MOTIVATION FOR ME

SPECIAL EDITION: For engineering students who kept failing courses every
semester

OCTOBER 29, 2017

NUR HAZIRAH BINTI SADON
LOT 6581 LORONG 6B1 TAMAN MATANG JAYA 93050 KUCHING SARAWAK
Contents

How to Overcome Laziness as a Student What is the ultimate secret to overcome laziness and
achieve our goals? .................................................................................................................................. 3

To the Engineering Student Who Got Left Behind Theres nothing you cant do if you just keep
reminding yourself that you will be an engineer someday. ................................................................... 5

This is the First Thing That You Should Do in Dealing with a Failed Engineering Subject ...................... 6

Engineering Student Guide: How to Find your Study Spot Having a hard time to study? ..................... 7
Maybe its not you. Its your environment. ........................................................................................ 7

22 Things that Top Engineering Students Do .......................................................................................... 9

Do you want to be at the top of your class? Follow these things....................................................... 9

Confessions: Ill Change and Be A Better Engineering Student This Year ............................................. 12
So, heres to a brand-new year. A fresh start for the happy-go-lucky engineering students like me.
I'll be a better engineering student. ................................................................................................. 12

What To Do If You Keep Failing in Engineering School ......................................................................... 13

The work that needs to be done is mostly on you............................................................................ 13

10 Things That Engineering Students Should Learn Before They Graduate ......................................... 15
These things should prepare you later in your career and in life. .................................................... 15

What I Learned from Failing In Engineering College............................................................................. 17

I failed in exams. I failed in major subjects. Heck, I was the only one who failed in our class in the
licensure exam. ................................................................................................................................. 17

To the Struggling Engineering Students: Keep Fighting! ...................................................................... 18

Soon, all engineering students will become an engineer despite everything else. .......................... 18

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What Engineering Students Lack is Motivation, Not Intelligence ........................................................ 19
Students failed not because they are dumb but because they were not motivated to study. ..... 19

This Top-notches Used the Triangle of Learning to Succeed in His Engineering Licensure Exam ...... 20
What is this Triangle of Learning anyway? ..................................................................................... 20

Heres How You Can Survive Engineering School Even If You Think You Are Not ................................ 24
Smart Enough Anyone can want to become an engineer, but does everyone have what it takes
and make that dream into reality? ................................................................................................... 24

11 Rules Youll Never Learn in Engineering School According to Bill Gates ......................................... 26
These are the golden lessons a college dropout could offer ............................................................ 26

My Secrets in How I Passed My Engineering Licensure Exam .............................................................. 28

This is my story of blood, sweat, and tears to become an engineer. ............................................... 28

No Shortcuts in Studying Engineering................................................................................................... 31

If you believe there is, youve been living a lie ................................................................................. 31
"I remember taking my first college algebra exam." ........................................................................ 32

Finish Your Engineering Degree No Matter How Long It Takes ............................................................ 33

To start on engineering is one thing, to finish it is another. ............................................................. 33

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How to Overcome Laziness as a Student What is the ultimate secret to
overcome laziness and achieve our goals?

We would all be lying if we said we havent thought that way from time to time. For some of
us, that is what we think EVERY TIME a task is presented It can wait. Let me relax a little
longer. Unfortunately, laziness is a real grades-killer. It sucks the fun out of studying and
makes us work overtime. Not to mention, it causes unnecessary stress in the long run and
could even destroy our relationship with others in some extreme cases. Going together with
procrastination, laziness makes any task a dread and prohibits our true potential as
successful individuals.
whats the deal then? What exactly precipitates us to be lazy and to prioritize leisure before
work? Why are we excited to play video games and watch movies, but dread studying for the
exam in 3 days? Studies show there are multiple factors that discourage us from getting off
our butts and finishing the tasks at hand, but among the top few are those familiar to us. The
lack of motivation, no sense of urgency, and a fear of stepping outside our comfort zone are
all factors that lull us into laziness. This said, the answer to overcoming our slothfulness may
be something weve heard one too many times.
The secret to overcome laziness I will always find a lazy person to do the job. Because a lazy
person will find an easy way to do it. Bill Gates Even Bill Gates, one of the wealthiest
individuals on the planet recognizes a lazy persons true potential. Much like an obese person
who has six-pack abs underneath a layer of fats, a lazy persons talents are hidden by his lack
of initiative. What then is the secret to unlocking said potential? What is the ultimate secret
to overcome laziness and achieve our goals? The truth is THERE IS NO SECRET!! Thats right!
We said it! You will have to get out of your comfort zone, put in a significant amount of effort
and make a change in your lifestyle to overcome lazy habits. Research shows that the top
habits of successful students include planning your study and assignments, avoiding
procrastination and eliminating distractions. Albeit these truth bombs dropped, we do have
some measure of freedom to create our journey in overcoming laziness. Here are 3 steps
students can take to (actually) overcome laziness.
Unleash your hidden energy by getting excited about the future possibilities. The first step to
overcoming laziness is to GET OUT of your rut. Picture your goals and write them down. Focus
on where you want to be one year from now. Stop whining about what should have been
and focus on what could be. To kick-start your engine, watch motivational videos and listen
to success stories such as Elon Musk and Richard Branson. Consider today to be a fresh start
to unlimited opportunities. If your success is measured in scoring straight As in all your
courses, visualize and start planning. Planning your goals also requires a definite timeline and
measurable results. Start with baby steps. Rome wasnt built in a day, so you dont need to
rush your goals.

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 Create a safe space for you to grow and achieve your intended results. Once you are high on
the rush of whats to come, move to clearing clutter in every facet of life. Be it your room,
your computer, or most importantly your mind. Throw out the unused and unwanted clutter
that may be hindering your progress. A bad habit like overeating, a distraction such as your
favourite videogame, or even negativity in the form of bad company its all got to go! Pull
up your socks! Once clutter is cleared, its time to get into full throttle. Time to pull up those
socks! This crucial step is where Self-discipline comes in. Warning: it is uncomfortable,
tedious, and sometimes even painful.
But in the long run, discipline is what brings you success. Start by saying NO to temporary
pleasures; Facebooking when you should be studying, playing basketball when you should be
completing the assignment due on Monday, or watching another episode of The Walking
Dead when you should be preparing for tomorrows quiz. Deny yourself momentary
enjoyment for future success.
Along with saying NO to temporary pleasures, we also strive to in still good habits. Do vast
reading on the habits of successful people. Read biographies of famous people and historical
events. Keep to your schedule. Get a good nights rest and start your morning by fixing a
healthy breakfast. Outline your timetable and be detailed and deliberate about it. In every
way possible, stick to the timetable down to the minute. Keep your emotions in check.
The younger we are, the more volatile our emotions are. As laziness and emotion are
correlated, we must make sure our emotions are not the deciding factors to our actions. Dont
put off the necessary tasks of the day just because you feel like it. Remember that when
the going gets tough, the tough get going. It also helps greatly to work smart. Working smart
means thinking creatively on how to manage your time as a student.
Consult fellow students who achieve good grades and life goals as to how they do it. Pick up
valuable tips and try them. Rest assured, you do far more than just overcoming your lazy
feeling. Do a Self-Check When moving forward, its always good to take a glance back at the
past. With every small step you take to fight laziness, look back and see how far you have
come.
As time goes, you review how far you have come, fighting laziness and making progress, it
will build your confidence and drive you to succeed as an honourable student. After the self-
check, do reward yourself accordingly. Ultimately, laziness is a negative trait we all must
overcome. For some of us, it takes a while to truly win the battle. Even so, you can do it! So,
follow these steps today and you will find laziness to be but a figment of the past.

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To the Engineering Student Who Got Left Behind
Theres nothing you cant do if you just keep reminding yourself that you will be an
engineer someday.

