Career

I am a Chemical Engineer. Twenty years ago, I never imagined being one.

My family has been pre-programming my mind to become a doctor or a nurse or an accountant as I grew up. They claimed that these are just few of the highest paid professions way back then. Of course, they had their biases.

Before graduating from high school, one of our school activities is to let us experience being a college student for a day. I went to the university I planned to go after graduation and tried to sit-in in the College of Business and Accountancy. And man, I found it boring, with all the trial balance and other accounting-related terminologies. It gave me the idea not to be a future accountant even it will break my aunt’s heart.

Weeks before enrollment, I applied for scholarship. Well, I wasn't one of the honor students of our school but I thought its worth trying. I kept mum with my plans and took the examinations. No equations, no vocabulary, but a simple question that requires an answer of not less than 2000 words. The question was “How deep is deep?” LOL. I qualified and was considered as one of the university scholars (naks!). Still my family didn’t know about it. It gave me the power to choose what course I will pursue. Hehe

Its enrollment time and I haven’t made up my mind yet. My feet dragged me to the College of Engineering and I just found myself being interviewed by the Department Chairperson. He asked me what would be my major after two years (in our school, General Engineering are for 1^st and 2^nd yr). I replied, maybe Computer Engineering. When I went back home, my mother asked me what course did I enroll in, I told her, Engineering! Engineering? They all replied, quite surprised, maybe pissed. Hehehe. I told them that’s the course I applied for scholarship.

When I was in 2^nd yr college, I realized that I was not meant to be a computer engineer. How I loathe those computer subjects. I have to decide whether to be an ECE of a ChE, pressure's on me. I tried reading on the curriculum and since I didn’t have any idea on what to take, I thought, its easier to be a chemical engineering student as I have liked Chemistry when I was in high school. Lol. Such a reason!

As days went by, I am beginning to enjoy my course. The subjects were difficult but they are interesting. I have my favorite subjects of course. Three years flew rapidly. I found myself preparing for the licensure examinations and then applying for a job. Having a license didn’t guarantee a quick job. I had gone through numerous interviews, rejections as well as discriminations. I almost stopped but glad I didn’t.

Chemical Engineering has a lot to offer. Initially I thought Chemical Engineers are for laboratories and academes only, I was wrong. There are numerous fields that cater to chemical engineers. I may be working for eight years now but I believe that I still lots to learn about my profession. I have been a laboratory analyst, production supervisor, research assistant, internal quality editor, and a currently, a process design engineer. Being a process design engineer is one hell of a job. LOL! It has the ingredients to make your brains crack or your sanity breaks but I am managing it smoothly. It is a rewarding job and I am not talking about the salary. Hehehe!

One of my professors taught me a lesson that being in a job that you enjoy is way, way more important than having a big salary. No raising of eyebrows, please. I experienced it already.

I am a Chemical Engineer and I am proud to be one.

totomai
09/04/07