When I decided to major in computer engineering, I thought only of Iowa State because of its history with computers and technology.  I knew if I wanted a good education in computer engineering this would be the place to go.  Over the past four years I’ve learned all about computers, but while learning bits of information about them I learned more about how to think and work like an engineer.  Through my classes I’ve learned how to turn theories and concepts into solutions, design systems to solve problems, and work in groups.  These are skills which are essential to all engineers in order for them to be able to work and create new solutions and new technologies.

            One of the hardest things for me to pick up was applying a vague theory to solve a problem.  It was easy in classes where the concepts and theories had equations attached to them and you could just assign a piece of data a spot in a formula like the frequency you have is f, and then just find the equations that have everything you have and what you are trying to find.  However, in classes such as Design and Analysis of Algorithms and Theoretical Foundations of Computer Engineering, both classes teach you theories to solve problems such as the towers of Hanoi.  These were difficult for me at first because some of the problems I was unable to see what theory to apply to find the solution.  After taking both of these classes though, I finally got learned how to tear apart the problems and find which theory needed to be used.

                In the higher level classes I’ve taken that are mostly project driven I developed my ability to be given a problem and then develop a whole program, or system of programs to solve the problem.  These were the most exciting classes because this is what engineering is all about, being given a problem and coming up with your own way to solve it.  The lower level classes will teach you small aspects of solving problems, focusing mostly on how to do a couple things, but in classes like Com S 309. Software Development Practices you work in a group to take an idea and create an entire software package to do something which you want done.  I thought this was very exciting because not only do we develop an entire working program from scratch without a lab sheet to follow to tell you what to do, but we also get to pick what we want to create so that it’s guaranteed to be something we’re interested in.

                In that class and nearly all others in some way teamwork was essential.  In Com S 309 especially we had only one semester to develop an entire product so if one person in a team was not pulling their weight it meant everyone else had to do more work which can be time consuming depending on your project and your class load.  In most classes though, teamwork was used in regular labs, on homework, and in study sessions for tests.  All of these times required each member to listen, share ideas, question reasons for doing something, and be fair to each member to make sure they understand the material and to not cut them down if they were wrong.

                In my four years at Iowa State as a Computer Engineer, I’ve learned an overwhelming amount about computers and how they work, and I’ve also grown as an engineer and person.  My experiences here in and out of classes have taught me lessons that I can apply as an engineer and in general society.