kept moving from known to
unknowns, but my motivation was always that at the end of the day, I would
understand all the machines in the universe and even invent better ones, still
working on my inventions. It was filled with burning the midnight oil, endless
cups of coffee with the library being the best building in campus. This said, I
enjoyed the journey, and 10 years later, I would still choose mechanical
engineering, given the same choice again.
I liken Mechanical
Engineering to Bolts and nuts because these are commonly known as fasteners. A
fastener is simply a device that joins or fixes two things together. Why am I
talking about fasteners? I see mechanical engineering as the mother of all
other engineering disciplines. The basis. The cornerstone without which no
other discipline stands on its own. A fastener, so to speak of the other
disciplines. Not to say that mechanical engineering can do without physics and
mathematics, these are core to mechanical. The range of skills acquired include
electronics, structures, ergonomics, software development, environmental and
economic issues. This means that the end product is a versatile problem-solving
individual. The challenge of a new machine to build, a new building
construction, a new speed car to build requires me. The multi-skilled engineer.
Just like the
different bolts, nuts and screw available, mechanical engineering can lead to
various specializations. Currently, I specialize in energy systems. One can
specialize in air conditioning, process control, systems design, solid waste
management, water treatment, and so on. The versatility of a mechanical
engineer is endless. Mechanical engineering, therefore, gives you the freedom
to define a career that fully expresses your personality just as Mahatma Gandhi
puts it, “I want freedom for the full expression of my personality”. What
about the sectors where you can be placed? Just to mention but a few,
transport, health, energy sector, manufacturing, design, research and
development and many more. This ensures that one can work anywhere and job
availability is guaranteed. A mechanical engineer’s limits are only defined in
her mind.
Design of machines: My
passion is to create things. I get to do this on a different level. There are
various research that are ongoing in various disciplines. Research in medical
fields, energy sector, environment, materials, lean manufacturing processes,
transport, banking, and financial sector. All these involve mechanical
equipment, thus mechanical engineers are involved in both the design and
integration of the software and hardware of the equipment. Therefore, as a
mechanical engineer, you will always be at the forefront of technology
advancement.
Every field is touched
by the work of a mechanical engineer. From piped water to nuclear power plants,
from cooking pans to airplanes, the role of the mechanical engineer is
undisputed. Even a look at the creation of human beings and a study of how the
complex system works makes one appreciate mechanical engineering as a
discipline. A look at the intricate creation of human beings by God, will show
you that a lot of mechanical engineering was put into practice. From the motion
of legs, arms to overall body coordination, the heart pumping blood that goes
through all the veins in the body and never rupturing any. A lot of mechanics
of machines, engineering mechanisms, and fluid dynamics was put in use. Now
consider your body maintaining its body temperature at 37 degrees Celsius,
considering the fact that human beings are homoeothermic. This involves
thermodynamics, thermocouples to determine body temperature, then communicate
to a heat source and sink for temperature regulation. It is the understanding of
the human system that robotics as a branch of mechanical engineering is based on.
Through robotics, systems and machines that solve societal problems and enhance the quality of life are being developed.
Becoming a mechanical
engineer requires one to have a purpose, a burning desire to and be determined
and dedicated to your purpose. Thomas Carlyle once said that “a person without
a purpose is like a ship without a rudder”. Keep your purpose alive. The price
of success is hard work and determination. In my third year of study, things
became tough and I almost threw in the towel. But my dad was quick to remind me
that a dream doesn’t become a reality through magic, it takes hard work, sweat, and perseverance.
Always keep your dream
alive and believe in yourself, I have come to realize that only I can limit
myself. Success is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from
failure. Set goals and work towards achieving them, never procrastinate,
because you are only sure of today’s time.
Last but not least, set time to play, remember all work but no play makes Jack a dull boy and surely, it can make Joyce a dull girl too. Always remember to do your best and as a Christian, I believe in the power of prayer. Ask God to bless the labor of your hands and mind. I wish you all the best in your journey as a mechanical engineer.