When I was four years old my parents bought me Logos. I was an African, female child and my parent bought me Logos. My parents broke the mold on gender roles because they wanted to stimulate my mind and provide the optimum environment for my intellectual growth.
If that meant facing criticism for buying a boys toy for their girl child, then that is what they were willing to do. Their methods did work, because since that day my mind has pursued challenges.Moreover, even beyond those challenges, because of my parent's boldness I have questioned convention and the status quo. When I got bored of Logos I asked for science kits and when I got ordered of those I found random objects and toyed with those until I made something that "worked". This may seem Like It has no relation to the question "Why Columbia? " but It Is the very reason I want to go to Columbia.
I know that I will never have to stop seeking new mental experiments the way I did when I was a kid.I need to be surrounded by people who want to be thinkers and Innovators, people who see the world's problems as an opportunity for challenge and service. Columbia Is the very environment that I require in order to stretch my mind. When I learned that the byproducts of the combustion of methane are water, carbon oxide, and energy, I went straight to my chemistry teacher and asked why communities that did not have clean water could not use this method to make clean water.
He explained the technical and chemical barriers that surrounded my methane combustion method for producing water.With these barriers in mind, I kept going back to him with my version of a solution to those challenges. One day he asked me, "why is this plan so important to you? " That moment marked the day that I chose to become an engineer. When I reflected on the methane combustion puzzle, it was more than Just a science experiment. Chemistry challenged my mind, but even more than that, I was passionate about making it possible to provide clean water. I believe that everyone should have access to clean water, food, medicine, and education.
Engineering is the perfect combination of the two things that I am passionate about: pushing technical boundaries and helping to provide a better quality of life for people everywhere. Problems thought to be irresolvable have been overcome through engineering, as an engineer I can truly attempt the Impossible. I love applying my knowledge to new things. I still have not found a method that would economically harvest water and energy out of methane combustion, but I know that if I am ever to find a way, it will be through an engineering career.SOP: Why Columbia? By Unanimous that "worked".
This may seem like it has no relation to the question "Why Columbia? " but it is the very reason I want to go to Columbia. I know that I will never have to stop surrounded by people who want to be thinkers and innovators, people who see the world's problems as an opportunity for challenge and service. Columbia is the very overcome through engineering, as an engineer I can truly attempt the impossible.
