- The Engineering Way
- Posts
- Engineering Insights with Dean Mench Part 4/5:
Today we are continuing a 5 part series with Dean Matthew Mench of the Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee.
Today you will learn how YOU can take responsibility for your learning and develop yourself.
What advice would you give to engineering students that you wish you would have had when you were a student?
“A couple things:
1) That I really should have embraced the time and environment I had to gain knowledge more than I did then. I didn’t really get it. I got by in my classes, but I didn’t really embrace learning until graduate school. At the time, I was just studying for the next test. Once I realized the unique opportunity I was having to learn about so many things in the classroom and out in the bubble of college, it really opened up my perspective.
2) That I should also focus on learning professional skills on the side. Eventually I did, and those skills I have developed help me more each day than the last.”
Helpful Resources:
❓️ Send a Curiosity Message:
Message someone who is doing something cool and ask them about it just for the sake of your own learning.
You would be surprised how willing people are to give away their knowledge for free just because you showed genuine curiosity and initiative.
Who is doing something that you are interested in learning? Message them today.
📚️ Read Books You Want to Read:
Find a topic you would like to learn more about and read a book about it.
If you want a list of some of my favorites for developing professional skills as an engineer you can find those here:
🪴 How to Develop a Love for Learning:
I believe learning is fun, rewarding, and can add years to your lifespan. Why lead a boring life when you can seize each day? Here is an article I wrote about just that:
TLDR (too long; didn’t read):
Embrace where you are
Take responsibility for your learning
Develop professional skills
Photo of the Week:
The Royal Mile
Action Steps:
From Dean Mench’s recommendations, what are you going to do to take charge of your own learning? Will you send a curiosity message, pay more attention in class today, or pick a professional skill to learn? If you implement these, who knows what kind of impact you can have.
I’d love to hear what you think so please reply to this email because I do read every response :)
To help articles like these reach more people, please share ♻️ this link: https://theengineeringway.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Rock on,
Camden
Reply