Social Interaction is Non-Negotiable by Jose

Social Interaction is Non-Negotiable by Jose - July 2023 Scholarship Essay

An inquisitive youth, nothing piqued my interest during car rides more than the sight of nascent structures swarmed by machinery, suits, and hardhats, all collaborating to further the project at hand. The level of coordination with which these elements conduct their tasks always hypnotized me; for the brief minute in which the spectacle was in view, the rest of the world’s dealings were utterly insignificant.

As the years passed, these panoramas fostered an ardent desire to understand the intricate workings of construction projects. Taking note of my mounting curiosity about these aspects, my father brought me along with him to work in the concrete sector. Employed in manual labor, I was physically involved in preparing, pouring, and finishing concrete for both residential and commercial projects. I acquainted myself with more construction practices, including drafting plans, consulting with clients, and reviewing contracts and permits. With this first-hand experience, the drive to learn propelled me further. I sought advanced insight into the operations and logistics that propel construction plans into action, as well as the materials utilized.

To feed this hunger for knowledge, I enrolled at the University of Texas at Arlington in the fall of 2020 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. My first semester, however, proved to be one of immense academic hardship. With online courses being the only available option due to COVID-19, I struggled to understand the concepts being taught as I received little input from my professors. My first semester culminated in C’s, and my next two semesters even saw me fail a course. Worst of all, I avoided all social interactions and organizational opportunities even though the pandemic had begun to relax. With lukewarm grades and no networking, I felt lost. I knew that shutting myself off from the outside world was the biggest mistake I had made in my academic and personal life up to this point; to right this transgression, during the summer of 2022 I sought to involve myself in as many extracurricular activities as possible. My hypothesis of social interaction having the ability to improve my mental state and capacity worked wonders, as I currently pursue a master’s degree in construction engineering and management through the Fast Track Program as a senior.

To get to this point, I have kept busy in multiple professional organizations at UTA outside of work and study. I am highly involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), having won 5th place for UT Arlington out of 23 schools in the Ethics Essay Competition at the 2023 Region 6 ASCE Symposium. I was an active member in this year's Concrete Canoe and Concrete Frisbee competitions, and I am now the Fundraising Chair of the organization. I also volunteer as a Key Contact for the ASCE Texas branch, meeting with government leaders to advocate for positive infrastructure reforms. In this role, I was sponsored by the Fort Worth ASCE Branch to attend the State Legislative Drive-In at the Capitol this April as the sole student among 45 professional engineers, where I spoke with my state and district representatives about strengthening our power grid and revitalizing aging public waterworks. Most recently, the Fort Worth Branch recognized me as an ASCE FY2023 Scholar, being one of two UTA students awarded this distinction.

Likewise, I am a member of the UTA Student Government's External Relations Committee, where I provide UTA students with information on government affairs and survey students with Maverick Opinion Boards to gain their opinion on resolutions. Also, I am an active member of Engineers without Borders (EWB) and aid in the water system design of a pipeline for a rural village in Bolivia, learning from this endeavor how significant resource management and community engagement are in bringing about tangible improvements in people's lives. In the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), I am a monthly National Panelist for Equipando Padres, a program designed to provide information regarding college admission and funding to the parents of Hispanic youths. In this organization, I am also the Community Outreach Coordinator, a role in which I explain the benefits of STEM education and of joining SHPE to high school students. Furthermore, as a Student Mentor for SHPE, I provide academic and professional development guidance to undergraduate civil engineering students. Outside of UTA, I am a Program Fellow with the Aspire Leaders Institute hosted by the Harvard Business School, in which I receive training and knowledge that strengthen my current leadership positions.

All in all, I plan on life-long learning within Civil Engineering. By devoting my time to increasing efficiency and sustainability in construction processes and materials, I am certain that my work will have a direct and positive influence on the infrastructure that serves my community and those abroad. In serving my community by being an active part of it, I corrected the academic mistake I made at the beginning of my university sojourn and work to propel and others to success.