This semester, my main goals are focused around manufacturing. With my senior design project, I find myself spending 20+ hours a week in the machine shop getting acquainted with the mill and lathe. By the end of this semester, I hope to have huge confidence when approaching the machine shop to make anything I want. Last week my confidence was non-existent, but this week I’ve gotten much better at it, and the shop assistant doesn’t hate me as much anymore.

Furthermore, I’ve been developing my skills in systems integration with my Mechatronics course. By the end of the semester, I hope to have improved my C++ coding skills and also have an improved understanding of autonomous systems.

Based on academic experience, I would like a job coordinating and working with electronic systems to produce a desired mechanical output — mainly working on the mechanical side. I think the manufacturing process is quite tiring, even though engineers shouldn’t expect to be in a machine shop after graduation either. Nonetheless, I don’t think it interests me as much as other topics in mechanical engineering.

As for a dream job, I’ve always wanted to work alongside a racing team as a design engineer and constantly traveling the world. While the pay isn’t as high as engineers working in your typical office environment and the hours are long, I think that’s worth the sacrifice for something you are passionate about — and for me, that passion has always been motorsports.