You wake up one day and you realize that your classmates in your first year in engineering
have already graduated, some even starting their careers. While youre there, finding yourself
still in your school uniform and in engineering school sweating, stressing, and surviving. Many
generations of future of engineers have passed and you have become stuck for your own
reasons. So, what do you do as the engineering student who got left behind?
First thing is first: stop tagging yourself as someone who is left behind. I only got to call you
that for considering yourself as one, but this should serve as a wakeup call that you are not
delayed. Stop thinking that you are late in the race, since engineering is not about being there
first its about finishing the race, regardless if you are the first or last. The important thing
is you will get there.
Being an older engineering student in the classroom, you should not feel ashamed for still
sitting there. Instead, take pride that you are fighting to no end, that you are determined to
finish that engineering degree no matter the circumstances. Its always about you and your
ambition, and not what others think. Focus on yourself.
Everyone works based on their time zone. You have yours, too. In your case, things will work
out in your own pace. Others may look like they are ahead of you, but they are living in their
own time zone. This isnt as if we have a time standard in studying engineering. Theres
nothing you cant do if you just keep reminding yourself that you will be an engineer someday.
Just hold on and be strong. Say it like a prayer and things will work together for your good.

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This is the First Thing That You Should Do in Dealing with a Failed
Engineering Subject
Weve all been in this situation before. What did you do about it? This article should help those who
have no idea.

It must have hurt the first time you failed a subject. The thought of having to retake that class,
deal with it, and survive it again is just excruciating and depressing. No words can explain how
it feels to have a failed subject, how it feels to disappoint other people for being such a failure.
But what can you do? The professor already inked the grade, and whats left for you to do is
assess where you went wrong and what to do with the failure.
First thing is first: you are a not a failure. You have failed a subject, but it doesnt translate to
you being a failure. Its just a speck of who you are so calling yourself a failure for such a thing
is unfair. Dont drag yourself way down because it will be difficult to pull yourself up that way.
You are just punishing yourself for that. There is no easy way to deal with the failed subject
because it might be your first time. Or big expectations might have been failed. Or all along it
was a subject that you thought was your cup of tea.
But it doesnt matter: you are faced with a reality that you have failed that subject. The first
stage of moving on, also the last stage of grief, is acceptance. Accept that its already been
done. Accept that you need to get through that engineering degree with that stain in your
transcript. Accept that you will no longer graduate with Latin Honours, as if thats the most
important thing. Accept that you will be an engineer regardless of every failed subject.
Its a matter of looking at the silver lining rather than focusing on the bad things that had
happened. There is always hope! Use the failure as your springboard to success instead of a
burden. Learn from the failure by reflecting what went wrong, what factors were missed that
led to such incident, so it will never happen again. The most important thing is to get through
past the stage of thinking thats it. Its not yet the end of your engineering pursuit Trust me
when I say that one day, when you are already an engineer, you will look back at that failure
and that you will be proud of yourself that have braved through it. You will realize how strong
and resilient you are for standing up, for not quitting because things are difficult. To survive
engineering, you must be ready to fail. And time comes that you fail, you should be ready to
accept it.

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Engineering Student Guide: How to Find your Study Spot Having a
hard time to study?
Maybe its not you. Its your environment.

Recall the last time you have studied for a test. How was it like? Were you a hundred per cent
committed to studying or were you disturbed by a lot of external factors? Heres your
engineering student guide. Quite a lot of engineering students have a hard time finding their
study spot. Often, its not about having the focus, but having your environment to work for
you while you study. A huge majority of future engineers still do not know which kind of study
environment fits to them. To figure it all out, heres a guide that you need to know to define
your perfect study spot.
You should be able to know upon yourself which one suits your study time better: with some
music in the background, with earphones on, or in total silence? Some prefer to study in
coffee shops where noise can range from the blender making machine sounds to the group
of friends chitchatting in the next table. Choose which noise that exactly fits for you not to be
distracted while studying.
Most engineering students isolate themselves in their rooms to study or spend time studying
in the library with people passing by. If you want to flirt or check with people around you
during study breaks, so be it. Although I highly discourage that, and you focus yourself in
studying; pick which environment will have you to help with your studying. Crowded study
places are usually a hindrance
When the lighting of your study area is too dark, you are just punishing yourself. It is also true
when it is too bright. Find the right lighting for you to be alert and productive. Well-lit areas
are ideal places to study, especially when the lighting is above or behind you and directed to
your study material and not to your face. That setup will destroy your vision and will easily
make your eyes tired. A Clean Space is a Productive Space.
The tendency of having a messy area when you study is that you will get distracted with what
you find on the table. Say, when you have Rubiks cube sitting beside your study lamp, the
odds are you are just going to fiddle with it and ignore your notes. Another thing is that a
messy study area promotes disorganized thinking which will directly affect your mind as you
study. So better clean up the desk before you start pulling an all-nighter.
A big no for a study spot is your bed. It is too soft and comfy that your body will have to give
in to the calling of your bed instead of studying. Find a hard surface as it keeps you focused
and awake. Stay away from pillows and sofas. Do not study where you are most likely to feel
sleepy. Comfort is Key Engineering Student. An engineering student cannot study in a room
with the Antarctica cold or with the Sahara Desert heat. Extreme room temperatures become
sources of discomfort which will impede your concentration while studying. Turn the AC or
heater according to your liking.

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Your goal is to study. You can do that by minimizing distractions such as your smartphone and
the Internet connection. They are your greatest enemies when you study, so better cut them
off for a while when you need to pass the test. The trick is to have your device kept by a friend
or family member until you are finished studying or have the Internet connection off until
necessary.
When you think that you can no longer turn things up with your present study spot, search
for a new one. Stop getting stuck with that spot because it doesnt work anymore. Its time to
move on. A new study space could motivate you to get the studying be done, as it will put you
into a new position that may give you focus youve never had before. No matter how long you
will study for an exam an hour long or an all-nighter when you dont have the perfect
study spot, it could mean that you havent fully absorbed what you have studied. In turn, you
could fail that exam. Do you realize now how important it is to find your study spot? I hope
so.

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22 Things that Top Engineering Students Do
Do you want to be at the top of your class? Follow these things.

Ever wondered what the intelligent guys and girls do to be the best in your engineering
classes? Perhaps it is inherent to them (thanks, genes) that they are geniuses, but that doesnt
suffice to excel in a field where it requires so much technical knowledge. One needs to form
habits and mindset that will propel you to the honours and deans list. A lot of things are
common to top engineering students anywhere in the world and here are 22 of them. They
dont spend so much time with their homework.
Considering homework only consumes a lot of time and only weighs little on your overall
average, top engineering students do not focus on doing bulky assignment. Some homework
is given by engineering teachers just to comply to that small percent of your grade, even with
little knowledge that you can get from it. They never read all of what is on the textbook. In
engineering, concepts are important but top engineering students do not read all of what is
on the textbook. Thats a complete time-suck. They try to understand more of the concepts
by using examples and practice problems, and through the teachers lectures thats where
the important topics are usually at. They go to Google to discover things
Top engineering students maximize their Internet resources by googling everything they
want to know. If theres a problem that seems to be a trap, they go to Google for references.
If theres a concept that is difficult to decipher, they watch short courses in YouTube. They
test themselves frequently. When you test yourself frequently, you enhance your brain to
answer problems and welcome new material. It improves long-term retention when it is done
repeatedly. Thats one thing top engineering students do. They study in short periods, not
marathons.
Marathons of studying, especially on the eve of the exam day, can be really exhausting and
will affect your brains performance. Top engineering students study in short periods instead,
taking regular breaks to help you focus intensely. They reverse-engineer solved problems.
This is the ultimate secret in remembering the method of solutions to mathematical
problems. Solve the problem backwards, from solution to question, and ask how and why.
When you stick to the steps of the professor to solve a problem, the tendency is that youre
only understanding the problem on the surface and not in-depth. They dont necessarily use
a highlighter.
Top engineering students use highlighter when necessary only key terms. If you highlight
almost everything, it becomes unengaged reading. The odds are that you wont remember
anything you highlighted, so the best ones in your class prefer to underline the terms and
write a corresponding note. They make the best out of a lecture. Of course, top engineering
students are also bombarded with boring classes. What do they do? They maximize with the
time given to them. They need the class to pass the subject, so they make the best out of it.
They make it productive and engaging in every way. They even use such time for studying to
save some time for later. They sleep. A lot.

