Unsung Heroes: Engineers

Yes, the engineer is up to no good again.

Hmm..tell me i'm not alone on this, but i'm starting to see Engineers as an unique hybrid.

They have been stereotyped (i'm taking a defensive role already) to be

1. Systematic aka Rigid
2. Analytical aka Boring
3. ... have i listed alll?

Well, but yet, being an engineer myself and hanging out with engineers (haha, the phrase itself sounds alit pathetic already) aint what many perceived to be like.

No, we dont discuss equations or start our conversations circumventing formuales or Newton's law.

We dont flash our latest, newly aclaimed model of Venier Calipers (refresh: that's a measurement tool which everyone should have used one point or another in our educated life) or calculators which boost capabilities such as Integrations and Differentiation of Exponential formulaes to the Power of Trigonometrical Power series.
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We hide them from one another.

Haha, Gotcha din i?

Oh, please dont add that engineers have a dry sense of humour. Even if we do, i believe that's a higher level of enlightenment when one can laugh at oneself, and not worried of being laughed at. one notch up that Maslow's pyramid.

Engineers are interesting because, i believe (disclaimer: These are merely my thoughts and should not be taken as references or facts watsoever)

.... the bulk of us are unsure of what we want. Beneath the surface of precise and sysematic organized roles we play, many often go around pondering inside. Thoughts far more complexed than formulaes. So, you can never fully understand an engineer or claim you know his/ her personality just from their career profile.

Cant you see? While figuring what they want ( and they will continue to do so once they start, like macham we are programmed in our DNA the moment we chose this course)... they can still go on with their every day life of working that machine, generating source codes, developing that program, testing the equipment, wearing that bubblesuit, breathing the air in the cleanroom, implementing the systems, building the infrastructure, procuring the items, studying the specifications, all for the greater good.

Amazing?

Engineers' minds are fascinating. So structured and yet, so lost. So Developed and yet So raw.

Yes, we chose Engineering because it seems safe and it's afterall, a professional. Ah, the big "P" word. Follow the crowd. Stick with the majority. Ladiladila blah blah blah....

Even if it's not really cut out for you in the end, you gain like-minded friends who understand how's its like. To be in troubled waters.

We aim to do well in life, i mean who doesn, and engineering is a process, a mean to how we measure our success. *yes i cant help but think of vernier calipers again*. Read a couple of blogs, and if you have the chance and time to do so, you'll realize there are many engineers with perspectives in life. Engineers with their brand of philosophy and thinking, governed by their own laws. Every engineer is different inside. And if you get to see both sides, you should congratulate yourself on finding someone real.

People who earn a decent, stable pay and deep inside wanting something more in life, which often (not money). Cos, comeon, if we are all about money, we would have gone with the big boys and power ladies in Banking and Finance.

We earn enough for keeps, prob put alit investment here and there ( nothing too big or serious ), we aim for a car and flat. We worked our way up slowly but surely. Steadfast and Duty-bound. We dont have to worry that there's no work to do, cos work never ends.

No, we dont club or pub often, or maybe it's even safe to say Never for some, but hey, we never have to worry about being seen drunk in an unslightly manner or worry that we say something stupid about work or spills the beans in a state of drunken stupor. No worries for hangover or how to face the world the next morning at work. AND AND, even if we do get drunk, what are the odds that your colleagues are around with you? What are the odds that they are sober enough to take out their MP3/4 player to record what you say, or Horrifying worst thought, pull out that videocam to record? Dont say we dont go to happening places.

no we dont go to places.

Many of us fly to places. And it does get a lit more relaxed when one's overseas. Best if it's a big place where one can explore on weekends. We do get to places, not stuck or rigid, rooted to one place as many like to think. KRIS Flyers? I bet besides those businessmen with fat cheques, and thick cigars, the next bulk in line, gotta be us.

We try to work from 9 till 5 but never till we are 95 cos as we all know, like all things, engineering is everchanging, Demand and supply.What's feasible in 2005 is ousted in 2010. Haha. So, we do go for training, courses to learn, to upgrade till our brain can do us no more. (cos our brains are one of the most overly taxed)

Constantly figuring amidst that look of stability and bored exterior, perhaps contemplating the tot of backstabbing, complaining within that unscheming, harmless, bespectacled creature working on his/her report due.

It's alit like Superman you know? Only, we dont possess unearthly powers or wear red underpant out. Yes, we dont pull people out of derailed trains. We build the train system that transport them but will be better known as "the people who build the derailed train system".

We are the underdogs, the unsung heroes.A struggle with inner self while mainting peace and order outside.

Hmm... i think i should stop.