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Becoming a Chemical Engineer

Adriana | future chemical engineer

My career choice from last year has changed since attending an engineering camp this past summer. While there, I learned about the different fields in Engineering. Chemical Engineering was the one that most intrigued me.

Since I was little, I've always loved mixing up concoctions. I turned my kitchen into a lab, and every spice bottle into a "chemical vial". I often loved doing the classic, "volcanic eruption" experiment, seeing just how big of a mess I could make.

A chemical engineer's job is to create machines and processes that cause a chemical change or reaction. This means that I could possibly work at an oil and gas corporation refining oil. I could also invest my time in engineering more eco-friendly fuels. Really and truly, they strive to make life better for everyone.

I can only obtain this kind of position if I take classes in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Also, I should get a "Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering" Degree at the least. However, if I wish to obtain a higher position, I will need either a masters or doctoral degree in this field.

The average chemical engineer earns approximately $94,000 a year, but this varies depending on your level of training and experience. In 2012, there were over 30,000 chemical engineers employed. This number is expected to grow by 4%. Though due to their extensive understanding of the sciences, many people in this field can comfortably move to new areas if need be.

I currently have plans to attend the same engineering camp next year. Even after that, I have intentions to do more career research in my spare time. If I do all this, then maybe one day, I will be able to achieve my dream of becoming a chemical engineer.

Adriana's essay appears here as written, to preserve the young author’s unique voice and individual writing style. However, we have deleted personally identifiable information to protect the student’s privacy.