Michael Delacruz

Engineering has a major impact on life. It is one of those professions

where it is not just another job. It is a livelihood. It is not an easy road to
become an engineer. There are many challenges to become one including
graduating. For me, being able to graduate with a BS degree in engineering,
would mean the world to me. It would mean that I worked hard, to
accomplish a lifelong dream. However, goals, take preparation and
commitment. Engineering is the study and manipulation of resources for the
betterment of mankind. As a student at Old Dominion University, the support
necessary for success is there, it just depends on how I utilize it. In my life,
goals, changes and acceptance of mistakes are needed. There are challenges
when it comes to engineering, such as rigor of high school programs, past
experiences and resiliency. Many students come from an IB program. I came
from a high school with a STEM program, but I was unfortunately unable to
be a part of it. This does not determine success however. Some of the most
highly unqualified people have reached the pinnacle of success as an
engineer. Hard work is really needed in order to succeed and determination
to succeed after failure. It does not matter how much you fail, but how you
learn from it and improve upon it. That is the mark of true success.
In order to achieve and fulfill my goals, I must mentally prepare myself
by being committed to my education. This means that in order to become an

engineer, I must plan a successful route through college, by strengthening

my commitment, clarifying my goals and learning as much as possible. In
this route, there may be twists and turns and stops in math, and science, but
that is part of the journey. It is like a road trip where you do not expect to
stop somewhere, yet you are forced to do so. Your car will break down, yet it
is a learning experience. There are significant steps in the process or journey.
Each stop on this journey comes with challenges. Not every challenge will
come easy, but they must be faced.
As a student, there are many unexpected stops. With every
unexpected stop, comes with its highs and lows. A flat tire on a road trip is
just like failing a quiz. It is easily fixed and adjusted for the future. For me,
graduating with a BS degree in engineering is just one special step in the
process. It would signify a crowning achievement in my life. That degree
would mean that I worked hard enough to earn that degree. Yet it signals
even harder work ahead. Through this, I can pave a path. It may have its
twists and turns, and a few unexpected stops, but it will never come easy.
Chemistry has not always been my strong suit, but by improving my study
habits, I may be able to understand and fully comprehend it. Figuring out my
weak points, will only make me a stronger engineer. My goals are subject to
change, just as all things are. Some changes are forced as they become
necessary. Some come along with time.
Changes come to those who allow them. Friends and family are there
as support to build a bridge for a better future, for me as a student. Chores

and family commitment are hard to balance with college. However, by going
above and beyond expectations of family and academics, I will find success.
My family and friends understand the rigors of an engineering education and
intend to be supportive of whatever I choose to do leading to a positive
outlook. There are times when I have to put my foot down and say no, even
to my closest friends and, especially my family. It is all part of bettering
myself for my future. There will also be times when I go out with them, to
relieve stress and just hang out. In my life, living arrangements are an issue.
As a commuter, I leave my house at least an hour and a half earlier, to
attend my classes on time. Virginia Beach to Norfolk may not seem like a
long drive, but it does not account for traffic and possible accidents.
Normally, I do not spend too much time on campus due to personal
commitments. It is difficult because for a commuter, there are times where
potential weather hazards can be a determining factor into early departures.
Potential traffic delays may also be extremely influential. In truth, there are
many interesting student organizations. Change is needed for engineers.
Things need to be improved, just like in life. Successful engineers are able to
adjust to changes in society and, without conforming, improve upon it. In my
life, I need to find a way to change my study habits to better myself for the
future. The way I study is not the best. It involves too much focus on
different things at once. This method does not allow me to have the benefit
of absorbing all of the necessary information. It is also important for me to
also change my mentality, from being in high school to college. This means I

need to fully accept the transition. Professors are not there to baby me and
help me. They are there to teach and if I have questions, it is on me to utilize
their office hours and prepare myself for each lecture. College is different
from high school in many ways, in a sense that, I have to pay for classes and
really work if I really want to succeed. The academic success that comes
along with positive change is only one reward of many to come.
Mistakes can be made as an engineering student. These are
correctable, but are still mistakes nonetheless. Some are as minor as not
staying on campus for as long as possible. Some are as major as not
introducing yourself and interacting daily with your professor. Staying longer
on campus is beneficial for me to experience the college life. The reason I do
not stay as long as I should is the traffic. As a commuter, traffic gets really
hectic by the time I have to leave. It is important for me to be able to
experience the college life with the sacrifice of beating traffic. It will only
benefit me to improve upon mastering this. Old Dominion University offer
many other services, such as study groups, that otherwise would not be
available to me off campus. When I study, I tend to enjoy being on a group
because it tends to be more lively. In a sense, I feel more inclined to learn in
a group because it helps awaken the inner competitor in me. It makes me
want to outcompete the members of my study group and helps me strive for
more in myself. I believe that if I begin to immerse myself within Old
Dominion University, I will not only receive that college life experience, but
tools for me to succeed in the present and the future.

