An engineering education

Engineering is universal. It is all around us, in every inch of our world and every fiber of society. It may be invisible, and it may be monumental. It is there, always. From the brisk winds that flow furiously through the Cory Aquino Democratic Space to the massive pillars of which the Henry Sy building stands, from the Family Mart ice cream to Ministop deep fried chicken, its existence in every aspect of our lives is apparent. Granted, I am biased since I have much affection for engineering, having been here for years and still sticking to it.

When I say that engineering is universal, it does not mean that I perceive it as the pinnacle of sciences, but rather that I see its teachings as lessons in life as well. There is more to it than numbers and equations; more to it than theories and calculations. I did not come here however to laud the majesty of engineering, but to impart to you some of the greatest things engineering has taught me, both in my professional education and in my life.

I will impart to you three of the most profound lessons I have learned from engineering.

One of them was from a prominent professor who had a rather strange affinity for Micky Mouse. He had said, though not in verbatim, that mathematicians and physicists tend to concentrate on the content of scientific knowledge and further progressed its development. Us engineers, however, tend to concentrate on the practicality of scientific knowledge and its applications towards a better society. In short, he imparted to us that the former dwelled more on the science, while we dwelled more on its uses. This was in 2008, long before the show The Big Bang Theory popularized the debate between physicists and engineers (S08E02).

So what did I learn from this statement, besides the indirect underestimation of physicists and mathematicians? The lesson here for me was more general than such a debate. Theory and knowledge can only get you so far. Knowledge for the sake of knowledge holds little worth; its accumulation is something that holds little value. How you use knowledge is what matters. Just how the Bernoulli’s Equation, one of the most fundamental equations used in fluid mechanics, is derived from differential equations and is used in the physical interpretation of fluids in mathematical form, the importance of knowledge lies in its applications towards a greater, more profound existence. What is the point of being smart if you cannot use your brain except to tell yourself you’re smart?

The second lesson had stemmed from the consistent and repetitive conclusions of my engineering subjects. In thermodynamics, a 100% efficient machine can never exist in our natural world, nor can there be an ∞ factor of safety, nor can you ever use the exact value of π. Ever.

There was just one conclusion: In the world, there is no such thing as a sure thing. Out of a hundred billion chances, at least one of them will lead to failure. There is no such thing as being completely safe. It is Murphy’s Law — anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Always be prepared for any mishap in life because nothing is impossible, just improbable.

However, this also goes the other way around. Out of a hundred billion chances, at least one of them leads to success. So never be afraid to take risks. Keep moving forward, even if you have to crawl. Chances are, you will attain the unattainable. Like I said, nothing is impossible, just improbable.

The last lesson I impart to you, dear reader, is something that does not only thrive in the hallowed halls of engineering education. It thrives in all of us, in each thought we make and every breath we take. It is a lesson on the beauty of creation.

To create something out of thought, to give birth to idea made flesh is the most beautiful thing you can ever do in your lifetime. What you create is yours, the incarnation of your thoughts and dreams. It need not be concrete as a structure or an invention. It can be in writing, or song, or art, anything that your imagination can bring forth. Make a poem, a business, some semblance of a culinary masterpiece. You, with all your knowledge and creativity, can create wonders beyond reckoning. Dare to create something worthwhile not just for the world, but also for yourself. It is what knowledge is for. It is what imagination is for. It is what we are for. Though engineering to me creates more wonders to the world above others, it is, of course, merely my opinion. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The diversity of what we can learn is infinite. Every profession perceives the world differently, and through their eyes we learn more things. Though my perception is only narrow to that of engineering, it does not entail that there is nothing else I can learn from others. This is what I have learned through my path. What have you learned from yours?

Editor’s note: The author is a licensed mechanical engineer and graduated from the Mechanical Engineering program at De La Salle University. He is currently taking his second undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, also in DLSU.