Missing Basics

Born in an engineer family, I learned that math & science are important for a qualify engineer at a very young age. Before high school I know engineers have a cool name. I know they work for large company. I know they are smart and good at science. Besides those, I don’t know what engineers do for their jobs.

In senior year, I began to learn something about engineers through Discovery Channel. They need to create an economical and effective solution for real world problems, however sometimes the problem isn’t only about technology. For example, Hongkong Chek Lap Kok airport was a great engineering achievement not only because the engineer created solutions for limited space and high speed oversea transportations but they secured their funding from banks by negotiations. Without their communication skills, the project would fail under financial and political pressures.
I had some senses of what is the jobs waiting for an engineer.

After learning about Missing Basic, I began to understand what makes a qualify engineer. Communication, Organizing, Modeling and other missing basic played an important role with the basics to make a useful engineer. Since anyone solo has a limited ability, engineers need to communicate effectively with others to solve some difficult problems. Organizing is necessary for anyone has multiple tasks, time management is crucial to finish a project. At some instance a full size project need to test on a smaller scale. The model needed accurate enough to be useful. Good model can save time and finance, misrepresented model could endanger the public after the full size project completed.

Engineers need a lot of quality and skills to solve real world problems. Three skills I would like to improve are time management, communication, and to ask good questions.

As an engineering and pre-med student, time is a priceless resource. There are so many things to do besides classes, homework and projects. I also need time for relax and family. Using time effectively is essential for my college life and after. Like Stephen Covey taught in his book “7 habits of highly effective people”. I would organize my events into four categories and label each event with important or not important, urgent or not urgent. Avoid not important & not urgent things and focus on important subjects. Create a to-do list and schedule each week starting this week end. Review my schedule on each Friday to see what I have done.

English is not my first language, some time it’s a little difficult for me to write or speak accurately. This weakness is limiting my ability to communicate effectively. Now I’m taking composition class and next year I will take communication class, besides I’m planning to practice my English by talking with others on a special issue or participate in the writer’s workshop.

The third skill I need to improve is to ask good question. I spent many years in school being train to obey the authority without asking questions. It becomes an obstacle for me to do better in science and engineering. In order to get better, I will read to more on critical thinking in this month. Preparing to ask why when the textbook or the instructor teaches.

Wish everyone can get some improvement this year, have a good weekend!!