3 answers
Shaurya
Student
Pasadena, California
1
Question
Asked
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How did you find a balance between pursuing a technical career (like engineering or healthcare innovation) and keeping your sense of personal meaning and purpose alive during college and early career stages? #Spring25
I’m passionate about biomedical engineering and using technology to make healthcare more accessible and compassionate. While I’m deeply excited about innovation and problem-solving, I also care a lot about preserving a sense of meaning, empathy, and personal fulfillment in my future career.
Sometimes it feels like technical fields can become very metrics-driven or focused only on results, and I want to make sure I never lose sight of the "why" behind what I do — making real lives better.
I would love to hear about your experiences balancing the practical demands of a technical career with maintaining personal values, creativity, or emotional purpose.
Were there particular challenges you faced during college or early in your career? Did you ever feel disconnected from your original goals, and if so, how did you realign yourself? Any advice would be really appreciated as I’m starting to map out my own college journey and long-term goals.
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3 answers
William Vvuko
Retired engineer
89
Answers
Moyo, Northern Region
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi shaurya,
You are definitely on the right track. The true mission of the engineering profession remains meeting the needs of society that require engineering solutions. Touching people's lives through your work can truly be a very rewarding experience.
The United Nations department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that there are about one billion people in the world that have some form of physical impairments. Biomedical Engineering plays a crucial role in their overall well-being. Biomedical Engineering technology can change their lives by providing easier access to others, sustainable independence and in some cases employment opportunities.
As a Biomedical engineer, your career will focus on designing, developing, adapting, testing, evaluating, applying and distributing technological solutions to challenges encountered by people with disabilities e.g. prosthetics, hearing aids etc. Biomedical Engineering also plays a huge role in developing such technologies as robotics used in surgical operations.
You need to take up as many internships as possible. They will give you an opportunity acquire hands-on experience, apply theoretical knowledge, develop critical skills: analytical, planning, problem solving, leadership, communication, ability to work in teams etc. By working alongside professionals, you will also get opportunities for mentorship and guidance.
Membership in professional associations is equally important as they provide exposure to professional standards, regulations and best practices as well as latest innovations & developments published in their journals. These bodies include:
1) Biomedical Engineering Society
2) American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering
3) American Society of Biomechanics
Your emotional intelligence looks robust enough. Starting something new is usually challenging - this is natural. Getting grounded in practice eventually resolves this. Passion, commitment, diligence and perseverance are important personality traits that will put you in a good stead to succeed.
You are definitely on the right track. The true mission of the engineering profession remains meeting the needs of society that require engineering solutions. Touching people's lives through your work can truly be a very rewarding experience.
The United Nations department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that there are about one billion people in the world that have some form of physical impairments. Biomedical Engineering plays a crucial role in their overall well-being. Biomedical Engineering technology can change their lives by providing easier access to others, sustainable independence and in some cases employment opportunities.
As a Biomedical engineer, your career will focus on designing, developing, adapting, testing, evaluating, applying and distributing technological solutions to challenges encountered by people with disabilities e.g. prosthetics, hearing aids etc. Biomedical Engineering also plays a huge role in developing such technologies as robotics used in surgical operations.
You need to take up as many internships as possible. They will give you an opportunity acquire hands-on experience, apply theoretical knowledge, develop critical skills: analytical, planning, problem solving, leadership, communication, ability to work in teams etc. By working alongside professionals, you will also get opportunities for mentorship and guidance.
Membership in professional associations is equally important as they provide exposure to professional standards, regulations and best practices as well as latest innovations & developments published in their journals. These bodies include:
1) Biomedical Engineering Society
2) American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering
3) American Society of Biomechanics
Your emotional intelligence looks robust enough. Starting something new is usually challenging - this is natural. Getting grounded in practice eventually resolves this. Passion, commitment, diligence and perseverance are important personality traits that will put you in a good stead to succeed.
