Debugging My Degree: Why I Left Software for Structural Engineering

My time as a software baddie 👩🏽‍💻 (disclaimer: this is totally NOT hate mail to software folks…)

My second year had an unconventional start, with me actually taking Software Engineering. But wait- why the hell did I pivot to Structural then? (You may be wondering… or not) Well.. long story short, software just wasn’t for me. I guess my initial ambition to become a tech baddie stemmed from the ubiquitous glamourisation of six-figure salaries, lavish offices and insurmountable loads of free food often associated with software roles (I know we’ve all seen those TikToks). But I soon came to find out (in quite a mentally exhausting and soul-sucking way) the insane amount of work and effort it takes to stand out in amongst the sea of talented, sleep-deprived, black-hooded and desperately in need of deodorant, individuals just to land a 6 week internship for Foodstuffs (no, I’m not kidding).

I spent my first Semester as any other Software Engineering student where my days comprised of writing endless scripts of Java code (shout out to Valerio and Nasser-the goats of SOFTENG 281), drawing webs of logic circuits and coding a calculator (COMPSYS 201 was actually such fun thank you Jesin and Maryam!), learning what on earth a Hamilton circuit was (to those taking SOFTENG 282, I sincerely wish you good luck) and drinking copious amounts of caffeine to keep my eyes open. In between intense study sessions, my breaks involved me touching grass (and reality) or literally staring into the void because I lacked the energy to do anything else. From reading this, I literally sound like a software-hater, but I SWEAR, despite the challenges, I really enjoyed my time as a SOFTENG student.

A PIC TO SUMMARISE MY TIME IN SOFTWARE (ie, me every time my code doesn’t compile)

So why change specs?

Well, I encountered the astounding epiphany that my passion for coding was more of a hobby rather than a lifelong career aspiration. So I channelled my inner Nietzsche and brainstormed what I really wanted to achieve in my life. I’m not gonna get all existentialist and philosophical here (unless you really want me to lol) but I essentially came to the realisation that good health, security and independence were personally my utmost priorities. I became aware that my current pathway wasn’t carving that future out for me, and through speaking to those around me, including my family, mentors and friends, I was ultimately guided to the decision of transferring specialisations.

ME AFTER SWITCHING TO STRUCTURAL:

But seriously-why structural?

Well I didn’t want to deal with another horrifying electricity exam (the PTSD from ELECTENG 101 still flows deep inside my veins) nor did I want to calculate the radius of gyration of the wheel of a taxi (the mental gymnastics involved in dynamics problems temporarily paralyse my brain) and so, through process of elimination, I landed on Structural Engineering.

Ever since I was little, I have always been curious about the physical world around me, especially the spaces I occupied. My initial dream was to become an architect, but it lacked the technical and complex problem-solving that I enjoyed in my Science and Maths classes back at school. Structural Engineering is the perfect blend of Engineering and Architecture. It’s a type of art that we literally get to live and build stories in. How beautiful is that?!

As I came to learn from an industry mentor, New Zealand is currently experiencing a shortage of Structural Engineers, and with the growing need for more infrastructure, they are highly in demand. Through this spec, I loved the possibility of being able to create things that will literally outlive me (hopefully- if I did everything right). I feel like I can truly make a lasting positive mark in the world <3

SOME OF THE COOL THINGS YOU CAN CREATE WITH THIS BOUGIE DEGREE:

What did I learn from this? (+ insight into how to switch specs)

The lessons I learned from this experience are that, as important as passion is, it is also equally important to choose a sustainable career which supports your financial and health goals. But the most important message of all is that it’s totally okay to change your mind! Your interests and passions change over time, and you are able to learn so much about yourself through discovering them. By taking software, I was able to develop my analytical and complex problem-solving skills with structured logic and precision; skills that are directly transferable to Structural (and anything else, really). Despite this switch being a bit of a setback (Summer School, here I come), I always try to see these redirections as a learning curve. I discovered so much about myself (eg, that I absolutely despised GitHub Copilot- ChatGPT all the wayyyy) through this experience, and I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to truly grow as both a student and future engineer.

So, always listen to that inner voice and do what you think is right! (Remember, you have to put up with this degree for 3 more years).

💡 If you’re currently deciding on your specialisation, here are some important questions to ask yourself 💡

1. Are you genuinely drawn to this spec, or are you leaning away from others because you feel stuck, discouraged, or not “good enough”? (Is imposter syndrome clouding your decision?)
2. Can you see yourself continuing to grow in this area, even if it gets hard?
3. What do you want your typical work day to look like? (corporate girlboss energy, on-site problem solving, technical design work, or a mix of everything?)
4. Does this path support your mental health, values, and lifestyle priorities?
5. Are you choosing this based on what you want or what you think you should want (pressure, comparison, fear)?

Transitioning to another specialisation can feel daunting at first, but I promise it gets easier! Reaching the realisation that your current path isn’t quite right is already the biggest step. It is important to reach out to course advisors to be informed of all the logistical issues around switching (course enrolments, programme requirements, etc), gaining insight from professionals in the industry (through attending industry events and sending those LinkedIn messages!), as well as speaking to students already in the spec. Doing so will help you gain confidence and clarity in your decisions and maybe even fill you with excitement and spark for the next chapter in your engineering journey!

TL; DR

So.. as for updates about how this sem is going: Although I can’t say much about the first Semester Structural papers (I’d recommend checking out the Civil blog since the papers are essentially identical), Semester Two so far has been pretty chill and relaxing (no uptight ECSE folks here!).

So the main takeaway from this is that if you ever find yourself doubting your current spec, take a deep breath, reevaluate and change to Structural (and no, there’s no other option lol).