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When one doesnt get enough sleep before you study, its almost useless to sit through your
notes as your mind cannot process information efficiently. The daily routine should be getting
adequate and proper sleep. This is what top engineering students do and the rest of other
fields top performers. They over-learn. As you already know it, top engineering students are
at the top because they know more than what the regular students do. They dont stop at the
end of their textbook and lectures, and sometimes advance in learning topics when they have
the luxury of time. They learn more than what is required. They ask a lot of questions.
Intelligent students become powerful by having the ability to inquire. This translates to
exercising your brain. Ask your classmates. Ask your teachers. Ask Google. The more curious
you are about certain topics, the smarter you become when you figure it all out. They
immediately correct their exam mistakes. When they receive their test papers (when they
do), top engineering students check the items where they got wrong and instantly find out
the correct answer. This is crucial because it improves performance in the next exams. They
get busy with side projects.
Theres not a boring time for top engineering students as they get themselves busy with
projects that are related to their study. They work on little projects that will boost their
technical knowledge into applications. They practice under test conditions. the famous adage
practice makes perfect is insufficient it should be constant correct practice. Top
engineering students make sure that when they practice, they are doing it correctly. They
dont wait for motivation to strike. What most top engineering students have in common is
that they are consistent with their habits. They do not wait for motivation to strike them
the best students figure out to get things done as soon as possible without wasting
time. They use old exams
Its not actually a crime to use old exams because professors understand students, the top
ones, do it to advance their learning. When you study items from an old exam, it serves as a
familiarity of the actual exam. They make their own study guides. One of the best learning
techniques is to write everything you read. This is true to top engineering students who make
their own study guides, because that way, when you write what you read, you develop
retention. They dont complain.
What top engineering students do when they encounter unfavourable situations is they just
choose to ignore it or change it when they can. Complaining will only cost you your time and
energy. If you have a crappy professor, you can trade for another. If you have an
incomprehensive textbook, find one that is comprehensive. Its all about acting upon finding
a problem, not just whine about it. They take personal responsibility for learning the
materials. Top engineering students become what they are because they realize upon
themselves that they hold their own education. They are responsible of their own learning.
They do not wait to be spoon-fed by professors to learn. Even when they are not at the best
school, they can be better engineering students that those who are in the best. They know
where and when to study.

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What most students have a problem with, top engineering students have already mastered.
Study habits among them are already established. What regular students need to do is to
identify their own study habits to a more efficient study time. They ask teachers. Not
necessarily challenge but ask. They always think outside the box which leads to a certain line
of questions that will yield answers from teachers when they just ask. They play hard. Yup,
they also play hard. Their intellectual prowess is also powered by a balanced lifestyle and not
entirely studying. They also take time to put their studies aside. How many among these
things do you do? Are you on your way to be a top engineering student?

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Confessions: Ill Change and Be A Better Engineering Student This Year
So, heres to a brand-new year. A fresh start for the happy-go-lucky engineering
students like me. I'll be a better engineering student.

I know, I know. I keep saying this whenever a new year starts. New year, new me promises
werent exactly meant to do as the year progresses. I normally forget the resolutions I make
because bad habits are hard to break obviously. No matter what I do, I go back to whats
comfortable and as an engineering student, I keep slacking off in my subjects.
I am not the smartest student in class. In fact, Im just a lucky guy who get by in my major
classes because I hang out with my smart friends. They let me copy their homework and
exams are normally taken outside classes. To summarize my college experience so far, Ive
been lucky enough to have smart friends, kind professors and an easy-going approach on my
academics. But this year, it feels different. I received an email from my professor in a major
class, telling us that if we fail in his class, well have to extend our stay in college for another
year. If we fail, the said subject will be offered the next school year again. This professor is
known to be unforgiving to all his students. Even the smartest guy in the batch ahead of me
who took his subject only got a passing grade in his exams. Hes the classic terror professor
students normally hate and Im starting to dread his class already. If I wanted to graduate on
time, changes should be made.
I know, I know. We keep telling ourselves that were going to change for the better every time
we could do so. Every New Year, we all fall victims to promises we make to ourselves, which
we eventually break. Look, I know you dont believe but I dont care. While Walking But this
year, Ill try harder. Ill try to pay attention to my professors (especially the terror professor
Ill be having). Ill ask more questions when I dont understand the lesson. Ill try to make my
own homework before I compare it to my friends. Im ready to work my ass off for the subjects
Ill be taking from now on. I realized that if I dont try to learn, its not going to be my
professors who will suffer. Itll be me. Itll reflect on my performance once I become an
engineer. Obviously, I dont want to be mediocre in a profession that most people respect. I
want to be a great engineer and I really must make changes with my life. So, heres to a brand-
new year. A fresh start for the happy-go-lucky engineering students like me. I know its going
to be hard. I know there will be days when I just want to quit and get back to my old lazy self.
The coming months are just going to be challenging and I know I will feel like quitting. but I
wont. Ill be a better engineering student this year.

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What To Do If You Keep Failing in Engineering School
The work that needs to be done is mostly on you.

Perhaps this was said once by someone who matter to you while youre studying engineering.
You cannot help but agree because indeed, you are mostly unsuccessful in your pursuit to
become an engineer. Everything just keeps falling apart despite your perseverance to get it
all together. The hurt will always linger. But it is for your own good to stop thinking about this.
Nobody deserves to be called a failure when one always tries to do his or her best. You may
have failed but that doesnt mean that you are a failure. You can never move on from your
past mistakes if they keep bugging your mind. To achieve no relative success at all in
engineering school is a difficult thing to deal with. But you know what?
Its all done. If you have failed miserably before, theres nothing much you can do about it
but use them as lessons for the future. You cannot afford to dwell on it and drown into despair
as that just wastes time. Let go of the things that you cannot control instructors not being
good at their jobs and how your peers are doing. Instead, focus on what you can do. You are
not at all powerless. You still can turn things around if only you can manage the things you
have control over. The work that needs to be done is mostly on you: your attitude, your study
habits, your work ethics, and your time management. Your attitude Ever heard of fake it until
you make it? That works. If you just keep on convincing yourself to have a positive attitude,
you will eventually adopt it. Its hard to do at first. It will take constant practice to train your
mind that this is fine or it will be better. You will notice that this fake optimism will
already be part of your system without you knowing.
At times when you feel like sliding down the path of negativity again, first you must recognize
that you are really being negative. That way you have acknowledged it, so you could do
something about it that is to follow it up with a positive thought. Your study habits
Something might be wrong with the way you study. Techniques and schedules are important
factors. Probably one big difference with you and those who do not really struggle with their
academics is that they have perfected their art of studying. In engineering, where you are
faced with a lot of problems requiring computations, you must practice, practice, and practice
solving problems. You must condition your mind with studying the theory and principles
through examples that will allow you to internalize the concepts. That way you will absorb
them more than just staring at them.
While doing that, use the given-required-use-solution approach. It is a problem-solving tool
that eliminates the confusion about the engineering problems. All you must do is write down
what the problem tells you (do not forget the units), what the problem wants you to find
(diagrams may be necessary to visualize) and what equations you are going to use before
writing down all the steps youre taking to get to the final solution. If you keep going at this,
it will increase your problem-solving speed and comprehension. There will be times that you
will be stuck a problem. You can take a break, but not too long that it will ruin your
momentum. If you come back only to find that the problems are impossible to solve, seek
help from classmates or your instructors. If you have no other choice but to cram, follow these
tips. Your work ethics Even as engineering students, you are already bound to have the work

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ethics of an engineer. This is mostly about keeping at what you do. Motivation is not one to
wait for. It does not strike by itself for you to start working. This is what often kills most
peoples work ethics. The odds are that you are not going to be motivated to do something
you inherently do not want to do. So, start with the small things or simpler tasks instead of
slacking off and waiting for the motivation to arrive. Do these micro-tasks by increments until
you get things done. Your time management Remember what others say about finding that
balance with sleep, study, and social life in engineering school? It is possible to get the best
of those three worlds, its just a matter of time management. Set priorities. You must know
which tasks are needed to be done immediately or can be done a little later. You can do things
in between school breaks so you can free up some time at night. There is also no room for
you to procrastinate. This wastes a lot of time getting productive. Set aside your laziness if
you are up to take the challenge of graduating in engineering school.
Are you a morning person or a night person? Find the time where you are most productive.
You wont have a quality time studying when you feel restless. One more thing: most
engineering students waste their lecture time by slacking off especially when there is a dull
instructor. You are most likely to sleep or doodle that class away. My tip. Dont. Make use of
that time instead by studying the subject on your own while still being inside the classroom.
These personal improvements cannot be done overnight. And they are easier said than done.
That is why I will end with this: its going to take a little time, so be patient. When time comes
that youre already seeing yourself transforming into a successful engineering student, you
will reap the rewards you deserve.

