Engineering a Lifestyle by Simon

Engineering a Lifestyle by Simon - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

My plan for college is to go to TCNJ and study Computer Engineering, possibly with a minor in Music Technology. I am Egyptian and the running joke/self-induced stereotype with us is that Egyptian kids must grow up to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. A lot of parents will encourage their kids to pursue these careers because they usually make a lot of money, and kids will pursue these careers because they make a lot of money. There's obviously nothing wrong with wanting to make a good living, but it's unfortunate when someone gives up something they are passionate about in order to chase a job with a bigger paycheck. I clearly fall into the being a stereotypical Egyptian engineer, but I think I'm quite the opposite. I have been passionate about engineering even before I knew what engineering was. From a toddler I was obsessed with building and taking things apart, specifically with Lego, but as I grew older, that obsession of learning things from the inside out grew as well. When I was thirteen, I built my first computer, and since then I've built seven more. It was this experience that confirmed for me that I wanted to be a computer engineer. I don't want to be an engineer for the money, but because of my understanding and vision of what engineering is and how to apply it. Most people have a narrow and linear view of engineering, they see it just as a process of making something new. While they partially correct, engineering truly is deeper and more intricate than what people make of it. On face value, yes, engineering is a way to create new technologies and fix problems, but there is a certain thought process behind it that makes it stand out and be so effective. It is a meticulous, thoughtful, and efficient way of processing and reasoning. It welcomes functionality and creativity in a way that progresses toward an innovative end goal. Engineering’s purpose is to create something that has purpose to serve the needs of the community. Engineering is more than making, it is creative, intentional, and functional problem-solving that thrives off teamwork and outside-the-box thinking. The engineering thought process can and should be applied to any situation in order to truly have the best outcome. I believe that instead of making their way through life, people should engineer it.