Making one of the hardest decisions in engineering

The challenge of making big decisions

I want to talk about making BIG decisions, specifically in the context of one of the most significant choices engineering students face: selecting their discipline. Although I’ll be speaking in this context, a lot of what I’ll talk about really applies generally to making big decisions for all students. 

Let's set the stage. Every year, students moving into their second year of engineering choose a specific discipline to join. What blows my mind is that when you ask students why they chose a particular discipline, a lot of students can’t provide a super clear answer. Some choose a path because it’s familiar, while others make the decision without fully understanding what their chosen discipline actually does!

This problem isn’t something new. I remember being one of those students who was pretty uncertain about what the disciplines did or which one I wanted to join. As a kid, I always thought I’d go into civil engineering, but I later switched my interest to chemical engineering. I even considered electrical engineering at a point. I ended up really finding a passion in mechanical engineering. A huge influence in that decision was Mark Rober, who inspired me to not only follow this path but also take YouTube more seriously. It took a lot of bouncing around to finally get to mechanical engineering, but even when I chose the discipline, I didn’t fully understand what was to come.

The big solution for the big problem

This uncertainty is what motivated me to create a solution: a HUGE video where I interview students from every engineering discipline at the U of A to help engineering students get a clearer idea of their options. While my video doesn’t cover every sub-discipline out there, it provides a solid introduction to the major ones—something I wish I had when I was a first-year student. Here’s the link to that video here if you’re interested! 

Also, shoutout to my long-time friend Tony for helping me throughout the entire process of making that video!

Key tips for making your big decision

How do you go about making a decision of this magnitude? Here are some tips I have for making big decisions, whether in engineering or any other field.

1. Picture yourself making the decision
   

   Can you truly see yourself committing to this decision? This boils down to understanding your own values and identity. It sounds cliché, but ask yourself: What are you passionate about? What excites you? What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?

2. Find inspiration
   

   Who inspires you? For me, watching Mark Rober not only pushed me towards mechanical engineering but also influenced me to become a YouTuber. Your role models can provide clarity about the direction you want to take.

3. Ask for advice
   

   Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from people who have been in your shoes. Chances are, you’re not the first person to face a tough decision. Reach out to family friends, work colleagues or even browse online communities like Reddit and YouTube for guidance. This is where someone like me comes in—I’m here to help guide you based on my experiences!

I really hope this helps someone out there who’s feeling lost while making a big decision. And if you’re an engineering student, remember to check out my video. Who knows, it might just open your eyes to a career path you didn’t even know existed—and one you could fall in love with!