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10 Things That Engineering Students Should Learn Before They
Graduate
These things should prepare you later in your career and in life.

Almost all engineers in the field could say they had a blast in engineering school. Despite all
the stresses and aches that they went through, it left them a memory of having fun, often
comparing college with a rollercoaster ride. The ups and downs, the twists and turns, and the
occasional uneasy feeling are all part of it. Ultimately, engineering school prepared them to
face the challenges of their career and life in general. There are tons of things to be learned
in engineering school. Students must take a grasp, if not absorb, the technical knowledge
embedded in their curriculum, so they could perform well in their respective fields later when
they graduate. It is expected that once they finish their studies, they have the technical
aptitude to work as engineers.
But apart from learning by the books, engineering school provides lessons when it comes to
life experiences. It is a perfect training ground for future engineers to deal, manage, and
accept the realities outside college. College is fervently involved in the process of adulting.
Listed below are ten things that engineering students should learn before they graduate. If
you are already an engineer, perhaps you would agree with this. If you are an engineering
student, you should take notes. Time management Study, sleep, or social life: these three
things are believed to be the important anchors of engineering student life. They say you are
only allowed to pick two to have that perfect balance. I beg to disagree. You can attain that
equilibrium of the three if you only know how to maximize and prioritize time. Piles of
photocopies to study for an exam.
Bring it on. But I would still have the time for my friends and my precious sleep. Time
management is the key. Aiming for perfection Nobody is born to become perfect. This applies
well to engineering students who will only keep disappointed if they think that methods and
processes are without glitches. It is fine to aim for perfection but admit that it will not be
entirely perfect. In one way or another, time, budget, knowledge and skills have its limits.
Even in engineering design, there is that factor of safety to save us from the unforeseen
imperfections of the real world.
Liking everyone Not one engineering student is ever friends with everyone. Engineering
school is a congregation of students with varying backgrounds, and everyone should take
advantage of that rather than change it. Respect the diversity. Understand that you may or
may not like everyone, and that is okay. In the future, you will deal with all kinds of people.
Train yourself on how to go around with people you dont like. Mastering the art of problem
solving This is perhaps one of the most important things in this list. In engineering, you are
not bound to know everything about your field. Instead, you are bound to figure things out
while you progress as an engineer. This starts in college where you should develop how to
think and not what to think. Problem solving, which is inevitable in every engineering subject,
is largely about finding ways. This is only possible if you think critically and analytically.

15
Learning how to learn You can only end up in two ways every after semester: you pass or you
fail your subjects. In both situations, you should know that the endpoint should be learning.
When you pass, make sure that you have gotten the knowledge you need. When you fail,
stand up, redeem yourself from that failure, and learn your lesson. At times when you are
faced with something new, it is not bad at all to ask questions. The inquisitive mind is valued
in engineering rather than the dangerously assuming one. Accepting failure Do not ever think
that failing is a burden. In engineering school, you will fail often. In engineering work, you will
fail often too. Failure is central to engineering, in case you didnt know. Several engineers who
are now top CEOs know this very well. Dont beat yourself up every time you fail.
Acknowledge that you dont always yield positive results and that is normal. Look at failures
as opportunities to improve yourselves, to become better. Networking It pays to have several
people that you can contact when you need them.
Build relationships. It could be with anyone in your engineering college, no matter who they
are. That smile you could give to your school janitor at the corridor could mean something
later, perhaps a favour. Bigger things can happen if you just share a piece of yourself with
others. Your ability to network is useful in surviving engineering. Shooting for design
optimization This is related to being perfect. In design, you are not asked for perfection but
optimization. Engineering design is mostly balancing the different factors and finding the right
proportions. You could go on designing the perfect engine or the tallest structure but if
without cost considerations and others, they might not be feasible. Learning when to walk
away Some things are just not worth pursuing anymore. Engineering students should find that
fine line that separates from quitting, or perhaps stepping back for a while, and moving
forward.
There are times in college that you will yourself trapped in a situation that is of no use
anymore. Thats a valid time not to push through and instead turn your back. Taking care of
yourself You only live once, they say. That is usually taken into the context of doing the most
bizarre things to make the most of life. But I say this to remind you that you should take care
of yourself as you learn how to survive engineering school. Be wary about health. Eat right.
Exercise. Get sleep. Find ways to reduce your stress. Perhaps even travel! Theres more to life
than just your career. You are a human first before an engineer.

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What I Learned from Failing In Engineering College
I failed in exams. I failed in major subjects. Heck, I was the only one who failed in our
class in the licensure exam.

Engineering college life: I was never the achiever in class. I often get left behind because I
never easily understood the lessons taught and I never made the effort to try harder.
Sometimes, for me to catch up to our lessons, I would beg for the smartest kid in class to help
me with the paper. I know it wasnt the best way to get a passing grade, but desperate times
call for desperate measures. Teachers looked down on me because I never appeared smart in
class. Classmates labelled me as the dumb one because I always showed everyone a blank
expression when asked about school matters. To them, I was just the classmate who got by
because the professors pitied me. It hurts to be that kid. It hurts to be remembered as the
dumb on in class.
While I knew where my strengths are, I also knew that engineering was one of my
weaknesses. You may ask me why I pursued it then. Well, to answer that question, I took it
because I wanted it. Its not exactly the best answer I could give but I knew I needed to take
it. Deep down, I knew I wanted to be an engineer. As expected, if I was having a difficult time
in my studies, chances of failing a lot in exams and subjects were high. And yes, I did fail
miserably. I failed in exams. I failed in major subjects. Heck, I was the only one who failed in
our class in the licensure exam. I was every professors nightmare, and nobody really wanted
to hang out with me. I had failure written all over my face. Everyone in the department knows
that Ill never be that person they can trust to help them with their academic standing. Well
Sure, I had moments when I wanted to hate myself and invite people over for a pity party.
Hello everyone, come here and pity me. But I knew I had to persevere.
I knew that if I really wanted to be an engineer, I had to work hard for it. I had to find ways to
make it. After all, isnt that what engineers do make things possible? It took me years to
realize the most important lesson of what was going on in my life. For someone who has been
ashamed of ones self, it really hurt my pride to keep seeing failing grades. But what I didnt
realize was every time I get a failing grade in an exam, I studied more to improve my score in
the next exam. When I fail a subject, I try again, and I eventually passed. When I failed the
licensure exam after crying my heart out for disappointing my parents and everyone else, I
studied hard and I passed on my second take. I realized that for every failure I got, I was given
the opportunity to try again. Second chances, third chances, whatever chance youre given,
you should always open your doors to trying again. Its never going to be easy but trying again
allows you to see your mistakes and learn from them. Once you do, chances are youll end up
a wiser and better individual. While I still see myself as the kid who was never on top of the
class, I knew that I never gave up despite the failures. So, heres to all of the engineering
college students who are having a hard time after failing Dont give up. Try again. Try again
and again. Then one day, youll be surprised that you made it. So, go, give it another try.

17
To the Struggling Engineering Students: Keep Fighting!
Soon, all engineering students will become an engineer despite everything else.

