My Experience with STEAM

I am a mechanical engineering junior and a STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Mathematics) student worker since October 2016. As a student worker I got to help with organising Ignite (a worldwide public speaking competition), I also joined as a participant twice. I am a proud contributor and a student representative in Best Writing. I get to help with the ongoing STEAM research as well. The research is about the importance of communication to engineers in the work place.

When I first joined A&M I realised that I am required to take history, political science and English. I directly objected. Back then I saw no point of having these classes which in total weight 18 credits. I thought to myself ‘I didn’t come to engineering to write essays and read lengthy books’. My main motive that made me change my mind about these subjects was the fact that one of my older friends mentioned ‘Alaa, life can’t all be about science. You can’t talk about black holes over a family dinner’. That sparked something in me. Something that made me later go to main campus and sign up for performance in world theatre. That enthusiasm also helped me to enjoy taking history, and signing up for liberal art classes that are not even required for my degree. What my friend said made me realise that I can’t just be an engineer. At the end of the day I am a human being.

STEAM to me is the connection between what I do in the engineering classroom and the outside world. In the lab I learn how to run an experiment, but it is the technical writing class that teaches me how to put together a report. In engineering classes I come up with ideas that can be valuable, but it is then my public speaking skills that allow me to get my ideas across. One example of that was me taking part of Ignite that last fall. I presented about a small initiative that I created. If I had not had the public speaking skills and the courage to talk in front of an audience that I acquired from my liberal art classes, people would not have known about my initiative.

The Liberal Art project that is closest to my heart is best writing. Best writing was the thing that made me appreciate writing. Before coming to the university English class for me was the only reason my grades go down. I hated the grammar rules that I still don’t understand, and the five paragraphs kind of a structure that limits my writing ability. In my first semester at TAMUQ I signed up for ENGL104 with Dr. Mysti. For the first time, English became a tool that I can use to express myself. Later in the same year I submitted three pieces, and surprisingly they all got published. Seeing my name printed did not just make me feel proud, but it gave me confidence in my writing skills.

My experience as a student worker with STEAM opened my mind to a new career paths that I can follow after graduation. Careers that otherwise I would not have thought of. Something like designing scientific book covers, creating an oral history from inside the tram (a popular transportation at my home), or even having an art gallery that is inspired from mechanics.

I hope to see a similar STEAM project in all engineering colleges, and more importantly, I encourage every Aggie to take part in STEAM projects, whether it is attending an event, writing something in best writing, or giving a presentation in Ignite. Believe me, once you try it your idea of Liberal Arts will change forever.