The Engineering I Have Come to Know, By Ayooluwa Obafemi

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series The Carpenter
The Carpenter

The Engineering I have Come to Know, By Ayooluwa Obafemi

By Ayooluwa Obafemi

I’m not one of those people whose choice of course of study was based on pressure from parents or a need to feel among. I came to study engineering with a clear plan in mind and a sharp focus. The love I had for engineering was perhaps, at that time, second to none. Knowing my academic ability (above average), I was braced for the challenge.

My First CGPA further converged my focus. My plans for the future was becoming clearer. I started my 2nd year armed to the teeth with Enthusiasm ready to tear anything apart.

The end of my second year of study witnessed a drop in morale, enthusiasm and performance not necessarily because I slacked or was lazy but my expectations of what engineering is supposed to be wasn’t what I experienced.

My Idea of engineering was simple; Interactive lectures, down-to-earth practicals. Solutions to real life situations and of course, calculations!! calculations!! calculations!! This was absolutely not to be. Disappointments, regrets and anger crept in.

By 3rd year, my focus began to wobble and my once convergent plan for the future gradually began to disintegrate as the rude shock of what engineering in school really required began to show up. I started realigning my plans for the future to fit what I saw in school. Mind you, I have never been a lazy fellow and not one to quit in the face of challenges. I have always tried to be quite frank in the assessment of myself.

I always attended all classes, wrote my tests, read hard, submitted assignments on schedule and meticulous in studying. By God’s grace, I’m still on the second cadre of degree qualification and presently on course to finish there.

The engineering I came to see was weird. We are given too much information. No real life problem to solve. We’re made to imagine every single thing we are taught as we have no chance of seeing them live. Imaginations are strained to breaking points. We leave nearly every lecture with more questions than answers; most times dejected and confused. This wasn’t the engineering I signed up for. NO!!!

By my 4th year, I made some very bold decisions for the sake of my future. While trying to finish well, I began streamlining my focus to what I’ll need for the future.

Now, most students have ditched trying to learn and are focusing primarily on just trying to finish on a high as no employer wants to know the challenges faced in the university but give preference to the best results. We’re now driven by a quest for a good result not knowledge. There are still some though who are still driven by both now but they are very few.

Prior to entering school, I always wondered why most engineers don’t end up majoring on what they studied and I got my answer when I entered. We graduate with heads filled with information and no idea of how to perform when the time comes.

I’ll advise anyone entering the field of engineering to think twice and check to make sure it isn’t only passion driving you because if you got no mental tenacity, you may live a life of permanent regret.

I don’t regret mine though as I see it as a stepping stone to greater heights.

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