Robin Gao-Ping

I chose to study engineering, because of the freedom it allows. Nowhere else other than engineering can an individual be able to will whatever exists ideologically in the mind into real physical form. The degree of fluidity of thought and creativity was most attractive to me, especially for computer science, an area of expertise I knew I wanted to involve myself in since high school.  

During my first year, HKUST School of Engineering (SENG) was able to reaffirm that my interests lay in computer science. As a SENG student, I was able to partake in several different engineering courses of diverse fields. Though the courses were interesting, fulfilling and nourishing, by providing a different perspective on where to apply fluidity of thought/creativity, they simply couldn't rival the excitement I experienced again and again learning computer science, whether in school courses coding a working pacman game from scratch or in individual study learning how to code a website. Heading into my second year, my confidence into what I really loved, computer science, couldn't be stronger thanks to SENG. 

My advice to new students is to be open to different options. Many people head into college with only one or two specific majors in mind, and through their single-minded pursuit, close themselves off to possibilities. And though SENG not only encourages but also helps students broaden their minds on different engineering disciplines, it is still up to students to broaden their mindsets.