Seeing With New Eyes: My Professional Development Expedition as an Engineer

Submitted Manuscript

Abstract

Decision to be an engineer can be affected by hundreds of reasons. After a person successfully becomes an engineer, the next challenge is to pursue with engineering professional development, which is another context in the continuous learning process. I look through the lens of narrative inquiry and self-study to revisit my experiences in various professional developments such as research, design, communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving and others. Looking back more than three decades ago, I discovered the important turning point where I decided to be a chemical engineer. It was from that point of time; I gradually develop my engineering identity which is very crucial to the establishment of an indispensable engineer mind-set and character. Formal and informal education before, during and after university era combined as a meaningful chemical engineering roller coaster expedition. The excitement of learning new knowledge and gaining unique experience everyday resulted to the build-up of a matured chemical engineer. After a while, the process gracefully transformed from personally gaining to the integration of continuous learning and sharing, to benefit likeminded chemical engineering community. By showing this personal journey, I hope to enlighten the progression of professional development of an engineer.