You will never make it in engineering school. At one point of your life, somebody may have
told you that awakening statement. Perhaps it echoed to your mind and said that to yourself
in front of the mirror a couple of times as you continue to struggle with your studies.
Engineering students, read this carefully. This feeling of defeat is common while studying
engineering. Almost everyone is having a hard time coping with the difficult subjects,
preparing for the load of exams, and completing their projects and reports on time, among
others. It is exactly what you signed up for. Exactly. Who said anything about engineering
school that it is all just a good time?
You are there to learn to become an engineer, and that means you will be required to take all
the subjects listen in your curriculum. In between, you are going to feel drained, especially
when you take courses simultaneously. You will no longer have time to socialize or sleep in
most days, with your academics eating most of your time. Thats part of the sacrifice being in
engineering school. Again, that is exactly what you signed up for. Exactly. The trick to survive
engineering school is mostly about convincing yourself that your present troubles will be all
worth it in the end. It is also about recognizing that the struggles are part of the process. You
can never remove it at all all you must do is adapt. The key is to believe in yourself because
no one can do that more successfully than you but you. You will only fail if you give up on
yourself.
Times may be hard for you right now, but the glory will be yours when you happen to
overcome them. Say to yourself a million times, especially when you are down, that I will
make it in engineering school. Because it will happen. Youll eventually be surprised to see
yourself marching for that diploma. Just keep fighting! Trust that you will become an
engineer despite everything else.

18
What Engineering Students Lack is Motivation, Not Intelligence
Students failed not because they are dumb but because they were not motivated to
study.

Attention to all the engineering students out there, read this! Ive come across this Reddit
thread about a student who is worried about getting his first B, which prevented him to
become the valedictorian in his class. In the thread posted in 2012, he has doubted himself
that he is intelligent because of that grade, and because others already appeared to be
smarter than him.
Among the 700 comments posted is this one comment from an MIT graduate, who shared
the same struggle and inadequacy when he entered Cambridge. Cal Newports Study Hacks
Blog reproduced essential points that the commenter posted that will strike as a good tip for
engineering students as well: The people who fail to graduate from MIT, fail because they
come in, encounter problems that are harder than anything theyve had to do before, and not
knowing how to look for help or how to go about wrestling those problems, burn out.
The students who are successful, by contrast, look at that challenge, wrestle with feelings of
inadequacy and stupidity, and then begin to take steps hiking that mountain, knowing that
bruised pride is a small price to pay for getting to see the view from the top. They ask for help,
they acknowledge their inadequacies. They dont blame their lack of intelligence, they blame
their lack of motivation. During my freshman year, I almost failed out of differential
equations. I was able to recover and go on to be very successful in my studies. When I was a
senior, I would sit down with the freshmen in my dorm and show them the same things that
had been shown to me, and I would watch them struggle with the same feelings and
overcome them. By the time I graduated MIT, I had become the person I looked up to when I
first got in.
You feel like you are burnt out or that you are on the verge of burning out, but, you are on
the verge of deciding whether or not you will burn out. Its scary to acknowledge that its a
decision because it puts the onus on you to to do something about it, but its empowering
because it means there is something you can do about it. So, do it. What this MIT graduate
shared can be a wake-up call for engineering students who are failing their subjects because
they claim that they are dumb enough or not good enough to be in engineering. When,
intelligence can be worked on it is the drive to learn engineering that is essential for every
engineering student, and not the requisite intelligence that others claim they need.
Of course, engineering students need intelligence to be able to graduate in engineering; but
to be able to get to the higher level of intelligence required for an engineer, you need the
motivation to pursue your dream. Being able to decide that you will succeed in engineering
college is a mindset you cannot lose along the way. Motivation is a critical component
whenever an engineering student, or any student at that, feels challenged and more so,
beaten. When you are overwhelmed with failure and you cant seem to stand up, all it takes
for you to rise again is to repeatedly say to yourself, I can do it.

19
This Top-notches Used the Triangle of Learning to Succeed in His
Engineering Licensure Exam
What is this Triangle of Learning anyway?

There are many learning styles that engineering students or board exam reviewees can adapt
to be able to study effectively. Each style depends upon the nature of the subject matter, the
learning curve of the student, and the time required to study the topics. For Christian Jake
Villamar, the most effective study style is to use the Triangle of Learning. This was a suggestion
made by Dr. Ireneo C. Agulto, the dean of his engineering school in Central Luzon State
University. It appears that this is indeed effective. Christian Jake finished his agricultural
engineering this year as Cum Laude, and eventually emerged as the first placer in the licensure
examination with a rating of 84.30%. The 21-year-old native of San Jose City in Nueva Ecija
revealed in a Facebook conversation how the Triangle of Learning helped him in studying. I
used the triangle of learning as suggested by our dean. He said that the greater percentage
of what you review will retain if you read, write, and say it, he said. But what really is this
Triangle of Learning? Researched and created by the National Training Laboratories in Bethel,
Maine, the Triangle of Learning, also known as the Learning Pyramid, illustrates the
percentage of learner recall that is associated with various approaches.

20
The first four levels, which include lecture, reading, audio visual and demonstration, are
passive learning methods. In contrast, the bottom three levels, which are the discussion
group, practice by doing and teach others, are participatory, active learning methods. The
Learning Pyramid clearly illustrates that active participation in the learning process results in
a higher retention of learning. The percentage indicates the average student retention rates.
Aside from the Triangle of Learning, what else could have contributed to the board exam
success of Christian Mark?
Check this full transcript of our interview to know more about his life as an engineering
student and board exam reviewee. Student Life
Why did you choose this course? Who or what was your inspiration?
Just like the others, I ended up with this course because of my scholarship. My family, my
close friends and my girlfriend are my inspirations. To improve our way of living as a family is
what motivates me.
What are your favourite subjects in your entire engineering study? How about least liked
subjects?
My favourite subjects include Processing of Perishable Farm Products, Agricultural
Mechanization, Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Mathematics, and Rural
Electrification. My least liked subject is Strength of Materials.
Have you had any subject failures or disappointing academic performance to the very least?
If yes, what did you do about it? How did you cope?
None. I do have a grade of 2.75 but it is quite normal to get this level of grade in the college
of engineering of our university.
Do you have any study tips or tricks that you think others should emulate from you?
If possible, I dont memorize engineering formulas. I see to it that I understand the principle
behind so that I can still solve a problem. Most of the time, I connect the topics or principles
in real life to appreciate it more.
What is the best engineering school advice that you can give to other students?
Just enjoy what you are doing. If you are not enjoying, then you may be on the wrong path.
You also need to make sure that you learn every single day.
Board Exam Experience What were the greatest struggles that you experienced while
preparing for the board exam? What did you do to overcome them?
I sprained my ankle when I played basketball with my cousins. Im just trying to unwind that
time, but it turns out to be the opposite. Another thing is that we were significantly behind in
the review class. It started on the last week of May and ended on the first week of August.
Together with my classmates, we just attended the classes after our graduation day which
was held on June 30. It was almost half of the duration of review class, which basically means

21
that we were behind than those who were already reviewing. Due to this, I worked hard for
the remaining weeks and used this as my motivation.
Did you enrol in a centre for your review? Do you recommend doing so? Which one did you
go to?
Yes. I went to the review class of the university where I graduated which is the Central Luzon
State University. It is really recommended to do so.
How did you find the board exam? Easy, average, or difficult?
Average. The real difficulty of our licensure examination is the scope of every subject which
seems to be limitless.
Did you have a feeling that you will be at the top?
Frankly speaking, I know that I will pass the examination no matter what but thats all. I never
see myself being on the top.
What did you do the first minute you discovered you topped the board exam? I cried.
Who do you owe your success to?
God first. This will not be possible without him. I do not pray for this to happen, but he still
gave me this. All glory to God! Also, my parents, sister, relatives, close friends, girlfriend, and
teachers.
What incentives did you get from your university and review centre after your board exam
success? Cash incentives.
Share your most effective study habits. I used the triangle of learning as suggested by our
Dean, Dr. Ireneo C. Agulto. He said that the greater percentage of what you review will retain
if you Read, Write, and Say it. You also must know your green light, which is the best time for you
to study.

