Patel | 1

Milan Patel
Instructor: Moore
EE 494
9 October 2016
Cumulative Reflection
My time at Iowa State University started off on rather rough waters. Unlike most of my peers, I
had no engineering background coming into college. Hence, the first few months I did my best to play
catch up. Most of the time, I laid idle while watching my classmates lap me in class related activities.
However, through the many available student resources (everything from Supplemental Instruction (SI)
to a professors office hours); I had started to get the swing of things by the end of my first semester. As
I began moving forward, I began to pick up on concepts quicker and could apply those concepts to realworld systems in less time with every iteration. I was able to do so because of the aforementioned
resources. They helped me figure out what the best ways to study concepts was. When all was said and
done ISU taught me that its not just knowing the material that would allow me to excel as an engineer;
but, rather, understanding it.
Through the rigorous core classes here at ISU, I learned that there are a myriad number of
technical details that entails a design process. It was quite overwhelming at the time. I often ended up
staring blankly at the material wondering; When would I ever use this material? Slowly, as I looked
back upon those experiences I began to make connections to Maxwells Equations I used in Classical
Physics to analyze circuit behavior or a power series expansion from Calculus II to make reasonable and
accurate assumption, for instance. And, slowly but surely I could see how the engineers before me used
the same connections to design products we use every day. These connections are the things that will
be invaluable to me in the workplace. Referring to the previous Calculus II example, I will need to know
what is a reasonable approximation and what is not. Because, we often do not model systems with
100% accuracy in actual systems due to limitations in everything from unideal behaviors of component
models to cost. Sure, I could attempt to build a system that allows people to measure household power
usage with 0.0000001% accuracy, but what good does that do the world if no one can afford it? That
being said, manufacturing limits & profits were not the only elements to consider. Human limitations
became equally as important. For instance, I could help create a device that would enable my company
to outsell its closest competitor, but the consumers will unknowingly be poisoning the environment due
to our manufacturing process, for example. This process could produce 1.5x cheaper devices but the
waste products of the process are 10,000x more polluting; what good does that do? This evolved my
engineering mindset to look at the world and not ask; How can I make money here? But instead: How
can I responsibly design a product that improves the world around me and makes sense economically?
This was one of the major takeaways from my time at Iowa State. I came in with the expectation
that they would provide me with the necessary technical background and I would be sent into the work
field with that being all I need. And, that they did; but, mercifully, they have expanded my knowledge
beyond my own self-placed barriers to prepare me to be as well-rounded of engineer as I possibly could
be.

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I came with the understanding that, in the workplace, I may need to work with a partner on my
task; but, for the most part I was on my own to execute whatever have been asked of me. And, during
my first few semesters, I did have that element. But, there was a lot more discussion and group tasks
than I had thought. Then going into my first internship at an engineering construction consultant
company, I soon learned how similar my classroom experience was. Everyone in my workplace worked
in groups. Everyone discussed what they were doing and what they wanted of each other to provide for
efficient operation. And, everyone was willing to clear up any confusion. At that moment, it clicked.
Likewise, to how a professor never wanted their student to fail; a coworker/manager wants to see you
succeed as well to make the workplace as safe and enjoyable as possible. One element I did find quite
strange at time was that fact the employees that had been there for the better part of their whole lives
were not just able to rattle off answers to proposed questions without any effort. They always had to
refer to reference manuals or look at the techniques of pulling wire, for instance. And it wasnt because
they were educationally inadequate, but rather because the methods they used 10 years ago, or even
the year prior, had changed. That experience showed me that no matter how far I get into the game of
engineering, I am always going to be learning. The following semesters, as I enrolled in more practical
theory classes; I noticed a similar behavior. While the professors could teach the material, and answer
99.9% of questions without a thought; there was always one question every now and then that received
a response akin to this: You know what I am not entirely sure, let me check and I will get back to you.
Like my once coworkers, it wasnt because the professor was incompetent, but rather the process of
continual learning sometimes sticks students and professors at the same level of understanding on a
certain concept. That doesnt mean you should give up because everyone in the business is constantly
evolving their own knowledge, and giving up only ensure you will be left behind.
As I begin to wrap up my expenditure here at Iowa State University, I do so believing I have
every tool necessary to be successful in the work field. Especially when professors and guest lecturers
stress the need for new engineers; and, with something massive like the Internet of Things movement
being just one of the many earth-changing technologies being implemented today. There is no better
time to be able to make change in the world through our ideas and hard work. It is definitely something
I look forward to, and something I never couldve dreamed Id have been capable of without ISU.