What I want to be able to accomplish as an engineer is to make a

difference in the world. For me, that is my number one goal. No matter how
little the impact, my work as an engineer can leave an imprint and implicate
a successful legacy. Success can be achieved in similar ways, but the result
will always be different. No journey is the same. Though it may have similar
turns, it will never recreate the memories along the way. That is why success
can be followed, but never replicated. In life, money will come and go, but a
legacy will last forever. No one will forget Bill Gates legacy because of his
success. Success does not come with one snap or within one second. It
comes with long tireless hours of hard work and a determination to succeed.
My drive to succeed is what powers me throughout my studies. I am
determined to succeed and make my future.
My journey to becoming a world class engineering student has only
begun. I have begun to shape my path towards my betterment and success.
By looking into my goals and improving on them as I go. I must also accept
change in my life, and adjust. Change is necessary, so adjustments are
required. It is hard to change your life, but if I want to reach the pinnacles of
success, I must accept change. I must also accept my mistakes. Some of the
greatest successes come from the greatest failure. It is one of the only ways
to reach my goal, yet it is the hardest to do. Accepting my mistakes is so
difficult because it is hard to admit wrongdoing. In your mind, depending on
the situation, whatever your choice was at the time, you were right. When
you are proven wrong, that is when it is difficult to accept. My decision to

apply to only three colleges seemed like a good decision at the time. I will
find out later in life if that was a bad decision on my part. It will be one of
those what-if situations. Personally, I like to live in the moment. The whatif situations do arise, but I do not like to stress about it. This is one of the
changes I need to make in order to move forward. Look into the possibilities
and their outcomes to see what lies ahead. This will help me plan for the
future.
Leadership comes with the territory of being an engineer. A true leader
is willing to accept mistakes. However, a worthy leader is an effective team
member. They are the ones that get the most out of every teammate. It
helps when the teammates are competent. However, a part of being a leader
is being a good teammate. They listen to the ideas of their team and allow
their input. A world class engineer would do everything in his or her power to
be a leader in the community. They often lead projects for communities. An
example would be the architecture of the Tidewater Community College Joint
Use Library. Upholding the values of community gives other engineers a
standard to hold themselves to. I would like to be that kind of leader. A
leader who is held in high respect and the standard of every leader. This is
what I aspire to be and what I am willing to work towards to become a world
class engineer.
Co-curricular activities are great to participate in. They provide work
experience and necessary skills to succeed in many fields. It also provides
leadership skills as many activities are team oriented. In the field of

engineering, co-curricular activities provide a jumpstart into the real world

applications. At Old Dominion University, ASME is a perfect example of a cocurricular activity. They represent the mechanical engineers of the school. I
would also like to be a part of the group that build a racecar from scratch. I
have a love for cars. I want to be able to be part of that group of engineers
that create it. It will help me get a feel for ideas of a project car. This will also
show me the type of work required to build a car out of scratch. It allows
experimentation and a chance to improve upon old ideas. Each year the cars
get better due to innovation. This opportunity will help develop my skills and
implement it into my work in the future. For me this would be another great
stepping stone in my journey.
Each one of us has a different type of style. From learning hands on to
learning while taking notes. We each go about things differently. The way we
study, and the way we use our time is all different. For me, my way of
studying is small to moderate breaks in between studying notes. My breaks
often turn into video game breaks. This helps me relieve stress of always
studying. It may be difficult for others, but it works for me. There are things I
must change, such as the length of the breaks and how much of the material
I actually study. It is difficult for many to actually focus on one subject
because of everything else going on around them. I am no exception to this.
There are days when I can focus very well on a subject and my mind wanders
to different subjects. If I study pre-calculus, it will slowly start transitioning to
English, then chemistry. It is difficult to focus on one single subject because

