2008 Woodie Awards
McBride Offers Students a Global Prospective
By Emily Przekwas
9/3/07 - Opinion
Welcome to Mines! You're here, you're stuck, and don't even think about looking back. In fact for the next four/five/six years here, you probably won't be looking many places other than at your books, your notes, your homework or at the hundreds of exams you'll be taking covering topics from fluid dynamics, to electromagnetism, vector calculus and beyond. Here we call it the Mines bubble.
For the most part, most of us are here for one reason: to gain science and engineering skills. Our single-minded drive for excellence in science and engineering is responsible for the exceptional reputation Mines has cultivated over its long history. But this single-mindedness also tends to make us oblivious to the world outside Mines.
It's a frightening dilemma. As engineers, scientists, and future leaders, we will most definitely have an effect on the world around us. Unfortunately, studies have shown that Mines students are very successful at tackling technical problems once they leave Mines, but struggle with the skills necessary to move into leadership positions.
To be successful in our endeavors outside Mines, we should prepare to interact with the world by understanding the perspectives of both ourselves as well as others in the world, and by honing our interpersonal and leadership skills. With these goals in mind, the McBride honors program has created a curriculum designed to prepare the best and brightest engineers and scientists to be successful problem solvers in both technical and social arenas.
After having spent three years in the McBride program, I realize the influence the program has had on both my personal development as well as my ability to understand complex problems from both the technical and social perspectives. My freshman year I was able to gain perspective about myself through examining the conflicts that underlie the human condition.
The next year, through our cultural anthropology class and comparative politics class we were able to gain perspective about the world around us.
For the most part, most of us are here for one reason: to gain science and engineering skills. Our single-minded drive for excellence in science and engineering is responsible for the exceptional reputation Mines has cultivated over its long history. But this single-mindedness also tends to make us oblivious to the world outside Mines.
It's a frightening dilemma. As engineers, scientists, and future leaders, we will most definitely have an effect on the world around us. Unfortunately, studies have shown that Mines students are very successful at tackling technical problems once they leave Mines, but struggle with the skills necessary to move into leadership positions.
To be successful in our endeavors outside Mines, we should prepare to interact with the world by understanding the perspectives of both ourselves as well as others in the world, and by honing our interpersonal and leadership skills. With these goals in mind, the McBride honors program has created a curriculum designed to prepare the best and brightest engineers and scientists to be successful problem solvers in both technical and social arenas.
After having spent three years in the McBride program, I realize the influence the program has had on both my personal development as well as my ability to understand complex problems from both the technical and social perspectives. My freshman year I was able to gain perspective about myself through examining the conflicts that underlie the human condition.
The next year, through our cultural anthropology class and comparative politics class we were able to gain perspective about the world around us.
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