College and discouragement

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Hi I am Brazilian, 20 years old. I am using google translator and would like to ask only your opinion. Here’s how: I study mechanical engineering at a medium-quality university, and I’m extremely discouraged from the course. There are several reasons:
  1. The subjects taught do not interest me at all.
  2. I cannot make this a means of sanctification for myself.
  3. No one in my class is a practicing Catholic, and we have 35 students.
  4. I don’t see myself working in the mechanical engineering business, and if I go to work on it, I’m sure I’ll be extremely unhappy.
  5. I have no priestly or monastic vocation.
I would like some advice and opinions. Some have already told me to continue the course because there are only 4 periods left.
 
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That’s a tricky question!

In the US, we would have a 4-year course, each year split into 2 semesters.

So it sounds like you are half-way through your course (to me, here in the US).

First, why did you decide to study mechanical engineering? Did it seem interesting to you? If it did, what has changed?

Second, do you have something else in mind that you would study instead? Have you spoken with the advisors at your college about changing?
 
I started the engineering course before returning to the church. At that time I had chosen the course because it displeased me the least. Today I see that philosophy is very pleasant to me, but in my city there is no course of philosophy to provide.
 
Your friend did very well! I am also in the third year of the course and there are still two years left.
 
So, if you stop now, you would not be able to make much money, and be hoping to study something completely different, so you would be starting from the beginning.

Can someone who studied philosophy make a living in Brazil? Suppose you decide to marry, would you be able to afford that?

Some are very fortunate and find their work and their “passion” align. However, that is a bit of a luxury: most people throughout history have not really loved their work except insofar as it allowed them to eat and have a roof over their heads.

Consider your future very carefully before changing.

Something else: in the US, a lot of times people end up working in a different field than the one they studied, or in a different type of job in the field.

For example, some who study a science type of course become technical writers instead of doing the normal sort of work they studied for.

Another advantage to completing the coursework might be (as it would be in the US) that you have a degree even if you apply for work in a much different field where the type of degree is not as important.

It could be that you complete this degree, then use it as a base to support yourself while studying philosophy.

On the one hand, you are only half-way through. On the other… you want to study something completely different, so you will have little advantage from the coursework you have done.

I would consider your decision carefully. There are pros and cons to each oprion.
 
RomanCath0lic said:
No one in my class is a practicing Catholic, and we have 35 students.
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Do it anyhow. The church has/is/and will continue to lose the culture, move on with your life and stand strong in your faith, doing what you would do anyhow.
 
ok
depends on what year are you

usually in my university first years are (1.5 of the 5) are main cources ie maths physics , programing etc

its in the 2 year we see the carrer cources , so maybe the main courses are discuroging but the career courses will not

2 and 3)amigo just stand strong in your faith you dont need to be sorrounded by members of your own religion or have the courses there metion it to fell good about it
  1. beacuse you dont like it or beacause it doesnt have monastic elements
just stick to collage, think about the matter , etc .

but if you really want to become a priest.
 
There is a major difference between school and the real world. One of my son-in-laws has a degree in mechanical engineering, and works for a company which creates medical devices and knee replacements. He has one patent to his name, and became the company hero when he took on a project which had languished for two years, perfected the project, took it through Federal Drug Administration approval, and the exclusive rights to it were purchased by a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson. It is a form of medical cement.

Philosophy is a head-game subject. It teaches you to think a lot and prepares you to do so while you dig ditches. That was my college degree, so I speak with some experience. If you are not willing to do manual labor while you think, or get a PhD. and teach, it is not a particularly useful subject.

If you have an aptitude to do the math, and a tendency to creative thinking, your degree can lead you to all sorts of opportunities. You might ask several of your professors (without going into details such as in your post - they are negative) to recommend several engineers they may know, to get a perspective on what you might be able to do with the degree. It appears all you see is the books and the homework right now.

God gives us all opportunities. They are not always enticing or fascinating. But they always are a means to sanctification - including your course work. How many Catholics are in your class is irrelevant; you may find the same thing when you eventually get a job.

Happiness is a choice. I have no idea why you chose the “least displeasing” course; it sounds like none were pleasing to you. But you don’t go to school to be pleased; you go to learn skills which you can apply in the working world. As noted, happiness is a choice; you choose to see the glass half empty or half full. That is what affects your attitude.

On the other hand, an engineer might see the glass as twice as big as it needs to be (that is an engineering joke and may not translate to Portuguese too well… 🤣).
 
I think he said he has no priestly or monastic vocation. Post # 1
 
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I would also like to ask you to subscribe to the ‘Iniciativa Condor’ Channel. It’s a Brazilian channel of Gregorian chants (no, I’m not the owner, hehe) subtitled in Portuguese and Latin with sacred images. I believe you will enjoy it very much!
 
That sounds really nice, thanks for sharing that with us! I’ve been thinking about finding some Greforian chant to listen to 🙂

The other thing I wanted to say is that an industrial engineer from Spain during the Spanish Civil War is being promoted for sainthood. His name is Isidoro Zorzano.
 
I ask Sts Cosmas and Damian to intercede for you. My husband is a mechanical engineer. Once you’ve got the degree, there’s a whole world of opportunity.

I think what you’re experiencing is normal. You chose that particular course when you were away from the Church, and now, quite naturally, you’re wanting to leave the old self behind completely.

The course has now become a penance. Offer it up for whatever intention the Holy Spirit guides you to on a daily basis. My sister took the kind of training required to get a good job, feed and shelter her family, have them involved in extracurricular activities, and make sure she had a pension. Another engineer of her acquaintance actually wanted to be a museum curator, but there was no money in it.

Try this for adoration: http://savior.org/ Ask Our Lord what He will have you do. Ask Him for Catholic friends.

I converted at 16, and was dismayed at the worldliness of the Catholic high school to which I transferred. I prayed for a “Catholic family”, and a classmate’s brother came to our store to apply for a job.

Blessings,
Mrs Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
Hello RomanCatholic friend,
Is there a Catholic student group at your university? Even if no engineers in your year are practicing Catholics, maybe you can still find strong Catholic friends there?
Best of luck to you and God bless!
 
this course is truly a penance to me haha. Thanks so much for the advice!
 
I think most people at my university are Catholic, but only baptized. But friendships would be hard to find there, because this university is so mundane and liberal
 
I would suggest you keep the course (if you are getting good grades).

With a Mechanical Engineering degree, you can do almost anything you want. Also, you can always seek a Master’s degree in Philosophy if you want later.

I would NOT change to a Bachelor’s in Philosophy.

Again - you can do almost anything with a Mechanical Engineering degree (because it proves that you are mathematical & logical minded), but it’s hard to find a job with just a Philosophy degree.

God Bless
 
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RomanCath0lic said:
  1. The subjects taught do not interest me at all.
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Is there anything about mechanical engineering that interests you?
  1. I cannot make this a means of sanctification for myself.
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Maybe you can. God needs all kinds of people to do his work in the world. You could be an engineer who is an example of Christian behavior in the workplace. You might develop products or systems that promote human dignity and improve the quality of life. Can you think of other ways to use your talents with love for God and neighbor?
  1. No one in my class is a practicing Catholic, and we have 35 students.
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Practice your faith the best you can, and your example may help others to increase in faith.
  1. I don’t see myself working in the mechanical engineering business, and if I go to work on it, I’m sure I’ll be extremely unhappy.
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There are many ways to apply mechanical engineering in different industries and market sectors. It’s not just about the machines or the business. Think about applications: food, medicine, transportation, entertainment, communication. Maybe one of these can make you happy and make the world a better place.
 
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