Why Civil Engineering?
Chickens are some of my life’s greatest teachers. I have learned that chickens are nearly impossible to potty-train, their pecks are beyond painful, and my patience is thinner than I thought. (That last one is a joke.)
One batch of chickens that I received was different from the rest. Aside from their feathers being fluorescent green (?) and all 15 appearing nearly identical, these chickens turned out to be broiler chickens–chickens genetically modified for meat production. These chickens matured in a mere six weeks, and their body weight quickly became too much for their legs to handle. Additionally, their temperature intolerance meant that they would soon die in the cold as winter approached.
I had to act quickly, so I moved my chickens to my shower and set off to work. I sawed PVC pipe scraps and stacked wood planks and eroded bricks. And voila! Within three weeks, my chicken coop and wheelchairs for recovering chickens were ready to go.
Chickens have not only shown me the power that lay in my hands when it came to ensuring they had the best lives, but also allowed me to explore different avenues to do so. Civil engineering aligns perfectly with my interests—to impact individuals through their everyday lives. As new issues, such as global warming, arise, I will proudly take on the challenge that the world gives us. At CU Boulder, I know I will use quick thinking, collaboration, resourcefulness, and innovation to change the world–for chickens and humans alike.
Published in Uncategorized
