Nicole Kidess

Period 3 AP Literature
Mr.White
October 30, 2016
SENIOR PROJECT RESEARCH PAPER
Students are motivated to join clubs in high school because they help keep students dialed
in and involved with school (Winlow,2013). Studies of high school students show that about 25
percent of adolescents join music-oriented clubs, such as choir or band, and 20 percent join
academic or career-related clubs, such as a science club (Lee, 2000). At a school like Santa
Susana High School, this 20 percent should be raised to 50-90 percent, since it is oriented to be
STEM certified. An academic club that will specifically influence students and engage them to
study and learn more about the civil engineering major should be implemented. Through
working with the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the association will sponsor
a high school chapter. The member will provide the students with field trips to their civil
engineering project sites, create projects and presentations for the students to contribute to, and
provide advice and scholarship information to the club. As infrastructure continues to age, civil
engineers will be needed to manage projects to rebuild bridges, repair roads, and upgrade levees
and dams as well as airports and buildings. Nowadays the employment of civil engineers is
projected to grow 8 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). It is important to research how to motivate students to join a
career oriented club and how to engage them in career oriented activities.
Students are more motivated to study a major when they have heard about it and are
inclined to make a lot of money through studying the field. So students should know the prestige

that comes with studying engineering. Non - engineers will be taken aback to hear of such a
profession that requires quite a lot of effort. They should be well aware of the sacrifices
engineering students have to make during their studies. Such as taking time out of social
activities and events to study for calculus and physics exams. So the element of respect comes
naturally (Top Universities,2016). Civil engineers design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain
construction projects and systems in the public and private sector. These projects and systems
include: roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, water supply and sewage treatment
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
The word engineer originates from the word ingeniator, which means ingenious in Latin;
ingenious meaning clever, original, and inventive. These words truly encapsulate what an

engineer is. During the Roman Empire, as the armies marched across the landscape of Europe, a
core of soldiers and army staff would find ingenious ways of helping the army cross the rivers
and lakes over the bridges built by them. Romans labelled these especially talented people as
engineers (Yurtseven,2002). The role of an engineer has evolved with the advance of technology
from an independent, self-sufficient and highly motivated inventor to an interdependent team
member of a corporate world. The perception of the engineer has also been transformed in the
eyes of society from a know-it-all inventor and tinkerer to a highly skilled and narrowly
specialised technical expert (Yurtseven,2002).
Civil engineers generally work in a variety of locations and conditions; many spend time
outdoors at construction sites so that they can monitor operations or solve problems onsite. Most
work full time. This profession requires a bachelors degree in civil engineering, in one of its
specialties, or in civil engineering technology. They typically need a graduate degree and

licensure for promotion to senior positions. Although licensure requirements vary within the
United States, civil engineers usually must be licensed in the locations where they provide
services directly to the public (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
An academic club, such as a Civil Engineering club, should motivate students to join
through building a good image of what Civil Engineering is all about. Many students tune-out
when they hear the word engineering. They think that the field is a very hard major that they
should not be invested in because they feel they do not have the capability to accomplish the feat
of studying this major. Many high school graduates in the USA are not academically prepared to
study engineering since they do not take a sufficient dose of mathematics, science and
technology based courses before they graduate. Over 300 engineering programmes in the USA
compete to recruit students from a slowly growing pool of eligible and prepared population. The
low mathematics and science aptitude of US high school students is of major concern for
engineering educators (Yurtseven,2002). Many of these students do not know the opportunity
and history they are missing out on by completely shutting out the subject of engineering.
With the creation of a civil engineering club, the major itself will be greatly advertised
and promoted around campus. By combining ASCE, the American Society of Civil Engineers,
club with GEMs club, the club of Girls Excelling in Math and Science, more girls will be
exposed to the engineering major and be influenced to learn more about it.This club combination
will work to narrow the gender disparity found in the field of engineering. In 2008, 41 percent of
college freshman men planned to major in science and engineering, compared to 30 percent of
women. More than four times as many men are enrolled in engineering, compared to women.
Frequently, you see women relegated to very traditional roles the men tasked to build the robot,

and the women tasked to be secretary for the group. While female engineering majors grade just
as well as men, they have a tendency to underrate their technical abilities. Women tend to leave
engineering with higher grade point averages than the men but they perceive that their
technical skills are sometimes different. But in reality, they are not different. (Marder,2012).
With studying civil engineering, or any engineering major, one will have acquired the skills and
the confidence to deal with any kind of problem. One will know exactly how to go about it, and
where to hit it. No problem no matter how big will seem insurmountable. In fact, one will
start viewing every problem as a challenge and an opportunity to grow (Top Universities,2016).
This is why the implementation of a Civil Engineering club would make this opportunity
available to more women; to help them gain back their confidence to take on challenges and help
make a difference in the world.

WORKS CITED

Author, Guest. "Top 5 Reasons to Study Engineering." Top Universities. Quacquarelli Symonds
Limited 1994 - 2015., 30 Sept. 2016. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,
2016-17 Edition, Civil Engineers,
on the Internet at
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm (visited
October 06, 2016).
Marder, Jenny. "Why Engineering, Science Gender Gap Persists." PBS. PBS, 25 Apr. 2012.
Web.
06 Oct. 2016.
Winlow, Susan. "School Clubs Keep Students Interested and Motivated." Daily Republic.
McNaughton Newspapers, Inc., 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
Yurtseven, H. Oner. "How does the image of engineering affect student recruitment and
retention? A perspective from the USA." Global J. of Engng. Educ 6.1 (2002): 17-23.
Lee Shumow. Club Participation, Why Participation is Expected to Benefit Youth, Benefits of
Participation in Clubs.
http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1838/Clubs.html">Clubs - Club Participation,
Why Participation is Expected to Benefit Youth, Benefits of Participation in Clubs.