Give 5 important tips for future board exam takers who aim to become top-notches.
You must pray, pray, and pray even more. Nothing is impossible with God, right?
Enjoy what youre doing.
Understand every principle and every topic in any way that you can apprehend. Try applying
it in real life.
Dont just memorize formulas. Know where it came from. Know the principle behind those
things.
Balance your time. There are more important things in life. You know that!!

22
Engineering College is Always Complicated
Suddenly, I couldnt keep up with the lessons anymore.

I was so good in math and science back in high school. I always had high scores in exams and
there was never a lesson that I had a hard time dealing with. So, it led me to thinking that
engineering college would be easy just like counting 123. I thought that if I understood the
basics of calculus and knew my way around computers, I could survive the computer
engineering program in our school. My first year in the degree program was exciting. I was
able to catch up on the lessons easily. I would even cut classes because hey, Im that smart.
I could still get straight As in every class I had without putting too much effort. I was having
fun being the typical college kid you normally see in movies. Unfortunately, things took a
different turn when I entered the second semester of engineering on my second year.
Suddenly, I couldnt keep up with the lessons anymore. I couldnt even get a decent grade in
any of my subjects. My friends expressed their concern on my slipping grades. I also didnt
know what was going on. How could I go from an A student into a failure? I kept asking myself
what happened? Engineering College is Always Complicated.
Later, I tried exerting more effort in class. I avoided cutting classes and I paid attention to my
professors all the time. I did my best to make up in any group reports and assignments just to
pull my grades up. Somehow, all the effort paid off. I was able to improve my academic
standing. I didnt get an A in my major subjects by that time, but I was able to stay in the
competitive program. Knowing that Id be safe from getting kicked out, I took a break from
it all. I started to chill again for a bit in my classes the following semester.
It was a mistake really. When I didnt study hard in the first semester of my third year in the
program, I got my first F in my college life. It really hurt a lot, but I could only blame myself
for allowing myself to be lazy again. That really sucks. So now, as I prepare myself for a brand-
new semester (with plans of re-taking the subject I flunked last semester). I am ready to take
on new challenges. I am ready to get good grades again. Engineering College is Always
Complicated.
I initially thought that engineering life is complicated, but I realized that the technique in
surviving this tough competitive program is to keep working hard to pass all my subjects.
There are days when I am truly tired of studying but I got to keep holding on to my dream
that one day, Ill be an engineer.

23
Heres How You Can Survive Engineering School Even If You Think You
Are Not
Smart Enough Anyone can want to become an engineer, but does everyone have
what it takes and make that dream into reality?

I was reading through Reddit and came upon this 5-year-old post in r/confession that is one
of the most upvoted in the sub. It tells about the ramblings of a high school senior who was
worried that his intellectual abilities are lacking just after getting his first B in high school. He
could have been valedictorian if it wasnt for that grade, he said. Coming from that
experience, he convinced himself that he is not that intelligent, and that there are many
others who are much smarter than he is. He tried to sway himself that he is indeed smart, but
he knew deep inside that he deserved that B. For this confession, he got an overwhelming
response from an engineering fellow in MIT the university that the original poster (OP) longs
for. This guy, who has a close relationship with MIT because he was a student, a teacher, and
at the time an alumnus conducting interviews of prospective students, blew Reddittors away
with his detailed personal story along with a lesson that taught OP, and the almost 4,000
others who upvoted the comment. In his account, he shares that during his early days in MIT,
he felt that he was hot shit so he moved to the in-school dorms. Plus, he managed to get
one year ahead in his mathematics classes, testing out of the freshman Calculus and Physics
classes. But that did not last long for the user hiding under the name Inri137.
He later revealed that as the term rolled in, he was getting crushed. It didnt help that I had
good test performance which fed my ego and let me think I was smarter than everyone else,
just relatively unmotivated. I had grossly underestimated MIT, and was left feeling so dumb,
he wrote. Thank heavens he lived next to a guy he calls R.R. who was an advanced student
with a heart to help him. R. R. read the material Inri137 was struggling with and coached him
in his difficulties.
That is where his perspective of learning changed. The thing is, nothing he taught me
involved raw brainpower. The more I learned the more I realized that the bulk of his
intelligence and his performance just came from study and practice, and that [he] had
amassed a large artillery of intellectual and mathematical tools that he had learned and
trained to call upon. He showed me some of those tools, but what I really ended up learning
was how to go about finding, building, and refining my own set of cognitive tools, Inri137
tells. He went on to say that while he doubts that he will ever compete with R.R.s genius, he
recognizes that its because of a relative lack of his conviction and an excess of R.R.s, not
some accident of genetics.
But the most note-worthy part of his essay is when he told the secret of the 97% graduation
rate in MIT, separate from those who give up in the university along the way. People fail to
graduate from MIT because they come in, encounter problems that are harder than anything
theyve had to do before, and not knowing how to look for help or how to go about wrestling
those problems, burn out The students that are successful look at that challenge, wrestle
with feelings of inadequacy and stupidity, and begin to take steps hiking that mountain,

24
knowing that bruised pride is a small price to pay for getting to see the view from the top.
They ask for help, they acknowledge their inadequacies. They dont blame their lack of
intelligence, they blame their lack of motivation. Inri137 has R.R. to thank for this realization.
If it wasnt for his mate next door, he could have been miserable a little more in MIT. He ended
his note for OP with this message, You feel like you are burnt out or that you are on the verge
of burning out, but in reality, you are on the verge of deciding whether or not you will burn
out. Its scary to acknowledge that its a decision because it puts the onus on you to do
something about it, but its empowering because it means there is something you can do
about it. This Reddittors made a pretty convincing case.

25
11 Rules Youll Never Learn in Engineering School According to Bill
Gates
These are the golden lessons a college dropout could offer

We know Bill Gates as the college dropout but now a billionaire through Microsoft. For sure
hes been through a lot of ups and downs, mostly outside of school, but whats important is
that hes been able to learn from them. This list offers 11 important rules of life that one can
never learn inside the four corners of the classroom. Bill Gates gave these rules as a speech
at a High School on how to make ones self feel good but still grasping the realities. Although
some say that this is a myth and that it didnt come directly from Mr. Gates, Id take these
lessons as inspiring and legitimates ones especially for the millennial who is undergoing some
sort of crisis to understand more about life.
Bill Gates Rule # 1: Life is not fair, get used to it. Life is filled with unfairness and we live with
those every day. We recognize them starting from the day we do not get the same toys as the
other kids. But as adults, time comes that the reality is rubbed into us, and we become
frustrated. Mr. Gates is brave enough to slap it into us that life is indeed not fair. To make fair
for us, we make use of what we have and strive to make a lot fairer. Thats life, or so they say.
Bill Gates Rule # 2: The world doesnt care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you
to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself! Another truth about life that
we must accept is that life is harsh. Until you earn the respect of being an important person,
nobody is going to care about your self-esteem, and everyone will just care about their own
personal interests. To be able to achieve that respect, go ahead and dream about doing great
things. Once you get there, do not forget to look back and propagate that respect you have
earned.
Bill Gates Rule # 3: You will not make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You wont be
vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. This is a sad truth especially for engineers,
who earned a degree and not merely high school, who expect that the pay is high on their
first job. Its not how it works. You must understand that you need to start low and grow slow.
Then become big. Theres no instant success or hard-earned money that is gotten overnight.
It will take time before you get to achieve your dream.
Bill Gates Rule # 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. Bosses behave
differently because they deal with real-life situations, unlike teachers who prepare the
students for only the good things. The worst and the tough experiences will always come from
a boss or seniority who hurries his or her employees to deadlines or making things done. At
least be patient with them. Be kind enough to tolerate their behaviour and look where they
are coming from. Do your part, too, by owning up to your mistake if theres a need to.
Bill Gates Rule # 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a
different word for burger flipping: they called it OPPORTUNITY. If you feel like youre at the
bottom of the pack because you are merely flipping burgers, look at how your grandparents
see it: opportunity. You have your own pace towards success and flipping burgers is part of

