����

Have you ever stopped to think about the little things that make your daily life easier? Everyday tools, devices, and transportation mechanisms play a huge role in simplifying tasks. We can become accustomed to these tools so much that we go through life without noticing them. For instance, the mechanism of a bus door is designed to stay out of the way of passengers and you hardly notice the complexities of its motion while you step through the doors. What is the story behind these engineers who create these useful items? It’s easy to see the end product that these engineers create but what is not always apparent is the determination they’ve had during their career. We often think all engineers are exceptionally smart and talented and that is the driving force to develop designs like these. While this may be true for many engineers, hard work and a love for problem solving are just as, if not more, important.

I thought about all of these things as I stepped toward the mechanical folding doors on the boxy orange bus and scanned my card. I looked at the first open seat I could find and plopped down in it. Settling into my seat, I notice how swiftly and effortlessly the
doors folded shut again. I immediately looked at the components of the doors through engineering eyes, realizing they were a complicated system. The team that designed the assembly was tasked with developing a hasty door opening/closing action that doesn’t
take up too much space. Secondly, the movement operation of the door must’ve been scoured for mistakes and tested in real life. The engineers likely wouldn’t want to create a door that breaks, falls, and hits somebody. The hardest thing for me to imagine was how the doors could’ve got from an idea on paper into something I’m actually seeing in real life.

As the bus drove along, I thought about what kind of qualities the door engineers might possess. It would be easy to assume these creators are geniuses, but much like you and
I, engineers are also people. Often, they’re people who repeatedly ask questions. After iteration of design, they implement it into products in our world. As the bus halted and the doors folded to the side I got out and began walking to Target on the brisk fall day. While walking, I wondered, “Is being smart the only thing that led the engineers to be able to create those
doors?” Throughout my first year of college I’ve relied on more than my intelligence to succeed. Specifically, if I relied only on intellect, then it would be difficult to find the drive to learn new material. The inspiration I have to learn and problem-solve motivates me to complete my schoolwork. Based on my experience it seems more likely that the team made a proficient door because of their dedicated time and love for the project.��

While understanding design concepts and math is essential for any engineer, loving what you do is the true motivation for pursuing work. Tenured Professor at ��ñ���� for Mechanical Engineering, Todd Murray told me about his passion for material science. “If the topic interests you then it doesn’t have to be hard. When you’re interested you put more time into it and learning isn’t seen as a burden.” He went on to explain his perspective that instead of going home and watching a tv show maybe he’ll read a new research paper pertaining to what he’s studying at the time. Looking through the eyes of Murray, engineering can be seen as something you can dedicate time to naturally. For example, after a big project you would be content with your work and keep going back to learn more. We often think that the driving force behind success in an engineering role is skill, but what truly spurs a career forward is a love for what you do.

You can pursue what you love while also using certain qualities that aid you along the way. Problem solving and optimizing play a role in the daily life of an engineer. I didn’t realize this until I failed my first Calculus exam at CU. After I had gotten the results back, I felt disappointed. But then I began asking questions and adjusting. To start, I made fewer commitments, freeing up time for sleep; sometimes, doing less is more. Next, I was intentional with my study time, attending office hours and not being distracted while there. These changes enabled me to produce a better score on the second exam. It’s not always easy to implement changes into your way of life. Just like any subject can push you, I was challenged in my Calculus class. By looking at my problems in a structured way I was able to adapt and improve them.
Although learning can be tricky and even though you will struggle, almost everyone has overcome hurdles in their life with a methodical problem solving approach.

Pairing perseverance with the love you have for a particular subject helps you achieve goals. Take Sophomore at CU, Angel Zarco for example. He had thought about studying Architectural Engineering before deciding on Architecture. Much like Prof. Murray, Angel
has always cherished his work. Whether it be expressing his creativity at a young age with legos. Or by designing a real life product at his workplace, Angel has always had a love for architectural design. The decision against engineering came down to the coursework. “It just seemed like I would always doubt myself in math classes and mess something up. Whereas architecture always came naturally to me.” After an assessment of his skills he realized it’s best to stick with something he could see himself doing in the future.��

It can be helpful to have a personal reason for why you’re working toward a goal. Angel chose architecture because it was something that he truly loves learning about. Just because you choose to study a topic that inspires you doesn’t mean you won’t face challenges along the way. Having a destination in mind that you’re striving for will help you during momentary challenges.

When you come up against a difficult task you can take a step back, viewing it holistically. Becoming an engineer takes dedication of time and effort to learn. When you find yourself in a moment of stress, take a step back, think about why you’re doing this and realize you won’t always feel this way. Remembering your intention and being determined to reach it will help you succeed, especially in the structured realm of engineering.

The practice of engineering forms you to its standards. There is little to no bending of rules, opinions, or bias in engineering of any type. The straight-forward rules are what may draw so many to study it. There’s also something to be learned about these rules, you have to obey them. It isn’t just about intelligence–it’s about problem-solving and a willingness to adapt when things don’t go as planned. Whether designing a bus door, or even adjusting study habits to improve a Calculus score, success comes from learning, refining, and most importantly persevering through it all.
The engineers behind everyday innovations didn’t wake up with the knowledge to create. Instead they repeatedly experimented, failed, adjusted, and kept going. In many ways, we all embody that same process in our own lives, adjusting to challenges and finding better ways to move forward. So, the next time I step through a set of folding doors or use any well-designed tool, I’ll remember the love engineers have for their products and consumers. By giving us tools throughout our day we are more able to do good in the world. What’s something you could take a small -planned- action toward to improve your daily routine?