of distractions like finals, exams and outside distractions such as video

games. By cutting out the unnecessary distractions like video games and
television, it will be easier to focus.
Stress can be the worst thing in the world, if you allow it to be. The way
people relive stress is so different. Some exercise, some will eat. These are
different ways people cope with stress. The healthy way to handle stress,
may also be the hardest. We all get so set in our ways of handling stress,
that it gets difficult to change it. My way is playing basketball. It is not all the
time but it does help. Basketball helps me release all the frustrations I have
on a weekly or even monthly basis. After a good hour or so of just playing
and taking my mind away, everything feels like it is at an equilibrium. There
are so many unhealthy ways to go about it, that it is easier to accept them.
Some result in the worst things for yourself. Things like drinking and smoking
weed are unhealthy, yet people still do it to manage stress. For me, the only
thing that really stresses me out is, not being able to graduate. This puts
pressure on me to perform to the best of my abilities. Stress can be used as
an extra motivation to do something great. Engineers have the ability to do
something great. The way they got to their positions may not have been
easy. It may have been the most stressful time in their lives, yet they got to
their destination.
Integrity and ethics are an important to the field of engineering.
Engineers are held to a set of morals and standards. Some of these morals
reflect things our society as a whole must encompass. Some of these morals

are things we must accept. These include as an engineer, you are not
allowed to speak poorly of other engineers to other customers. They also
should not falsify or misrepresent their qualifications. This is to not only
ensure fairness within a work setting, but it also helps the best interests and
overall safety of customers. For me, there are many ethics and morals that
have been instilled in me by my parents. These are things like treating
others as you would like to be treated. Some of the morals we learn as
children, are translated into the set of standards in todays society. These are
things that our society can benefit from. We have a tendency to forget who
we really are and we conform to what society says we should be. Engineers
are looked as boring, stick in the muds. Yet, as engineers, we represent
more than that. We represent our ideas, and our work. We have a
responsibility to improve the lives of everyone. We represent the future of
technology and its impact. However, we will not be able to accomplish this if
we do not have the proper ethics and morals. I want to strive every single
day to embody those morals and ethics.
There are many resources on the Old Dominion University campus.
They may range from advising to tutoring, and job placement resources to
the student recreation center. These resources are there to ensure a quality
education and the success of the students. It is beneficial to utilize these
resources to guarantee a chance for success. As of now, I have only utilized
the tutoring and the advising. Though to be truthful, the advising was
mandatory. It is very beneficial for me to utilize all the tools and resources for

my success. These places will benefit not only benefit my health, but also my
academic performance as well. Many advisors emphasize the usage of these
facilities and programs because it is not to their benefit, but to mine.
Internships and work study programs are essential to success in
engineering. Internships and work study programs may help to earn a job, or
even higher pay after graduation. They give real world work experiences that
employers look for. Most employers look for up to 5 years of experience
within a certain field. It helps them find those workers that are more qualified
for the job. For engineers, these types of programs are typically paid. This
gives a higher incentive to look for one. These are also very important to
colleges. They give their students a higher chance to be hired and are often
required to graduate. I would like to get the opportunity to participate in an
internship close to my home. I hope to receive an opportunity to intern at
STIHL Inc. This company helped confirm my decision to become an engineer.
I had the ability to participate in their annual youth summer camp. This is
where we came into the Avenger building every day for a week. We would
learn the ins and outs of manufacturing processes. We would practice
building specified products. Then on the final day of camp, we would build
the same products with a certain amount of time. It would then be judged for
the most efficient team, most products made and best overall quality. As part
of the camp, we met many of the interns at STIHL Inc. As they spoke to us
about their experiences, it just kept getting more intriguing. Interning at Stihl
Inc. can be an attainable dream as long as I work towards it. Interning as a

student provide so many benefits. It provides potential jobs, job security and
income. This will also provide work experience that employers require.
My inspiration for becoming an engineer has always been my drive to
help others. The heights that the field of engineering has reached has
inspired me to be the best that I can be. There are so many things
technology does to make the world more beautiful. From the Glass Bridge in
China to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel here in Virginia and the Golden
Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the Empire State Building in New York City. It
just makes life more convenient and more enjoyable. Just seeing the way
that the quality of life is always being improved has shown me the beauty in
engineering. Without the engineers who design and create wonderful, usable
works of art, our lives would not be the same. We now lead comfortable lives.
We have vehicles that take us where we need to go. We also have a new
technology blossoming before our eyes. 3D printing was once make believe.
Now it is a reality we live in. Soon, food will also incorporate this level of
technology. Engineering is the driving force behind the improvements and
advancements of technology. What I dream, is to be able to help lead that
charge and improve lives. This is what drives me to become an engineer.
The journey to become a world class engineer always has a start. My
journey starts at Old Dominion University. The start of this first semester has
been rocky, to say the least. Yet, not every journey goes as planned. These
past few months have showed me what real life is, and how unsure the route
may be. It has shown me the importance of teamwork through projects like

the cardboard regatta. It also taught me how to expect the unexpected. I

came in expecting an extremely smooth transition from high school to
college. It started smooth and began to get rough. However, this is only the
beginning.