Young Engineers
When I graduated from engineering school two years ago, I never really felt any pressure to work in a high-profile company as an engineer. I chose to focus on my passions and what I really wanted to do – which are far from working in a production company under very hot conditions. I always saw myself as someone who focused all the energy I have in creating something innovative and useful for the society. The pressure to earn a lot wasn’t really there until I started talking to my other engineering friends who are practicing the field.
Some of them are chemical engineers, some work in construction, while the others are in the corporate world. As soon as they started comparing their salaries, all I can say to myself is, “Wow! They’re earning a lot! Twice or thrice of what I earn now.” They were the top students in their class back in college and I was always the student who felt I couldn’t fit in in engineering school. So in those moments, I felt regret take over me. I thought maybe I should have studied harder in school before. I should have aimed higher to involve myself in my academic organizations to have a wider network. There were times when I often wondered if I made the right decision to pursue my dream instead of working in the corporate world.
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For a few months, the thought of conforming to the norm often entered my mind. My mother always pointed out to me that the life I am choosing now isn’t what she imagined. I am an engineer, I should work like one. While I get where she is coming from and I feel envious of my peers who are succeeding in their fields, I love what I’m doing.
At the end of the day, I am exhausted from work but I feel fulfilled to have done something I always get excited about. To be mentored by someone who is very ambitious and has very high hopes for GineersNow is a blessing. To work with interesting people who are engineers as well but have chosen to not practice it is a different yet awesome experience for me. To lead a small team that challenges me everyday is always a learning experience. To talk to different people all over the world means I may get the opportunities to expose myself in different cultures. To deliver stories to young engineers out there with the hope of inspiring them to pursue their dreams as well, now that’s the best part of the job.
Maybe I’m an engineer who chose a different path for myself. Maybe my friends are earning more than me. But the important thing right now for me is that I get to grow with this company. This means I can get up everyday with a new challenge in my hands and this will surely help me succeed and become a better individual. GineersNow is a young online publishing company with a great future ahead of it. The best part of this is I get to be involved in it. With that, I no longer see the need to compare myself to my engineering friends.
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And if you’re reading this, I suggest you do the same. It’s hard not to compare yourself with the others especially when they get to travel more, eat more fancy food and spend more (in general). But I assure you, if you just focus on yourself and believe in the beauty of your dreams, you’ll eventually get the success you’ve always wanted for yourself. So go, focus on what makes you better, do more of what you love and be whoever you want to be. You’ll be fine.
Just stop comparing yourself to other young engineers who are also making their dreams come true.
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