Process for Becoming a World-Class Engineering Student - Essay Example

1. Establishing goals for what you want to achieve through your engineering education (time to graduate, GPA, internship, salary for first job offer, etc.). 813 a) Where I am currently this item. I currently have decent grades. I have some grades that are relative high but there are also some that admittedly, need to be worked on. b) Where a "world-class" engineering student would want to be on this item. A world-class engineering student would want to have high if not perfect grades c) What I need to do to move from where I am now to where I would need to be to become a "world class" engineering student. I would need to study harder and improve my study habits so that my grade will improve. I will also not skip class so that I am aware of all the lessons in class. 2. Developing a strong commitment to the goal of graduating in engineering, computer science or engineering technology: a) Clarifying what success in engineering study will do to enhance your quality of life. I am aware what success in engineering study will do to enhance the quality of my life. It will open doors of opportunity for me after college which otherwise will not possible without an engineering education. Graduating in engineering, computer science or engineering technology also allows me to do a lot of things which otherwise will not be possible without completing the course. It will either employ me in a good paying job or allow me to start a business of my own. A world class engineering student is confident that he will realize this goal after graduation. Admittedly, I am not yet that confident if I will realize my goal after graduating my course because I am still having challenges with my study. For me to be confident that I will realize my goal after college, I should improve my grades and commit myself totally to the course. b) Understanding what is engineering, computer science or engineering technology and being aware of achievements, opportunities and future directions. I have a clear understanding of what is engineering, computer science or engineering technology. I am also aware of its achievements and opportunities. I am not sure however of its future directions because it changes so fast that it is hard to predict. The world class student in engineering and computer science does not only have a clear understanding of the subject but also have an idea of the future directions of the industry due to their engagement in the subject. I believe I need to read more journals and magazines about trends in computer science and engineering to have my own idea about its future directions. c. Prepare a "road map" or semester-by-semester plan to guide you to graduation. At present, there are still aspects of my study that needs to be improved. First, I need to improve my grades to make it impressive when I present them as qualification to my prospective employers after graduation. I will also develop my other non-academic qualifications such as joining extra-curricular activities that will develop my other skills such as leadership. I will also improve my study habit because it will carried on to my professional life as a work habit so I have to make it ideal while I am still studying. To work on these areas of improvement, I will instill a good study habit within me to avoid cramming and get good grades. This could be done by allocating an hour or two every day to review my lectures so that I am always prepared for class. If there are school and/or research works that needs to be done, I will do it in advance so that I will have ample time to do it and produce a quality research and/or school work. I will make quality school paper by dividing portions of it in advance and then research and write portions of it until it is done ahead of time allowing me an allowance to review it and do some corrections and improvement. I believe this how world class students in engineering and computer science do their school work. They do not just study because there is an exam but are always studying to be always ready for class. 3. Preparing to deal with inevitable adversities- sickness, family emergencies, etc... There are instances where inevitable adversities such as sickness, family emergencies, etc... will strike us that could hamper our study. Ideally, this does not mean that a student’s study should suffer when inevitable adversities like these strikes in the student’s life. World class students study is not hampered nor will suffer with inevitable adversities- sickness, family emergencies, etc... because they have prepared for it and knows what to do in case it will strike them. At present, I have to admit that I have not though of any contingency yet on how would I deal with inevitable adversities such as sickness, family emergencies, etc... until I wrote this paper. If any of these inevitable adversities will come to me, I believe that my studies will be hampered and my performance as a student will suffer because I do not have plan how to deal with it. To effectively deal with inevitable adversities such as sickness, family emergencies, etc I will have a contingency plan to deal with it. First, I must not absent from class so that when things like these happen, I have enough absences to cushion me before my professor will marke me down for absences. But if it is a long absence, I must inform my professor and ask help from my classmates. There are several things that can be done to prevent my studies from suffering in case that I will be absent in class. I can ask a classmate to record the lecture by placing a voice recorder on the professor’s desk. Second, is to ask for scanned copy of class notes to accompany the recorded lecture so I know what is happening in class. 