Never underestimate yourself for being a Chemical Engineer

It’s been awhile since I have stopped underestimating myself for being Chemical Engineer. Doing so was hard.

It wasn’t easy to accept the fact that like any other branch engineer things aren’t as good as it possibly should be.

And the fact that the pay as a chemical engineer is much lower than any other engineer, heck, sometimes almost to that of a clerk made me feel sorry for being a chemical engineer (Exactly opposite to what I’ve been feeding my brain by the myth of highest paid professionals).

All these started creeping into my mind. Waving confidence over myself and chemical engineering. By taking a leap, moving beyond my horizon seeing things while standing on the shoulders of giants; I made up my mind to never underestimate for being a chemical engineer.

Never underestimate yourself for being a Chemical Engineer:

Even if you’re not working as a professional. Even if you end up working as a production engineer in a plant.

Even when it wasn’t the first choice for taking admission.

or

If it was your first choice and people with a general assumption around you show that you had no choice, and so you did Bachelors in Chemical.

Never apologize even when you don’t know what exactly chemical engineering is all about

or

What chemical engineers do?

Until the graduation is completed or perhaps even after graduation. (Fact – you are not alone)

Never apologize when someone bumps into you and ask –

“What do you do?”

And then you hesitantly say –

“I’m a Chemical Engineer or pursuing Chemical Engineering. ”

Never underestimate when in return you are asked –

“What do Chemical Engineers do?”

or

“Chemical Engineering? What field is that?”

And to your no surprise they mix-up chemistry and chemical engineering.

Never apologize for being a Chemical Engineer when you see manufacturing is down

and

Crude prices are constantly going down to its half.

Never apologize, no matter what the world say about chemical engineers or

If they try to cook you as the reason for the pollution let them know none of the app or software will be able to solve water pollution problems.

or

Ozone layer depletion and God knows what not.

or

Accidental losses or oil leakages and spills.

Remind them the life they are living is because of the Industrial revolution. Whether its’ a pharma and health care product, FMCG or the vehicle they are riding, somewhere some chemical engineer is burning a midnight oil.

It had never been that easy and nor will it be.

How can it be easy to fight against all odds?

Since when transport phenomena became high school topic?

There are times when a design requires you to put your experience on the page and the field.

And at times when it needs you to make leaps of faith that make you feel vulnerable or scare you half to death.

The Point is: Not to take it personally:

Got a boss or manager who keeps saying, your design is worse than a 5th-grade kid would do?

Got a bad review that highlights the fatal flaw in your oh-so-carefully constructed and meticulously designed P&ID?

What are you going to do? Invite them over for a cup of coffee to apologize?

Or Send them a basket of muffins and a sincere letter of apology?

No. Of course not.

Don’t take it personally.

Never. Ever. Underestimate Yourself for Being a Chemical Engineer because once you realize the Beauty of Chemical Engineering Principles, you will see things differently.

Stay Tuned.
– Sumit Asrani