Bane L., Magsig Middle School
Status Quo
I stare at the computer screen.
We are in class discussing what we want to do in the future.
What do I want to do?
I ignore the chattering in the background, with people confidently saying they want to be a doctor, a vet, or a professional athlete. Noise seems to dull and silence in my mind as I peer at one of the job descriptions in the provided list on the website. It''s exactly what I want.
A Hardware Engineer. Hardware engineering is designing and producing computers and other components- just like the one I was using to read its description. Why did this catch my eye? Why am I so interested in it? It looks innovative, and sounds like it could change the world if done correctly…
I pointed it out to one of my friends sitting next to me and explained it. “Nerrrrrd,” is all they say before going back to their computer screen, not paying attention to my voice. Of course, he didn’t care. This is what I want to do though. I'm going to be a hardware engineer.
How? I have a good start. I take my education seriously, and I am laying a foundation for my future goals by learning new things whether during school or on my own time. I meet new people and build my social skills. These foundational skills and knowledge are very important for getting around in the world, building resumes, and maintaining my happiness.
As a hardware engineer, I would test and develop computers, and I would also need a bachelor’s degree. I hope to get this at MIT, a prestigious college with an acceptance rate of about 4.5%, needing a GPA of 4.2 and a 1500 SAT score to get a chance. With these credentials, maybe a good company can accept me or maybe I could make a startup. To afford college funds, I will need quite a bit of money, especially if I decide to make a startup, meaning I’ll have to save money up to that point to secure a future.
Of course, I can’t do this alone, I looked it up on Google and… what’s this about successful people preferring to be alone? Probably nothing, because I don’t think I can personally do this on my own. It would be twice as hard to do it without the support of my family and friends, who keep me on track and motivate me to continue, as they already do.
Being able to achieve the small things in the way of my goal and setting up a foundation is crucial for achieving my final goal.
A foundation will positively affect the course of my life, helping me learn how to survive on my own. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It’s not the destination, it''s the journey.”
This is my hero’s journey, and I am ready to leave the status quo.
