Aidan Southwick
Prompt:
Some students have a background, identity, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Colleges I’m considering:
-Colorado State University
-American River College
-University of Colorado
-University of Texas
-UC Davis
-Harvard University
Mechanical Ambitions
My hands are my life. For as long as I can remember, I have had an enthusiasm for mechanical design and working with my hands. I can hardly remember a time when I have looked at a functioning device with moving parts and not be intrigued. My whole world revolves around my hands. My love of music has inspired me to play the guitar at the age of nine and as of last February, the bass. I love using my hands to create the same notes in a familiar song and occasionally, create my own tune. In my eyes, music and engineering are on the same playing field. Both music and mechanical ingenuity are first conceived, written on paper, and then finally created into a prototype or a song draft, then later revised and improved. I am usually very creative with my music and gadgets.
When I was ten years old, I would design homemade crossbows made out of skewers and rubber bands. In eighth grade, I designed a pneumatic potato cannon on a blueprint and created a functioning version with a sprinkler solenoid, and a 36 volt series circuit so all I would have to do to open the valve is push a button to complete the circuit and open the valve in the solenoid. It crushed the competition on launch day and it still is in working condition to this day. I have always had the ability to disassemble a mechanical item, analyze it, and learn how it works.
I have always wanted to be a mechanical engineer because of my passion for invention and innovation, though I have always looked at math equations as if they were complete gibberish. In middle school I would always sleep on the desk because I have attention deficit disorder and I had lost interest. The teacher never even bothered to wake me up. Since I was behind in math, I really struggled throughout my early years of high school. Then, during sophomore year, I was introduced to one on one study and that mass of gibberish on a piece of paper made a spark of comprehension.
The tools necessary to become an engineer are- inventive mind, dexterity, and a firm grasp on the field of mathematics. I have two of these three skills. Although I have struggled with math in the past, it is becoming more and more inherent in me as I continue my education.
If an engineer is what I aspire to be, I’m not going to let math stand in my way, especially if I have ideas worth sharing. I won’t let my ideas stay on paper or in my thoughts.
Nowadays, I am a lot more focused in math. I understand the concepts much better than my past years, and I look forward to the day that I have the ability to comprehend the math that is necessary to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering. If I am skilled at kinesthetic learning, dexterity, and innovative thinking, I’m going to pursue this career until I succeed or else I wouldn’t be able to keep my dignity. It’s who I am and I can’t imagine myself any other way.
Prompt:
Some students have a background, identity, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Colleges I’m considering:
-Colorado State University
-American River College
-University of Colorado
-University of Texas
-UC Davis
-Harvard University
Mechanical Ambitions
My hands are my life. For as long as I can remember, I have had an enthusiasm for mechanical design and working with my hands. I can hardly remember a time when I have looked at a functioning device with moving parts and not be intrigued. My whole world revolves around my hands. My love of music has inspired me to play the guitar at the age of nine and as of last February, the bass. I love using my hands to create the same notes in a familiar song and occasionally, create my own tune. In my eyes, music and engineering are on the same playing field. Both music and mechanical ingenuity are first conceived, written on paper, and then finally created into a prototype or a song draft, then later revised and improved. I am usually very creative with my music and gadgets.
When I was ten years old, I would design homemade crossbows made out of skewers and rubber bands. In eighth grade, I designed a pneumatic potato cannon on a blueprint and created a functioning version with a sprinkler solenoid, and a 36 volt series circuit so all I would have to do to open the valve is push a button to complete the circuit and open the valve in the solenoid. It crushed the competition on launch day and it still is in working condition to this day. I have always had the ability to disassemble a mechanical item, analyze it, and learn how it works.
I have always wanted to be a mechanical engineer because of my passion for invention and innovation, though I have always looked at math equations as if they were complete gibberish. In middle school I would always sleep on the desk because I have attention deficit disorder and I had lost interest. The teacher never even bothered to wake me up. Since I was behind in math, I really struggled throughout my early years of high school. Then, during sophomore year, I was introduced to one on one study and that mass of gibberish on a piece of paper made a spark of comprehension.
The tools necessary to become an engineer are- inventive mind, dexterity, and a firm grasp on the field of mathematics. I have two of these three skills. Although I have struggled with math in the past, it is becoming more and more inherent in me as I continue my education.
If an engineer is what I aspire to be, I’m not going to let math stand in my way, especially if I have ideas worth sharing. I won’t let my ideas stay on paper or in my thoughts.
Nowadays, I am a lot more focused in math. I understand the concepts much better than my past years, and I look forward to the day that I have the ability to comprehend the math that is necessary to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering. If I am skilled at kinesthetic learning, dexterity, and innovative thinking, I’m going to pursue this career until I succeed or else I wouldn’t be able to keep my dignity. It’s who I am and I can’t imagine myself any other way.