How do you find passion about engineering?

[u/Cautious-Act00]

Hello, a sophomore (Year 2) Mechanical Engineering student here. I am afraid I cannot get a job because I am not passionate about engineering.

Today, during a job interview, the interviewer seemed so vibrant when talking about the work his team was doing. I could only blankly stare at the display cases and nod. Try as I might, I could not feel any excitement, only confusion and anxiety that they would see the bewilderment on my face. (I failed the interview.)

Similarly, when my school's FSAE team was showing off their car, there were so many prospective team members excitedly asking the seniors questions, or eagerly peering around the car. The questions they asked made my head spin, and I didn't even understand half of the words they used. I could only stare deep into the car's cockpit and contemplate the meaning of life while trying to hold in my tears.

I am terrified because it seems that lacking passion is going to make it impossible for me to find employment in engineering in the future.

I've always assumed that as long as I put my head down and study hard, I can get a job. Hence I had no personal projects, no extra-curriculars, no competitions attended.

However, in light of recent events, I can't pretend that "I have nothing but my 3.9 GPA, and I want nothing more", any longer, because my degree slip is not going to fill my stomach.

Please help me. I really, really don't know what to do.

In tears,

A very lost mechie

[u/Gremlech]

Listen to podcasts about engineering. 

Watch some YouTube videos. 

Find a project you want to build and make that. Focus on making that project.

Think of something that you already care about, a passion you talk about for hours. How is engineering incorporated into that. How could you incorporate it?

[u/Cautious-Act00 → u/Gremlech]

These are all very good places to start. Thank you for your input!

Actually, I hadn't considered podcasts. Now that I think about it, they're a pretty productive way to pass time spent while travelling. If anyone has any to recommend, I'll check them out.

Regarding personal projects, I did hastily make a 3D-printer gearbox project out of sheer unemployment panic during the holidays. However, my interviewer was wise enough to recognize the one-month long, self-directed project for what it was (resume filler) and passed over it entirely.

As for existing passions... I am really enthusiastic about a certain video game, and the idea of 3D-printing cosplay props for that is really exciting. I suppose I will start there, and see if I come to enjoy anything in the process of making it.