Stacey Vespa
Mechanical Engineer
4
Answers
Columbia
Updated
Stacey’s Answer
I would disagree with that. For me, my passion to make a change in the world is what drives me to do the things I do. I chose a career that would make an impact (I.e. not making the fanciest cars (although still cool and need people to work on them haha)). Focusing on the end goal of what I wanted in a career more or less helped me to be driven in. It all depends on what field you want to go into. My company constantly has activities / presentations driven back to the impact we are making on the world. So yes there are metrics for companies cause that how most work, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any passion behind the workers or the question of why you do what you do. If you continue to look at the big picture on how your work is having an impact, you will keep being passionate about what you do. I hope that helps!
Charlotte Geiger
Public Health Science Student at the University of Maryland
151
Answers
Sykesville, Maryland
Updated
Charlotte’s Answer
Hi,
This is such a thoughtful question — and honestly, you're already ahead of the game by thinking about it now.
Balancing a technical career like biomedical engineering with keeping a strong sense of meaning isn’t easy, but it’s definitely possible if you stay intentional. In college, it can be really easy to get swept up in grades, deadlines, and technical problems, and sometimes you do start to lose sight of the bigger "why." I definitely felt that at points — like when projects became about hitting deliverables instead of remembering the real people who would eventually benefit from the work.
The thing that helped me the most was staying connected to real stories. Whenever possible, I tried to work on projects that involved patient-centered innovation, or volunteered in healthcare settings where I could actually see the human impact of technology. Hearing firsthand from patients or clinicians about what they needed kept me grounded. It reminded me that every data point or engineering calculation represented a real person’s struggle or hope.
There were times I felt disconnected, especially during heavy technical coursework such as organic chemistry where it was easy to fall into “just get it done” mode. When that happened, I found that stepping back and reconnecting with my original motivations — whether through volunteering, attending talks about healthcare equity, or even just journaling — helped me realign. Having mentors who cared about the human side of engineering was also a huge help. They showed me that you can be both deeply technical and deeply compassionate — you don’t have to choose one or the other.
My biggest advice:
Pick projects or internships that align with real-world impact whenever you can.
Stay close to communities you care about — whether that’s patients, advocacy groups, or even nonprofit work alongside your studies.
Reflect often on your “why.” (Even a 5-minute reminder to yourself after a tough week can make a big difference.)
Find mentors who value purpose over just prestige.
Give yourself permission to evolve. You might find new passions along the way, and that’s okay — your purpose will grow with you, not against you.
This is such a thoughtful question — and honestly, you're already ahead of the game by thinking about it now.
Balancing a technical career like biomedical engineering with keeping a strong sense of meaning isn’t easy, but it’s definitely possible if you stay intentional. In college, it can be really easy to get swept up in grades, deadlines, and technical problems, and sometimes you do start to lose sight of the bigger "why." I definitely felt that at points — like when projects became about hitting deliverables instead of remembering the real people who would eventually benefit from the work.
The thing that helped me the most was staying connected to real stories. Whenever possible, I tried to work on projects that involved patient-centered innovation, or volunteered in healthcare settings where I could actually see the human impact of technology. Hearing firsthand from patients or clinicians about what they needed kept me grounded. It reminded me that every data point or engineering calculation represented a real person’s struggle or hope.
There were times I felt disconnected, especially during heavy technical coursework such as organic chemistry where it was easy to fall into “just get it done” mode. When that happened, I found that stepping back and reconnecting with my original motivations — whether through volunteering, attending talks about healthcare equity, or even just journaling — helped me realign. Having mentors who cared about the human side of engineering was also a huge help. They showed me that you can be both deeply technical and deeply compassionate — you don’t have to choose one or the other.
My biggest advice:
Pick projects or internships that align with real-world impact whenever you can.
Stay close to communities you care about — whether that’s patients, advocacy groups, or even nonprofit work alongside your studies.
Reflect often on your “why.” (Even a 5-minute reminder to yourself after a tough week can make a big difference.)
Find mentors who value purpose over just prestige.
Give yourself permission to evolve. You might find new passions along the way, and that’s okay — your purpose will grow with you, not against you.