Talking it over

I'm meeting with a professor for advising because Plan II basically forces it upon us. We had to pick three faculty members and they would try to pair us up with one of them to talk to. I had e-mailed the professor whom I had been paired with and he let me know that he couldn't find the "sophomore statement" that we were required to turn in earlier this year basically summing up where we are, what we want to do, etc., etc. I couldn't find my copy either so I began to write out how I felt about where I am, who I am. . . and it turned into a very frank thing -- much moreso than the original statement had been.  I guess I figured what did I have to lose. Maybe if he knows everything that I feel about careers and about what I want and why I'm doing what I'm doing, he could really help me. I guess I'll just have to wait until next week when I meet with him to find out.

Revised Sophomore Statement:

I am currently a Civil Engineer and Plan II major. Originally I had been a Chemical Engineer and I had realized it wasn't quite what I wanted. I had toyed with the idea of switching to Architecture or Architectural Engineering or Civil Engineering. Ultimately I wanted to keep my scholarship so I stayed within the College of Engineering. This has been my first semester as a civil engineer and it already feels much more fitting than chemical engineering ever did. I've always enjoyed designing and creating and problem solving and this seemed to me to be the most practical application career-wise. To be honest, I have always enjoyed the creative/aesthetic realm than the science/mathematic side so I think it surprises people that have gotten to know me to find that I am an engineer. However, I think it was important for me to understand the scientific knowledge that underpins the structural design. Whether this route will be as satisfying for me is somewhat up in the air. (One thing that is certain about this route though, as my dad continually mentions, is the job stability which I suppose is relevant to these sorts of decisions.) In regards to my specific aim, I am not entirely sure what I would like to do. I went to the Engineering Expo and spoke to some Arch/Civil Engineering Firms to see if I could secure a position as an intern this summer so I could get an idea of what I want to do. Unfortunately, many firms were not hiring as many interns as they normally would because of the state of the economy and most recommended to me specifically to try again next year as I am only technically in my first semester as a civil engineering student. I am still hopeful about finding a summer internship that will give me experience and insight about my future.

Interesting tidbits.