Rans Miguel

Parents usually say that their child’s interests at a young age would somehow shed light on the profession that they will pursue when they grow up. You have kids playing with toy stethoscopes and surgery kits who become doctors in the future, while those who enjoy collecting play money bills turn out to be leaders in the business world. I, too, had that kind of story when I was younger. My parents mentioned that I would be often seen mixing bath and body products in hopes of creating an enhanced version of those two items. Silly as it may sound, I believe that my curiosity in the field of chemistry and product development stemmed from that childhood memory.

Engineering is a field of profession that is deeply rooted in fabrication, manufacturing, or just simply, creation. As engineers, we strive to create that which has never been. There is always room for improvement for an existing system or product to make our lives better. In a way, the same concept may be applied to us as individuals. We grow when we step out of our comfort zones — away from the familiar. We learn when we collaborate and work with other people who share similar enthusiasm in their own fields. This desire to develop myself further led me to my decision of pursuing my postgraduate study in another country and here at HKUST.

Although I have only spent a year in the university as of this writing, I could already say that I have been exposed to numerous opportunities to gain new knowledge and skills both for my research and my personal holistic development. Now, I can’t wait for what comes next in my journey, and I look forward to sharing my story to the younger generation.