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Career Goal Narrative
Career Goal Narrative
The career that I have decided to pursue is mechanical engineering. I began to show interest in this specific type of engineering more recently due to my participation in a local robotics team. My local robotics team (FRC Team 836) began to introduce me to building and designing robotics systems in a way that aligns with how the government designs its systems. When I joined the team I initially joined as a member of the command and control sub-team that focuses on programming the robot and getting all the systems to perform different tasks. After about three months I began to see that this was not what I was truly interested in. I transferred over to the mechanical sub-team and had officially found my calling. I started to learn skills such as CADD and how to go from a CADD model into an actually functioning robot. While on the mechanical team, I met the electrical lead, Josh, who began to take me on as his "apprentice." After Josh graduated, in my first year, I have since become the electrical lead on the team and have found that learning about different electrical circuits and how they work is something that truly interests me. Knowing that I can go into robotics every Monday and Thursday and always find an interest in mechanics is what really pushed me to want to pursue a career in this form of engineering.
I have pursued a wide range of classes to prepare for my goal of becoming a mechanical engineer. In mathematics, I have completed Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry, and a double block of Honors Algebra II and Honors Pre-Calculus during my sophomore year. As a junior, I am taking AP Calculus AB and am advancing to AP Calculus BC to further strengthen my foundation in higher-level math.
Alongside math, I have taken several advanced science courses, including Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, and Honors Physics, and I am currently enrolled in AP Physics.
Strong communication is also essential for engineers, so I have developed these skills through Honors English 9, Honors English 10, and AP Language as well as AP Seminar to better my writing skills. Additionally, I am enrolled in the JFCTC Engineering program, which provides hands-on exposure to engineering principles.
Together, these courses have strengthened my writing abilities, deepened my understanding of advanced mathematics, and expanded my knowledge of STEM concepts. They have also prepared me to perform well on standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, and ASVAB.
I have participated in a wide variety of activities that have helped me build key social skills. I played soccer for ten years, starting at the age of four, which totaled around 20 seasons of playtime with different teammates each season. This experience developed my sense of teamwork and taught me how to work with others quickly and effectively. Switching teams so many times also reinforced my communication skills.
I am also currently in my fourth year of marching band. This ensemble demands uniformity and a collective understanding of the tasks set before us. It has also developed my dedication due to the long, often grueling hours in the heat with the purpose of achieving a common goal..
Another set of activities that has contributed to my goal of becoming a mechanical engineer is my involvement in multiple robotics teams. I have worked my way through Lego Mindstorms, VEX IQ, and now the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). My two years with Lego Mindstorms introduced me to the basic skills needed to complete simple engineering tasks and gave me my first experience with programming. My three years with VEX IQ built on these skills, introducing more advanced mechanisms, programming challenges, and greater collaboration with teammates.
From there, I transitioned to FRC, where I have been for three years and am now entering my fourth. Through FRC, I have learned a wide variety of technical skills. I became proficient in software such as Fusion 360, SolidWorks, and VS Code, and I gained experience taking designs from CAD to actual manufacturing. I have also learned to operate a wide range of tools, from 3D printers to mills.
During my last three years on the robotics team, I focused on what I truly enjoy most: mechanical design and electrical wiring. In my second year, I became the lead electrical student, designing and implementing complete electrical systems that were deployed onto two competition robots as well many different mechanical devices.
Altogether, these experiences—ranging from soccer to FRC robotics—have given me a diverse set of skills, all of which can be applied to an engineering setting
My plan for after high school has been very set in stone from an early age. My parents have always valued education and have pushed those values on my siblings and I. I plan to attend a four-year university to earn a degree in mechanical engineering. After this I plan to use my degree in a professional setting to solve problems and contribute to solutions. I hope to continue my passion for electrical wiring and the design of systems. I want to continue my participation in robotic type activities, whether that be from my garage or as a mentor for a major team. There is no limit to the knowledge in the world so I intend on constantly working to better myself not only as a mechanical engineer but as a person who can communicate with other people to achieve a common goal.
After achieving my career goal, I want to help out my community. I want to be able to encourage other students to join a field of STEM and encourage them to pursue a degree in a form of engineering. It is the younger generations that will ultimately propel our society into a new, better place, and I want to be a person who helps aid in that. I want to help wherever I can, whether that be going on mission trips with a church or just helping my neighbor out with wiring a socket in his house. Helping others is the job of everyone as humans, and I want to be able to put the skills that engineering will teach me to use in that way. I want to be able to create new things that can empower the future. The world is turning to electricity, and I want to be on the pioneering side of this technology. I want the world to be able to yield the benefits that can come from a mechanical engineer, even if they themselves don't want to pursue that field. I want my footprint on the world to be a positive one, and I want to make a difference in a positive way.
Contact Information:
Email: cahaycraft08@gmail.com Phone: (760)-677-5780
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