4. Managing various aspects of your personal life including, interactions with friends, personal finances, outside work and commuting. At present, I believe that I have a healthy personal life but there are some aspects of it that I need to improve. My interactions with my friends are pleasant and cordial. I like them and they like me. We hang around and do things together. We also look after each other and help each other whenever we have problems. Commuting is also non-issue with me because I am already used to it. I need to work on my personal finances however. Not that I am broke but because I have the tendency to overspend on things that I really do not need. A world class student knows how to spend his or her money wisely. Of course a world class student has big expenditures also but they are often school and class related and this is considered a wise spend. I have the tendency however to overspend on things that I do not really need. I always buy the latest gadget which I do not really need. To avoid overspending on things that I do not really need, I will only buy gadgets and other things based on my need and not because on the “cool” factor or just because it is the latest. I will just have to shift my values from wanting to buy cool things to things that I really need. 5. Changing your attitudes to those appropriate for success in STEM coursework. Examples are: a. Self-confidence- low or overconfidence I have to admit that STEM coursework is a challenge. Albeit I find most of the topics about STEM to be interesting, not all of them are easy to understand. At present, my self-confidence about STEM is not that high because I am still having challenges with some of the subjects related to it. A world class engineering or computer science student is confident about her knowledge in science, technology and math but not overconfident that would make him or her lax on his or her study. To become confident about STEM, I will work on the subjects that I have challenges. I believe that overcoming them will spawn a renewed confidence in me about my STEM coursework. b. Reluctance to seek help or study with peers. I am not reluctant to seek help with friends. I have to admit however that I limit the people I ask helped to people that I am comfortable with. Sometimes, I feel shy to ask help from people that I am not close to because they may think I am a bother or not paying attention to my class. A world class student in engineering and computer science however is not embarrassed to ask help when it is needed. He or she is always on the look out to understand and master the lessons relating to the course and will not hesitate to ask if he or she does not understand it. Sometimes, these lessons are not even related to the class but the student still asks questions to understand a particular concept. I believe that I must go out of my comfort zone when asking help from peers for lessons that I am not sure of. I must not limit the people that I ask help from my friends but must also include those who are well verse in the subject that includes professors and higher class. c. Resistance to change, grow, develop and improve. I believe that I have no problem for change that would enable me to grow and improve. I embrace change realizing that it is the only thing that is constant in this world. World-class students also embrace change and are not threatened by it. In fact, they are the agent of change because they constantly seek ways to improve and change how things are done. I just need to be consistent on this and will keep myself open to any suggestions or critique that helps me change, grow, develop and improve. d. Tendency to procrastinate. I must admit that this is my biggest problem. I admit that I have a tendency to procrastinate that sometimes it causes problem with my study because it makes me cram and do half-baked school works. I believe almost all students have problem with procrastination. World-class student in engineering and computer science keep their procrastination to a minimum if at all. They barely procrastinate because they are passionate with their studies. I believe that to avoid procrastination, I must keep myself truly interested with class lessons so that I will always look forward in engaging with them instead of procrastinating. e. Negative views or attitudes toward faculty, authority figures, college, etc. I have no negative views or attitudes toward faculty, authority figures, college, etc. I was raised to value and respect people of authority. World-class students also respect people of authority. I should maintain my attitude of respecting persons of authority especially in the university where I am studying. 6. Managing your time and energy effectively-daily and weekly schedules. I must admit that I am not effective in managing my time and energy. I tried to have a schedule before but it only worked briefly. After that, I am back to my old ways of just doing things as they come. World-class students manage their time effectively that they are able to do more. They are also not late with school works because they are always on top of it. I should practice managing time little by little until I get the hang of it. I will begin with the schedule of establishing a study habit of allocating time each day or week. Then I will increase the activities that are scheduled until I am used to it. 7. Understanding the principles of teamwork and leadership and developing skills to be an effective team member and team leader. At present, I value team work especially in engineering and computer science where everything needs collaboration to get done. Projects are never done by a single person and I realize the value of team work and leadership. I however some issue with leadership because I am not confident if I could make my team members follow my directives. I also have some tendency to procrastinate which is not a good trait of a leader. A world class student in engineering and computer science is a good leader and a follower. They can readily assume the role of a team member or a team leader to get a project or school work done. To become a dynamic team member as well as a leader, I will practice assuming more responsibilities so that I will be used to it. I will also work on my procrastination to become an effective leader. Read More