RSG335
Jun 28, 2017
Undergraduate / 30 year old returning to college, what broad perspective do I bring to the engineering classroom [4]
Prompt: Describe how you could bring a broad perspective to the engineering classroom. Factors to discuss include, but are not limited to: multi-cultural awareness, activities, or accomplishments; educational background and goals; living experiences, such as growing up in a disadvantaged or unusual environment; and special interests or talents. (Limit to 250 words)
Response:
When I look back at the span of my academic journey, 13 years and counting, it seems unorthodox. The majority of that journey is rife with failure and inconsistency, showcasing a lack of goals or perspective. When I first started I wasn't prepared or even committed to earning a degree. Moving out on my own right out of high school, working became my focus. Over the years that work would take me around the world, from the shores of Miami beach to the ultramodern cityscape of Dubai. During that time, I experienced multiple cultures and ways of life, I experienced a world other than my own. Working and making my own way allowed me to gain perspective on life and what I wanted out of it. The strangeness of that isn't lost on me, as most pursue higher education to prepare for work, I've done just the opposite.
As a 30-year-old student I've found the dynamic between myself and my younger colleagues to be enlightening. On the cusp of a generational gap, it makes for unique exchanges in perspectives when working together. Challenging each other with ideas and viewpoints to find a middle ground often improved the quality of our work. When I think about what I can bring to the engineering classroom I focus on my classmates, offering them a window into the world I've experienced. I hope to use that in helping them challenge the status quo and break away from norms, elevating the quality of our work.
Thoughts: Right now I'm pretty unsatisfied with this, I feel like it might be way too vague and not really answering the question properly. Any help in focusing this down would be much appreciated.
Prompt: Describe how you could bring a broad perspective to the engineering classroom. Factors to discuss include, but are not limited to: multi-cultural awareness, activities, or accomplishments; educational background and goals; living experiences, such as growing up in a disadvantaged or unusual environment; and special interests or talents. (Limit to 250 words)
Response:
unorthodox academic journey
When I look back at the span of my academic journey, 13 years and counting, it seems unorthodox. The majority of that journey is rife with failure and inconsistency, showcasing a lack of goals or perspective. When I first started I wasn't prepared or even committed to earning a degree. Moving out on my own right out of high school, working became my focus. Over the years that work would take me around the world, from the shores of Miami beach to the ultramodern cityscape of Dubai. During that time, I experienced multiple cultures and ways of life, I experienced a world other than my own. Working and making my own way allowed me to gain perspective on life and what I wanted out of it. The strangeness of that isn't lost on me, as most pursue higher education to prepare for work, I've done just the opposite.
As a 30-year-old student I've found the dynamic between myself and my younger colleagues to be enlightening. On the cusp of a generational gap, it makes for unique exchanges in perspectives when working together. Challenging each other with ideas and viewpoints to find a middle ground often improved the quality of our work. When I think about what I can bring to the engineering classroom I focus on my classmates, offering them a window into the world I've experienced. I hope to use that in helping them challenge the status quo and break away from norms, elevating the quality of our work.
Thoughts: Right now I'm pretty unsatisfied with this, I feel like it might be way too vague and not really answering the question properly. Any help in focusing this down would be much appreciated.