26
that process. Its just temporary focus on your goal and stop worrying about your dignity.
As they say, Success only comes to those who are willing to get their hands dirty.
Bill Gates Rule # 6: If you mess up, its not your parents fault, so dont whine about your
mistakes, learn from them. Stop the blame game and own up to your mistakes. You become
a lot better when you stop pointing fingers and take responsibility of your own mistakes.
Bill Gates Rule # 7: Before you were born, your parents werent as boring as they are now.
They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about
how cool you are. So, before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents
generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. This basically means that you must
start learning to take responsibility about your little things. You cant always expect your
parents to be there because they you already have your own life. Start serving yourself and
learn to wipe your own butt. Become independent.
Bill Gates Rule # 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not.
In some schools they have abolished failing grades; theyll give you as many times as you want
to get the right answer. This doesnt bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life
When you are already out of school you will experience failures and successes and thats
fine. You will get the best of both worlds and not only one side of them to realize the greatest
lessons in life. To be able to really survive in life, learn to make choices about a life you will
not regret. If youre founded on that path, you will never get lost.
Bill Gates Rule # 9: When you are out in the real world where your fate or survival is in your
own hands, you dont always get second chances. Its do or do not; there is no try kind of life
you are leading. Be so sure and strongly confident about your choices that you dont have to
regret. Live each moment as if you are going to die next day. Build firm foundations for your
life, make your own way through this world. Yoda could not have put it simpler, Do or do
not. There is no try. There is also a famous adage, Carpe diem, which means seize the day.
Make both work.
Bill Gates Rule # 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people must leave the coffee shop
and go to jobs. While we fancy ourselves with television series which involves the fun part of
life, thats not entirely whats happening with the rest of us. We must work and go to jobs
more than just hanging out with friends, say at the Central Perk. These shows may entertain
us, but its not the right reference towards how we should do life. There are far more realities
not discussed in situational comedies.
Bill Gates Rule # 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are youll end up working for one. DJ Bill Gates
Take this as a motivation to stop bullying others especially the nerds, because one day you
might end up working with them. The odds are you will just get your karma if you do not treat
the nerds now you meet them. They remember the faces who offend and abuse them, so you
must be very careful.

27
My Secrets in How I Passed My Engineering Licensure Exam
This is my story of blood, sweat, and tears to become an engineer.

Engineers working in the field have their own pieces on how they prepared for the licensure
exam. Every preparation is different depending on the background and the ability to learn.
And here is mine. Right after I finished my civil engineering course, I knew that it was just the
beginning of something bigger for my career. In the Philippines, where a diploma doesnt
automatically grant an engineering graduate with the prefix Engr. in his name, I need to
take the professional board exam to be proven worthy of the title. While I oppose to this kind
of thinking that one cannot be an engineer without the license I prepared myself to take
the exam, so I could practice in my field with dignity.
Finding the Perfect Training Ground My first main thought in taking the board exam was if I
have what it takes to take and pass it, with just the engineering education I got from my
university. Traditionally, engineering graduates would search for the best review centres that
will enhance and polish them. Rarely do engineering graduates brave the board exam through
self-study. So, I went with trend and enrolled myself in a review centre that I know will propel
me to my engineering license. This is a critical choice since the review centre you choose will
dictate your study patterns and techniques. They also know the trends and tricks in the board
exam which items will come out; which topics will be focused on by the examiners. Self-
study cant teach that, so this is really an investment. And youve got to find the perfect fit for
your learning curve by asking around.
Willingness to Sacrifice I said to myself that if I want to take the board exam, I really must
want it bad do whatever it takes to pass the exam, even if it means I must make certain
sacrifices along the way. I reminded myself on a regular basis that I must work harder than
usual to succeed, and I recognize that such entails struggle I must face. I acknowledged that
my license to practice engineering isnt handed easy it must be earned. I did punish myself
for quite some time, isolating myself from my social circles. While they are out there enjoying
their beers, I was in my room drowning into the depth of my engineering reviewers. Being a
social drinker, it was a depressing episode of my life. But it must be done. The secret to this
is setting priorities. I will study now, and drink later when Im already a licensed engineer.
(And I did!)
Forming Study Habits Of course studying for a midterm exam in college is far different from
studying for the board exam. The board exam is the ultimate culmination of engineering
learning, measuring if you hold enough knowledge to be able to work in the field as an
engineering professional. You will face an exam wherein all your engineering courses are in
just one set of exams. One damn set! I had to make proper adjustments and set my study
habits to be as stringent as it could be. I almost never missed any of my review classes because
I might miss something important that will come out in the exam. My review instructors may
spit out valuable piece of information that will save me later, which could be anything. I take
down a lot of notes in my review classes even the motivational ones to keep me on track. But
more than just attending my review classes, I religiously studied on my own. Its important
that I didnt depend on my review centre so much, but instead relied on my own capacity to

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study. After all, the review centre is just my guide. I spent most of my time off the review
classes isolating myself with the engineering books, mastering formulas and absorbing
concepts. I solved lots and lots of problems even outside of the study materials my review
centre gave me.
When I do that, I make it a point that I am never to be bothered by anyone my roommates
or anything my smartphone. I should be laser-focus on studying so I could really grasp
what I need to grasp. For the entire time of my review months, I also had formula cards and
review booklets with me, so I could scan it whenever I have the chance. It helps when Im
commuting instead of staring at a blank space, I looked at my cards, so I keep reminded of
the formulas and the constants. This is a classic case of studying intelligently rather than
studying hard. Its a struggle to sleep normally in these situations, but I need to sleep to
function properly. In the first few weeks of review, I experimented on reducing my sleeping
hours and studying more. I noticed that my body functions were declining so I had to stop.
Its still best to give your mind and body time to rest so you can study efficiently when awake.
No Room for Cheating Never did the thought of cheating come into my mind. I forgave myself
for doing that in college, and I will never forgive myself if I cheated my way in passing the
board exam. Even during the practice exams in review, I trained myself to answer them all on
my own because I reckon it is for my own good. No one can save me during the board exam
but myself. I need to hold the answers if I want to pass, and I cant do that if I cheat. What
gain will I get if I choose to cheat? Nothing. I cant fathom risking the life of other people from
the work of an incompetent, cheating engineer.
The Fear of Failure Over the course of preparing for the board, I cant help but think of this
significant what if: what if I fail? Its a lingering possibility that cannot be removed from
anyone in taking the exam. I dont like the idea of failing the board exam. I mean, who wants
to take the board exam only to fail it? What I did was consistently think of escaping that route.
I focused my attention in improving myself rather than pulling myself down. My mantra: I can
do it! Why do I have to take the board exam twice if I can pass it on my first take? My target
was to pass the board exam as if its a matter of life and death if I pass, I get to live; if I dont,
I die. It sounds funny as a piece of advice, but it worked with me. So, I got to live.
Having the Faith to Pass Beside the thought of not failing is having the faith to pass. I must
believe in myself that I can survive the exam. If I cant do that, who will? I am the one to take
the exam after all; I am bound to have that conviction. Its not difficult to convince yourself
this if you really want to be an engineer after the board exam. Studying engineering, especially
civil, is difficult but what pushes me is to achieve my long-time dream. Its just one set of
exams, I said to myself. After these struggles I will be able to live my dream, I convinced
myself even more. Im not one who follows a religion I believe in an indefinite supreme
being but I meditated for peace of mind. When Im relaxed, I could think properly. And thats
exactly what I needed to pair with my convictions I was an average engineering student. The
thought of being a top-notches amuses me, but I taught myself to believe that there is a
possibility. I mean, who doesnt want to belong in the board exams top ten? Thats an
achievement. Being one of the best in a multitude of board exam takers can be done, even
for someone like me. I want to be included in that league, but the thought of being not there

