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Would you encourage your children to become Engineers?

cstanton

Or perhaps they have naturally gravitated towards it themselves?

Some say if you have the tendency for engineering, technology, the sciences, the 'knack', then you'll gravitate towards it - but as an Engineer or perhaps a practical or technical Maker yourself is Engineering a career or hobby that you've encouraged? Or did you find that they naturally picked it up?

Or would you actually prefer they steer clear of it and why? What potential pitfalls from your experience would you advise against or to prepare for?

Parents

  • I think I've always had a bent toward engineering.  I've considered it more a lifestyle rather than a job.  That being said, I started out in microbiology and biochemistry before practical considerations (getting a job) changed my focus to electrical engineering.

    My engineering career was a difficult one (probably because of the jobs that I chose), so I was not a good model of a career choice for my sons.  When they were younger, I was always working 60-80 hour weeks and when they were older, I missed a lot of holidays and vacations because I was away trying to resolve some crisis or other.  I tried to get them interested in engineering while they were growing up, but they preferred doing things with their friends rather than repairing cars and building electronics with me.

    Life has a funny way of changing, though.  My older son started out in business at college, but he later switched to getting a BSEE with a focus in renewable energy.  He recently completed his master's in engineering technology management (METM) and is doing design consulting, project management, and simulation in solar power.  Unfortunately, the one thing that he did learn from me is how to be a workaholic (that is a very negative aspect of engineering as a profession).

    I wish that I had spent more time encouraging and teaching my sons electronics as a hobby.  Career choice is something that each individual needs to figure out on their own.

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  • I think I've always had a bent toward engineering.  I've considered it more a lifestyle rather than a job.  That being said, I started out in microbiology and biochemistry before practical considerations (getting a job) changed my focus to electrical engineering.

    My engineering career was a difficult one (probably because of the jobs that I chose), so I was not a good model of a career choice for my sons.  When they were younger, I was always working 60-80 hour weeks and when they were older, I missed a lot of holidays and vacations because I was away trying to resolve some crisis or other.  I tried to get them interested in engineering while they were growing up, but they preferred doing things with their friends rather than repairing cars and building electronics with me.

    Life has a funny way of changing, though.  My older son started out in business at college, but he later switched to getting a BSEE with a focus in renewable energy.  He recently completed his master's in engineering technology management (METM) and is doing design consulting, project management, and simulation in solar power.  Unfortunately, the one thing that he did learn from me is how to be a workaholic (that is a very negative aspect of engineering as a profession).

    I wish that I had spent more time encouraging and teaching my sons electronics as a hobby.  Career choice is something that each individual needs to figure out on their own.

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