Strengths:
I am passionate about becoming a mechanical engineer; I have never wanted to be anything else.
I have lots of the hands on skills which just like in maths, you need to know how to do the basic calculations rather than just plugging into the calculator. I am restoring a Land Rover, this is showing me so many theories by looking and handling the components, then modifying or fabricating my own.
I have done work experience at Ford a few summers ago, in the test labs watching a few components being tested.
I have worked on a farm for the past few summers, the large equipment really interests me... what it can do and how much thought must have gone into their design.
Weaknesses:
I am can be single minded, for example a have had difficulty changing how I put my ideas down in coursework... I like to design in my head, and then just develop that one design. The course work wanted me to show the thinking i had already done in my head. I am a lot better at this now, but I think I may need to keep a watch out.
I am dyslexic, because of this I have limitations on the way I learn. I may have to go few times before I understand; I struggle to learn from reading textbooks. I learn better if it’s explained to me then i do worked examples.
Because imp practically minded i struggle to understand why i would need to know about certain theories. When i know why and where you would use these theories in real life i can see the reasons for learning it.
Opportunities:
I think university life will be a lot closer to what happens in the real world. In university it’s up to me about putting the effort in to get the self-study done and my assignments in on time. This is what an employer would expect of me, they won’t hold my hand every step of the way.
I may find links for work experience which could lead to a job after graduation.
Threats:
I worry that as imp dyslexic and it may take me longer to revise or to self-study or to do my coursework and i will feel inundated with work and find I’m struggling to keep going or to do anything outside university.
Hi Alex,
ReplyDeleteI hope that as you are dyslexic that you are getting some help with this - have you been to student services, you could be entitled to a learning support assistant to take notes for you in lectures, so that you can listen and take in what is being taught.
It is interesting that you mention that you design in your head - a great strength, probably due to your dyslexia! You do need to visit some other ideas as well, when designing and then using analysis whittle the designs down to one final piece