Choosing Engineering: Creating That Which has Never Been

Choosing Engineering as a career path means working to create new perspectives and opportunities.

By Katie Blair, Southland Industries April 5, 2018

The great Albert Einstein once said, “scientists investigate that which already is; engineers create that which has never been.” In determining the career path that I wanted to pursue, this statement reflects my desire in wanting to make a difference in the way we live, ultimately impacting our society. Engineers do exactly that. Take a minute and observe the environment you are currently in; you will quickly see the vital role of innovative and talented engineers in every facet of our lives these days.

After being exposed to my first several years in the real world, especially working with incredibly intelligent problem-solving colleagues, I have realized that my passion for math and science only scrapes the surface in why I became an engineer. Every day I am working in an exciting and challenging environment, where I perceive problems as opportunities to enhance my analytical skill set and apply logical thinking. As a strong people person, I have the privilege of working with cross-functional teams to maximize the value we provide to our clients, both internal and external. Engineering is very team oriented as well as hands-on; which are largely contributing factors as to why I knew this was the right profession to develop in.

As my career continues to unfold, engineering has revealed a new perspective to success and growth. Engineers are motivated to brainstorm possibilities, explore creative ideas, and in doing so, I have learned failing is encouraged in order to truly put your expertise to the test. Real measures of success and growth are showcased through how we apply the lessons learned from our failures to improve and make better the next time around for the clients we are serving.

I take pride in being able to say I am an engineer. I feel very fortunate in having the opportunity to work with other engineers from various disciplines and experience levels. Together we create powerful solutions and continuously innovate.


Kate Blair is a content curator for Southland Industries. This article originally appeared on Southland Industries’ blog, In The Big Room. Southland Industries is a CFE Media Content Partner.

Original content can be found at inthebigroom.com.