Discussion Thread

  • 1.  Motivating Teens to Choose Engineering

    Posted 21 days ago

    What are some good ways to motivate teenagers to choose engineering as a career field? Tell them about high salaries? Helping people? Challenging work?



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    William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
    ENGINEER
    Columbus MS
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  • 2.  RE: Motivating Teens to Choose Engineering

    Posted 20 days ago

    I always think about why I was motivated to choose engineering.  I enjoyed drafting, math, science, and challenging work in general.  Coming from a family with no ties to engineering, I really didn't understand what civil engineering was in high school.  I imagine that many of our kids do not fully understand it either, though they are probably encouraged to become an engineer.

    Years ago, I was invited by a friend to give a presentation to a group of high school students about civil engineering.  It was a broad presentation focused on "what we do and how it looks" with pictures.  I don't think we even talked about salaries.  I recall executing the presentation with lots of passion and interaction.  I believe passion and optimism is contagious; the kids definitely seemed so during and after.

    The more we can passionately present and discuss with teenagers about the "big picture" of engineering with pictures, the more we can motivate them to choose this path.



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    Jefferson Thao P.E., M.ASCE
    Engineering Manager
    Thornton CO
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Motivating Teens to Choose Engineering

    Posted 17 days ago

    Yes, probably it's about salaries; that's a good way to attract young people nowadays. I noticed this talking with my teenagers (my daughter, she is 14, and her friends). So, they were talking about college, and you know, teens can be divided into three types: those who don't want to work at all; creative kids – singers, dancers, artists; and those who are motivated to earn well, and for them it's not about the profession, but the annual income.

    My daughter is naturally a mathematician; now in 8th grade she's already taking 10th-grade geometry. She decided to become a cardiologist, although she has no idea that in the first years of medical school, doctors study humanities, and she doesn't like humanities. To make sure she doesn't lose her zest for life in a couple of years of medical training, I decided to slightly adjust her path and started conversations with her about her mathematical mindset. Of course, the final decision is hers.

    For example, many kids don't know about engineers' annual salaries, but they are well aware of cardiologists' and microsurgeons' salaries.



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    Darya Stanskova M.ASCE
    Cost Estimator, Construction Engineer, Power Engineer, Project Manager
    Fort Myers FL
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Motivating Teens to Choose Engineering

    Posted 17 days ago

    You're not going to motivate everyone to choose engineering, and that's okay. Making them aware that it's an option and why they might choose it will be enough to get the folks who are aligned towards it interested. I agree that sharing your personal passion for it is a good foundation, so I'd start with that before getting into the specifics. Doesn't hurt to mention the diverse possibility of work (maybe some nearby projects that engineers work on?) and salaries. I'd also mention the kind of skills and education necessary to be successful.



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    Dan Hernbrott S.M.ASCE
    Seattle WA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Motivating Teens to Choose Engineering

    Posted 16 days ago

    I assume the premise of your question is that undergraduate engineering enrollment is down, with inherent risks of wholesale dismissal of engineering departments and/or a lack of supply to meet to future needs. From my view, the ongoing efforts to nudge teens and pre-teens towards engineering all fall into the gentle 'nudge' category. A central theme is look at all the wonderful things that engineers do. If there is a genuine gap, I hope the engineering employers are taking notice. What may be needed is a more material 'nudge' like a signing bonus. Money talks whether we like it or not.



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    Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Motivating Teens to Choose Engineering

    Posted 9 days ago

    Based on my experience explaining to teens all the different types of work possible might help.

    As a young person I had a lot of energy, and desk jobs were not attractive to me.  I liked solving problems.  

    I did drafting for a while, then had to quit to do something more active.  I did not realize that my degree could have put me on a construction site or doing bridge inspections hanging from a rope.

    If I had, I might have stayed in engineering.

    Also, engineering is a job where you are helping people and getting paid.  You also get the chance to be creative if you are so inclined.

    David Billington's course on structural art is what got me to do a degree in structural engineering.

    Also, it is important that people starting in college understand that the first year of general science courses are very, very different from the engineering courses.



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    Sarah Halsey P.E., M.ASCE
    New York NY
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    Original Message


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