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doesnt frustrate me at all. If I get to place in the board exam, its just a bonus; if I dont, its
fine, if I belong to the list of passers. But still, I aim to become a top-notch by not holding back
in my studying. Thats what top-notches do, right?
Preparing for the Judgment Day Few days before the judgment day, I just scanned through
my notes. I did not involve myself into intensive review or solving many problems for that
matter anymore as that would just ruin what I have already learned. My style was to stress
myself on the onset of the review and relax as the board exam day comes near. I believe that
the board exam is not one to cram. Even on the eve of my board exam, I did not do any
studying. Instead, I divulged into what could make me happy and stable: food and sleep. I
could not be stressed on the day before my board exam, so I chose to keep it cool.
The Judgment Day The judgment day came and its time to show to the world that I am ready
to be a licensed engineer. I brought with me the right amount of poise on the testing room
I was driven to pass. Never try to be overconfident by finishing faster than anyone else. Damn
those who show off by submitting their test papers first. Its not a matter of speed but a
matter of answering correctly. I took time to review all my solutions because I know the board
exam problems are almost always tricky, as how my review instructors put it. Use your time
until the last minute if possible, theres no need to rush. It pays to double check.
There are questions that really are a source of panic because they were never studied ever,
or they were never familiar to you. Just be calm. It happens because you cant know
everything. I had my fair share of that in all sets of exams, but I chose to find the questions I
could answer and make sure they are correct. Try to answer those alien questions the best
you could by approximation or alternate methods. Instructions are part of the exam, so I also
see to it that I followed the instructions. I cant stand it if I failed because I did not shade
properly or write my name incorrectly. I finished the board exam hoping for the best but
expecting the worst. Coming home from the testing centre, I was counting my possible correct
items and I figured I might not be able to make it. I can never be sure until my answer sheet
is checked.
I cannot be relieved until I see my name in the roster of the new licensed civil engineers. I
Became a Full-Fledged Engineer And so I did find my name in the list. All those head-
cracking and nerve-wrecking experiences brought me to my success. Now Im a civil
engineer who can work professionally. The struggles were all worth it. Engr. Dion Greg
Reyes passed his licensure exam in May 2015 and worked with a construction firm before
entering GineersNow as its Junior Editor.

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No Shortcuts in Studying Engineering
If you believe there is, youve been living a lie

Whether you are an engineering freshman, a senior, or a working engineer, you know that
engineering school is not for the disheartened and the weak. There will be many in that first
day of class who are full of aspirations to become an engineer, with the rest in doubt. You
start with your classmates in your first semester expecting that you will be fighting the battle
together until graduation. Almost always that isnt really the case. As the semesters pass by,
you will lose some of the people you were acquainted with in your general engineering
subjects, and perhaps find them in other buildings taking other courses in the semesters that
follow. You will observe in your core and major subjects later that there are few who will be
able to make it on time, with some just a little behind.
Regardless, the situation presents that harsh truth in any engineering school that persists:
only the fittest will be able to survive. Thats how engineering school works. If you dont know
how to fight for a spot in a class, you dont get to proceed. Its not literally fighting, like a
brawl, to enlist yourself in the subjects, but to persevere in every subject no matter what the
circumstances are. Its about deserving that next step of your curriculum ladder by learning
what is required for you to learn. But that is not always easy.
This is your ambition and career your future at stake. Your mind should be set at trusting
the process. All your headaches and sacrifices will bear fruit later. There are no shortcuts in
studying engineering. You must deal with the long nights of studying, the terrible exam
hangovers, and the failed exam results. All the projects, laboratory reports, plates and thesis
are all expected of you to accomplish if you want to become an engineer because they mild
your potentials and prepare what will be will once you step out of college. You need to trust
the process of learning, which may or may not involve failures and disappointments. It can be
as difficult as not appreciating how much blood, sweat and tears you pour into trying. In such
cases, the attitude should always be get over it because it is done. Theres nothing you can
do anymore about the past but use them as opportunities of growth.
Worse is that while on the process of studying engineering, you are also becoming an adult.
Your emotional and mental capacities are being tested by inner demons and external forces.
That so-called quarter-life crisis starts to creep in your heart and mind that you must conquer.
The odds are that you wont be able to figure it all out while in college but recognize that what
youre feeling is completely normal. Engineering school provides that same challenges and
struggles in the people in the class. The difference in the survival rate will only lie on how
engineering students deal with the difficulties.
What separates those who move forward from those who get left behind the course is that
the former has focus: they know what they want become an engineer and understand
what they needed to do or overcome to make that happen. So, they deliver. They falter at
times, but they dont make it a reason not to rise up. They show to the world that they are
capable regardless of background and identities.

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Dont Let a Bad Grade Discourage You
"I remember taking my first college algebra exam."

I was just a first-year chemical engineering student back then with high hopes for my future.
I was naive, and I was ambitious. I promised myself I will get good marks in all my subjects
because if others can do it, so can I. I was that young engineering student you see in class
paying close attention to what the professors were saying. I remember taking my first college
algebra exam. Prior to taking it, Ive had older friends who reminded me that the subject itself
had a reputation that would determine if I was going to have a difficult time or not in the
course I chose. Ive been warned before the school year started that this subject failed a lot
of students and broke dreams. Its a little exaggerated but it was true a lot shifted after failing
this class. So, there I was. Taking it. Terribly hoping that Id get a passing mark. It was my first
college algebra exam. It could have also been my first ever college exam as a chemical
engineering student.
And as soon as I got the score, I remember crying so hard. I was just one point below the
passing score. I just thought what a failure I was back then. It was unbearable, and I had to go
home and cry. For someone who did so well in high school, I found it unacceptable to fail in
this subject. I was scared that this would also be my fate in the next exams for this class. I was
scared that I would fail in this class while everyone else excelled on it. I remember crying to
my sister that day, knowing that she took the subject twice when she was still a freshman.
She told me that one bad score shouldnt define me. It was just one bad score. Its either you
get discouraged from it or you pick yourself up and study harder.
I knew she was right. She wanted me to move on. I wanted to move forward. So, I ate my
dinner that night and got my books to study harder. I still had more exams to take and I had
to focus all my energy in getting high scores. I really wanted to be an engineer and I shouldnt
let one minor setback stop me from achieving my dreams. Fast forward to where I am now,
whenever I think about that incident, I cringe at the thought of how petty that issue was. I
just laugh about it because I learned that one should never be discouraged over something
that can be changed. I managed to get a decent grade in that subject and I was able to improve
my academic standing. And right now, Im an engineer, happy to be where I am now in my
life because of my hard work and faith in myself. So, heres to all the students out there who
had a terrible score in todays exam, dont quit. Dont get discouraged. Dont let the negative
thoughts consume you. You can always turn things around. So, go ahead, study harder, study
better and study smarter. You can always be successful if you choose to be

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Finish Your Engineering Degree No Matter How Long It Takes
To start on engineering is one thing, to finish it is another.

To start on engineering is one thing, to finish it is another. Being an engineering student

doesnt give you an automatic right that you are already an engineer, but on the process of
being a full-fledged engineer. Sure, you can complain how hard the subjects are and brag
about the passing marks that you get through them. But you will need to finish first your
studies and earn that college diploma and become the engineer you want to be. Source:
Speak Gif But this isnt as easy as it may sound. Getting that engineering diploma isnt served
in a silver platter. The engineering subjects in your field are not always a slice of cake.
There will be lots of failures along the way where your faith and perseverance will be tested
that will ultimately give you an edge if you convert those failures as pillars to success. You
failed an important course that has caused you a year of delay in your engineering study. Take
that course again and prove that you can survive it the second time. Perhaps even third, if in
the second time you failed again. The key to survive engineering is to keep going and never
stop dreaming. Mind the failures but look at them as opportunities to become better.
All engineers, the best ones in the field, have failed miserably at one point. What did they do?
They did not stop just because they failed. I do not undermine those who became successful
engineers without ever having to finish their studies. But today, if you really want to get
ahead, an accomplished engineering degree will yield a better employment result. Your
chances to get that dream job are higher than those who persevered off college. Occasionally
It doesnt matter how slow you go, as long as you do not stop. Confucius could not have
said it better. Do not think about being the older one in the classroom or being the last one
to become the engineering professional in your freshmen batch. Finish your degree at your
own pace. The goal is to finish your engineering degree, no matter how long it takes.

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