Choose chemical engineering, at your own risk!
For the past five years, I’ve been surrounded with engineering students cramming their way to survive different degree programs in engineering. I swear it’s crazy to see them almost lose their minds just to survive the challenges they had to face just to get the diploma they’ve always wanted. Can you imagine staying up til three in the morning then waking up three hours later to attend class? Yes that happens a lot in our school and since we have a hard time waking up at such an early hour, we no longer sleep at all. Though I have to be honest here, I may be playing favorites here but if you’re in for a challenge, go to the chemical engineering department.
Choose Chemical Engineering for a Great Challenging College Life (Source: Giphy)
With a cup of coffee in one’s hand and a heavy book with a calculator inserted inside it on the other hand, a chemical engineering student is one hell of a survivor. I should know – I am one. I’ve encountered so many difficult engineering problems in class that I barely even have time to add drama to my life. That may not be true for the others though. They still have time to get multiple love interests for the sake of having fun during free hours. But seriously, with all the exams and pressure coming from our professors and parents, who has time for a social life? What kind of chemical engineering student still has time to get a love life?
It’s hard to be honest. Our program doesn’t really focus in just one particular field. We also have to learn a little bit of everything – chemistry, physics, coding, electrical engineering and even specialized subjects such as environment engineering. It’s the most complex engineering for me (but I don’t underestimate other fields though, I’m just really bias).
Choose Chemical Engineering for a Great Challenging College Life (Source: European Commission)
I’ve seen classmates quit the program because of its level of difficulty. I’ve seen myself in the mirror crying so hard, asking myself why am I in a program that aims to make us feel miserable. I’ve seen friendships break because one wouldn’t help the other because the environment in chemical engineering is very competitive. I’ve seen other students tremble as they enter their terror professors’ rooms just so they could get help passing a major subject. I hear my friends getting delayed for a year because they weren’t able to keep up with the requirements the school required from them. I’ve seen broken dreams in our halls and in my five years in the degree program, I become thankful everyday for finding myself surviving the program.
The smartest students in the college usually come from our department. The ones who usually excel in leadership also come from us. So I wonder, how do they do it? With so many challenges in class, where do they get the extra energy to lead the college? Maybe, the chemical engineering has taught them how to manage time. Maybe.
Choose Chemical Engineering for a Great Challenging College Life (Source: The Maury Show)
All I can say is, as bias as this may sound, if you want to have a challenging college experience, stick with chemical engineering. It will hurt you, it will make you cry, it will make you beg and do anything just to survive in the program. It’s crazy how one can survive and not everyone who enrolled come out as a chemical engineering graduate. So if you want a challenging life ahead, go, push for chemical engineering.
But here’s the thing. I also believe that the things we work hard for are also the things we cherish the most. They’re also the most rewarding ones we get in life. All the hard work you put to the program will later on reward you. It will give you a good life. It may not necessarily give you a high salary once you start working but it’ll help you acquire the skills you need to make it big in your career. So go ahead, chase after your dream to be a chemical engineer. It will be hard but it will be worth it. Everything will pay off. I would know, I’m starting to live my life as a chemical engineer. It’s all good, everyone. So good luck and hope to meet you all in the chemical engineering department.
Choose Chemical Engineering for a Great Challenging College Life (Source: Giphy)
