Reflecting on a Mechanical Engineering Degree: Insights and Insights

When I embarked on my educational journey, my primary motivation for choosing Mechanical Engineering was profoundly influenced by the book 'Unsafe at Any Speed' by Ralph Nader. While I don’t necessarily agree with Nader on everything, at the time and still today, I firmly believed that the American automobile industry’s primary focus was on achieving the lowest cost rather than prioritizing safety. Nader's paramount principle—that passengers are not injured by collisions but by the interior structures of a vehicle during an accident—has been a cornerstone of contemporary safety measures such as seat belts, airbags, crush zones, and soft dashboards. This book ignited a national conversation about the potential for designing cars that prioritize passenger safety.

From Aeronautical to Mechanical Engineering

Initially, I was studying aeronautical and astronautical engineering, but quickly realized that the field was too narrowly focused on a single market. Hence, I pivoted to mechanical engineering, which offered a broader range of possibilities across multiple industries. The ME curriculum provided a versatile skill set that was both challenging and rewarding. Although I was already self-taught in electronics, my hands-on experience designing circuit boards for military research at the Electroscience Laboratory contributed significantly to my future career endeavors.

Real-World Applications of Mechanical Engineering

Since graduating with a B.M.E., my ME education has been instrumental in the high-temperature process furnace industry. Every day, I apply knowledge of heat flow, insulation, fluid mechanics, hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical and electronic controls, materials chemistry, and software development to design and innovate. This hands-on experience has not only deepened my technical understanding but also enhanced my ability to develop creative solutions for clients.

Case Studies in Industry

During my college years, I had a study partner who went on to work for the electric boat company, where he minimized vibration on nuclear submarines. Another friend of mine had a successful career at Lockheed Martin, where he was involved in the design of aircraft structures. These are just a couple of examples of the diverse applications of mechanical engineering. It is clear that mechanical engineering is not confined to any particular sector but can be found in virtually every industry.

Am I Regretting My Choice?

No, absolutely not. If anything, I often find myself wondering how my career might have unfolded had I majored in engineering physics. I do experience a certain amount of physics envy, given the awe-inspiring and intellect-stimulating nature of physics. However, I believe my current career is both robust and lucrative. My educational background has equipped me with a well-rounded skill set that allows me to constantly innovate and provide valuable solutions to my clients. I have no regrets about my choice to pursue mechanical engineering.