My Path to Mechanical Engineering by Ali

My Path to Mechanical Engineering by Ali - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

From a young age I was fascinated by how things worked. I loved taking apart toys and electronics to see their inner components and figure out how they functioned. One formative experience was when my grandfather let me disassemble a broken radio when I was about 10 years old. After carefully removing each part I began understanding how they interconnected to enable the radio to receive signals and produce sound. Though I wasn't able to put it back together, this first glimpse under the hood of a complex device thrilled me and was likely what initially sparked my interest in engineering. 

In school, science and math were always my strongest subjects. I enjoyed the logic and problem-solving aspects of math, and liked seeing how mathematical principles could describe and predict real world phenomena in science. My interest in physics grew in high school when I was able to apply calculus to motions and forces. Conducting experiments in physics and chemistry labs was also exciting, as it allowed me to directly observe the principles I was learning about in action. In particular, I remember using circuit boards and multimeters to study circuits and being fascinated by how voltage, current and resistance interacted.

Beyond academics, I’ve always enjoyed hands-on work. I’ve assisted my dad with numerous household projects including repairs, renovations and constructions. Using tools and completing a build from start to finish gave me a great sense of accomplishment. I also took shop classes where we got to work on engines and use manufacturing equipment like lathes and mills. Through these experiences I knew I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to apply my technical knowledge to create tangible solutions and products. 

My innate curiosity about how things operate, along with my strengths in technical subjects and hands-on skills, make me well-suited for a career in mechanical engineering. I’m excited by the prospect of combining my passions for science, math and building things to invent, analyze and manufacture new machines and technology.

My passion for engineering really took off when I joined my high school's robotics team. For the first time, I was able to take the theoretical concepts I was learning in physics and calculus and use them to design, build, code, and test a real robotic device. Our team spent months designing and assembling a robot that could autonomously navigate an obstacle course and complete specific tasks like moving objects. I vividly remember the excitement I felt seeing the finished robot come to life and carry out the programs I helped write. Though we faced challenges like troubleshooting mechanical issues and debugging code, the hands-on process of creating a functioning robot from the ground up gave me an adrenaline rush. Getting to drive and manipulate our bot during competitions was incredibly rewarding. The robotics team gave me my first taste of collaborative engineering projects, and playing an integral role in designing and operating the robot made me positive I wanted to become a mechanical engineer.