[Rob]

John and everyone else are right. Not only Mechy, but other engineering fields are hard... The programs are very intensive, demanding, challenging, and sometimes humbling. Engineering is also rewarding. Anything that you have to work this hard at and is this challenging brings the best out of us. That is why we choose to study hard things, and why we choose to engage projects like FIRST. Rising up to these challenges and taking on tasks that you think you may not be able to are what make our successes the sweetest thing.

I am a senior about to graduate with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and German. I spent last year in Germany studying and working at a german company that makes catalytic converters. This year I took all of the classes that my peers scoffed at as the "hardest" ones. I missed alot of time for FIRST and had to make it up during my normal "sleep time". I chose to do all of these things because the challenges of learning the art of engineering have taught me that I can solve any task or problem that I focus on. Any of you can as well. If you choose to study engineering, you will be sacraficing some college experiences that others take for granted, but you will also have a unique college experience that many others can't understand.

There is a reason that the engineers and mentors on your team studying engineering should be considered role models and heroes to the high school students. It is because they have learned it through lots of hard work and dedication on their own part.

Good luck studying whatever field you choose, just put everythign you have into it and you will get so much more than you ever imagined out of it!

Rob