College of Engineering Insights: Michael's story

By Michael, a junior in the College of Engineering

Major: Civil Engineering

Like most young children, I too had a dream to change the world. However, my inspiration originated within the confines of my six-foot-by-six-foot sandbox armed with only my vast infantry of Tonka® trucks and surrounded by a sea of LEGOs®. Yes, at age seven, I knew I wanted to be a Civil Engineer; it just wasn't until years later that I knew that's what it would be called. With my mind made up, I was determined to make my dream come true—the first step was middle school.

Fast-forward ten years and you'd find an older me eager to complete my high school degree and faced with endless opportunities to pursue higher education—so began the application process. I applied to, and was accepted to, a variety of schools, all with excellent engineering programs, but it wasn't until I walked onto campus that I knew I wanted to attend Virginia Tech.

Little did I know how profound of an impact that decision would have on my life. It wasn't long before a handshake lead to an opportunity, and an opportunity turned into a reality. In my three years here at Tech I've come to understand that learning is more than just reading from a textbook—it's actually doing. I've been afforded such opportunities as to study under world-renowned professors; work beside professional engineers; visit actual job sites, and explore contemporary issues to name just a few. Simply put, as an undergraduate student here at Tech: I'm actually doing. I've come to realize that my little sandbox is now armed with the single most important thing—the opportunity for success.

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