ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý In tandem with writing this article, I am studying for one of many exams this semester. It should be the all-consuming object of my focus. Instead, I am writing an article for a magazine. That might sound strange to people who aren’t engineers or who don’t know students of engineering. The common perception is that of a quiet, reserved student willing to spend any number of hours to achieve the coveted A in a class that they may or may not enjoy. While that stereotype may have some truth behind it, the majority of students cannot keep up with it. There is simply not enough time in the day to spend it all on the schoolwork we are given and most certainly not enough energy.Ìý

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý A key concept that I have learned through climbing the ladder of the Chemical Engineering curriculum is an energy balance. The concept is simple in theory and it has quite a simple formula but it can become incredibly complex very quickly. So here is the most basic form:

Accumulation = Energy In - Energy Out + GenerationÌý

Ìý

Simple right? Well, yes! It can be as simple as counting up how much energy is on each side of the equation, but it can also involve complex partial differential equations. This equation, very simply, allows us to account for the energy of a system. And that system can be as complex or as simple as the professor states.

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý In an ideal steady process the Accumulation term in the equation above is 0, nothing is building up inside and nothing is leaking out without replacement. A steady process is the goal of any good engineer. Accumulation can lead to anything from a massive tank exploding to a pipe imploding and collapsing in on itself. Neither extreme is more preferable to the other, they both end badly. When the balance is off, the math doesn’t work out and the process becomes dangerous. Without a good energy balance, school can become a student’s worst enemy. The danger is not physically imploding or exploding (at least not most of the time) but it is burnout, draining weeks or months, storing away that little bit of stress for another week. It is not a pretty process. There are lost nights of sleep, pent up frustration, seemingly endless knowledge checks, and the stress that makes life so hard. And eventually something has to give, the accumulation of life has caught up. But that is the worst case scenario, what if there was a way to avoid it?Ìý

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý There are two ways to think of this energy balance: the implosion and the explosion.Ìý When accumulation builds it causes an explosion. Think of a rampant reaction in a tiny bottle. When accumulation is negative or drains it causes an implosion. Think of a vacuum attached to a water bottle. Keep the energy balanced and the accumulation remains zero. Life is a steady process, always moving, always flowing continuously at the same rate, no day passes faster than the last no matter how it may seem. So harness the energy balance to bring balance to school and life around it. This harnessing doesn’t come naturally to anyone, let alone students with as much on their plates as engineering students. The steps can be as simple or as complex as life demands but to take them is key to a rewarding life both in and out of the classroom.Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Start with Energy In. It is the food we eat, the sleep we get, the relaxation we can find. It is the joy, both big and small. It can also be our friendships, our relationships, our family, our communities. Sometimes it can be hard to maintain our incoming energy, sometimes things that are supposed to provide us energy can drain us. That is why diversifying the things that give energy is key! When something becomes an energy loss it may be time to consider shifting, at least temporarily, to another energy source. But it is still key to get the basics down, food, sleep, and relaxation. Without these sources of energy, our bodies and minds can’t get the minimum energy to keep the system running. It may be hard to find time for food or sleep or even a 10 minute break, but it may be easier than initially thought. When the system is given the right amount of energy, it can more efficiently convert energy into work and effort.Ìý

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Energy out is next. It is the work one does, the studying, the homework, the projects. It is a bad day, or a mean person. It is the internal struggles and daily challenges. But energy out is not always negative. It can be the small amount of work needed to smile at strangers, to be a kinder friend, to make a difference in our communities. The key is to make sure that the losses don’t outweigh the gains. Whether that means better time management, asking for help, or maybe less responsibilities, it is important to not let the outlet of energy become a gaping hole. The other key to remember is that failure is inevitable, whether big or small, and it can be crushing but that is okay, the point is not perfection but a balance.Ìý

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Generation is last. Generation is a tricky term in an energy balance, it can mean a variety of things in various contexts. Here generation is the aspect of life that helps one with energy recuperation. Whether it is listening or playing music, spirituality, meditation, playing a sport, working out, or reading generation is something that may not seem like it gives energy but is key to keeping energy up. Like an inevitable exothermic chemical reaction, generation is something that may take a catalyst or starting energy but produces far more energy than the starting point. Generation is the extra kick to balance the math and make the system steady. If a reactor design is a little off balance a cooling system might be the needed part to prevent explosion. A student cannot exist in a steady state without some kind of generation, big or small. There is much more to life than studies and school and to balance their importance something creative or expressive or exerting is key. So join a rec-league or sing in a choir or spend time in the mountains because life is so beautiful and that reminder might just keep you from burning out or giving up on a homework assignment.Ìý

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ultimately, behind the engineering laden language and frankly lame metaphors, there is a message that I want to impart: be more than an engineering student, be a person who has feelings and emotions and breaks down, be someone who knows how an energy balance works. Use the tools of life to their fullest potential, take breaks, eat well, sleep because life is not just now and the balance today ensures smooth operation for the rest of the process that is life.Ìý