Why Engineering? Anonymous

Jimi is dead. My cousin has succumbed to the interplay of factors beyond his awareness or control. I am eleven years old. I lie on the hard wooden floor of my bedroom and gaze listlessly out the window. I think of my cousin's killer. Why did a system that effectively restrains inebriated drivers not yet exist?

Two years later, the aforementioned device lay on my lap in the form of a sketch. My design incorporated sensors that would prevent the vehicle's ignition from starting if the driver's alcohol level exceeded the legal limit. My fervency was attributed to my cousin's death but I was also motivated by the prospect of helping to preserve the lives of countless other Jimis. Thus, my decision to study Civil Engineering gradually emerged from my ideal to harmonise my interests with the furtherance of human and ecosystem health.

I am passionate about design and technology because it harnesses the human potential to translate concepts and ideas into products that can greatly improve lives. I view limitations as springboards for scientific excellence and desire to further my knowledge of how materials and mechanics may be employed to take efficacies to new levels. I envision pioneering sustainable solutions for municipal...