Ever since I understood what my favorite uncle’s job entailed as a civil engineer, I have always wanted to study how to be a civil engineer and become like him. I believe that, in the engineering world, civil engineers are unsung heroes with their jack-of-all-trades reputation. Civil engineers have an incremental role in the creation of everything from complex tunnels to railways, bridges, stadium, and skyscrapers. Perhaps the most important reason why I wanted to become a civil engineer I that I will play an important role in helping society advance through the adaptation of critical infrastructure that overcomes the barriers and meets challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and new technologies. I also greatly admire the role that civil engineers play during emergencies such as natural disasters and droughts to recreate the infrastructure and living environment.
Without civil engineers, the unsung engineering world heroes, the world would be a very different place; and I desire to be part of this noble profession. Indeed, my uncle has always told me that there is never a dull moment for engineers, which piqued my interest in the ability of engineers to work across a versatile number of project and positions. I hope to test myself in a challenging specialization where the work environment is constantly changing and thus requires me to use my skills and abilities in problem-solving, adaptability, creativity, and thinking on my feet. Furthermore, given my interest and dedication to environmental conservation, becoming a civil engineer will provide the opportunity for me to influence environmental and local decisions in construction projects.
My understanding of civil engineering is that it is a discipline which involves the construction and design of a range of public work including bridges, dams, and other large-scale infrastructural projects. The civil engineer is involved in the design, building, supervision, operation, monitoring, and maintenance of large construction systems and projects such as water supply and treatment plants, bridges, dams, tunnel, airports, buildings, and roads. Furthermore, the civil engineer may also take responsibility for the handling of site preparations, which includes such activities as earth grading, earth movement, and earth excavation in large projects. Additionally, the civil engineer also plays a major role in the writing or conducting of specifications for non-destructive or destructive testing of long-term durability, reliability, and performance of structures and materials.
The civil engineer works in the highest position of planning and designing large-scale infrastructural projects, specifically those projects that need the solving of complex issues or challenges. As a result, civil engineers are involved in the determination of plan feasibility, with particular emphasis on safety concerns and financial costs. Ultimately, the civil engineer is responsible for the design and implementation phases of large infrastructural projects, in which they have to lead civil engineering technicians, construction manager, and surveyors in implementation of the plan. The civil engineer generally holds administrative or supervisory positions, which may range from a city engineer’ position to a construction site supervisor. In these roles, civil engineers are involved in analyzing and testing survey data, soils, and building materials.
The two civil engineering disciplines that I am mostly interested in are material science and engineering, as well as geotechnical engineering. Both of these disciplines will allow me to influence the impact of construction projects on the environment and society in general. With regard to materials science and engineering, I would deal with the development, testing, and processing of materials that are used for the construction of infrastructural project, for example. To gain expertise in this discipline, it is important for me to get the right educational background by earning a degree course in materials engineering or a related field of engineering. In addition, this degree should be from an ABET-accredited academic program in order to become licensed as an engineer. Further, I would also have to complete cooperative engineering programs and internships so as to gain practical experience.
In turn, geotechnical engineering is a discipline of civil engineering that deal with the soil and rock that support construction of engineering and infrastructural systems. To become a geotechnical engineer, I need to gain knowledge in hydraulics, mechanics, materials testing, and geology in order to economically and safely design retaining walls, foundations, and other similar structure. To begin with, I have to earn my engineering bachelor’ degree, as well as an advanced master’s degree in geotechnical engineering. Secondly, I also have to find an entry-level position that entails the design and evaluation of support structures like anchoring systems and embankments. Thirdly, I will also gain experience working in complex project, where I will take on project management roles such as estimating project schedules, budgeting, and cost analysis. Finally, I will also attain a professional certification in geotechnical engineering.
However, in order to become a civil engineer and fulfill my long-life dream, I will have to pass my PE and FE exams. The professional engineer tag will be a major leap as part of my career path. To begin with, I will ensure that I meet all NCEES requirements required for one to apply for a PE exam. Secondly, I will also acquire the required reference resources and materials as per the requirements of the NCEES certification, after which I will chart out my study plan of at least three hundred hours. Further, I will also join a review course for PE training in order to acquire the skills needed to tackle the questions posed in the exam.
On the other hand, passing the FE exam will require me to take a review course where I can attempt several sample tests online to avoid any surprises during the exam day. The uses of a review course, both for the FE and PE exam, will not only improve my knowledge but also reduce anxiety linked unpreparedness for the exam. Furthermore, I will acquire the NCEES handbook early enough in order to learn about what is required and will be tested in the FE exam, which will be used in studying for the exam. In addition, I will begin studying for my FE exams months in advance, as well as complete timed practice exams. Moreover, it is also important to identify my weak and strong areas so as to know which questions I should skip and those I should attempt.
Finally, my career plan as a civil engineer will be informed by the goal I have for professional satisfaction. To start with, I need to complete the minimum education for a civil engineer, which is the bachelor’s degree with approval from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and technology to ensure that I become a licensed professional engineer. In order to complete the accredited educational program, I need work experience to prepare me for a career in civil engineering, which I will accomplish by interning with an engineering firm. Another step in my career path is to obtain licensure by sitting my Fundamentals of Engineering exam, which will afford me a professional engineer license, as well as the Professional Engineer exam that will afford me a professional engineering license. Furthermore, I will choose a civil engineering discipline that most interests me, which may either be material engineering or geotechnical engineering. By developing a long-term plan for my career as a civil engineer, as well as reviewing this plan annually and getting help from a mentor, I believe that I will have all the requisite tools required to become a successful civil engineer.
