Civil Engineering personal statement

Civil Engineering personal statement
The world is forever growing and evolving, as is the demand for new buildings and
good infrastructure. The pressures of population growth and global warming are ever
increasing, and civil engineers can help play a major role in designing more efficient
structures, as well as planning projects in developing countries. I am attracted to me to
civil engineering because I like the idea of helping to shape the world around me to
meet the demands of the future. I hope for a challenging career which I will find
personally rewarding and be able to feel that I have given something back to the
community.

Academically, science has always been my main interest and is the area in which I am
most able. I enjoyed biology, in particular learning about human impact on the
environment. However, during my A levels I realised that my interests lay deeper in
maths and physics. I enjoyed the problem solving involved within my subjects and the
way a real life situation could be expressed and manipulated mathematically. What I
found particularly interesting was relating what had been learnt in the classroom to
real life situations, which is what gave me more interest in civil engineering - the
appeal of a challenging career where I would have the opportunity to theoretically
solve problems and practically apply solutions to have a beneficial effect on the world
around me.
During my gap year I have had several work experience placements in various skilled
trades such as building and joinery. Through joinery I gained an appreciation of the
need for accurate design and construction, as well as a knowledge of the uses of wood
as a building material. Though much of the building work I have undertaken was in
construction, I found it to be invaluable experience. For example, whilst helping to
build a garage I learnt about the importance of good design and planning by having to
interpret the designs in order to determine how many bricks would be needed. During
its constuction I noticed how important it was to build accurately, particually at the
corners of the building which supported most of the weight of the roof. I also
discovered the importance of keeping costs low, but the quality of work high. We
made a different type of cement which was cheaper and weaker, but still met the
needs for the inner walls. The most rewarding part of this experience seeing the
project through from a plan on paper to its completion, and the feeling of satisfaction
once it was completely built.
I have a passionate interest in music and have been playing guitar for about 5 years. I
have enjoyed my time as a member of a band, which has helped me to work creatively
as part of a team. More recently, I have also achieved grade 2 in jazz piano. For years
I have had a great enthusiasm for skateboarding and in November 2005 began
undertaking voluntary work with a group helping to plan and design a skateboarding
facility in Kings Heath park. We were involved in preparatory work such as gaining
public support and undertaking research at existing facilities across the UK, as well as
its design. From this experience I learnt the importance of working as part of a team
and meeting deadlines. Also, I gained an understanding of just how much preparation
and organisation is needed, even for a small development.
By studying civil engineering at university I hope to build on my knowledge of maths
and physics and learn how to apply it to real life situations. Having enjoyed my time
at school I am excited by the prospect of going to university and learning more about
our world around us. I hope for both a challenging and diverse career where I can help
to improve the world for future generations to come.