Submission Number: 500
Submission ID: 1645
Submission UUID: 608b20b5-9411-4f95-9d0f-b6d9a244d170

Created: Thu, 03/27/2025 - 18:31
Completed: Thu, 03/27/2025 - 18:31
Changed: Sun, 04/20/2025 - 15:16

Remote IP address: 2600:4041:55ca:1200:c516:f70d:c41a:ec11
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English

Is draft: No

Flagged: Yes
Yes
Elizabeth
Rosato
She/her
Garden City
New York
United States of America
11530
Mechanical Engineering
English(5), German(3)
Weaving through the crowded streets of the Medina Souks, it was like your senses were being ambushed from all around you. The yelling of the shopkeepers from the hundreds of stores all crammed together, the massive crowds moving together in a controlled chaos, and the strong scent of all the different spices all conveyed the beauty of such a unique market. Being able to travel to Morocco was a dream come true, but experiencing the structures that so heavily contrast the streets of New York was what opened my eyes as an aspiring mechanical engineer. Everywhere around the world, cities and livelihoods are built around a culture, and that culture is expressed through the architecture. To understand a country's engineering, you need to understand their culture. Back to the souks, these massive marketplaces utilize certain aspects to attract customers. Unlike New York City's rigid grid, Moroccan souks evolved to maximize shade, funnel foot traffic, and create natural air circulation. The narrow, maze-like layout isn’t accidental—it keeps the market cooler and encourages slower movement, increasing engagement with vendors. Every little piece of engineering seems strategic, even the roads. In New York, the streets are made out of asphalt because they are cost effective and durable. However asphalt attracts heat and so in the peak of summer, getting around the city isn't the most pleasant experience. However, in the souks the roads are paved with stone or tile to retract heat, allowing customers to have a comfortable experience, and focus mainly on what to buy, and not worry about getting a heat stroke. Learning about all of this really puts into perspective how much thought, planning, and designing goes into every structure. Every brick being placed down is being placed for a reason, and every pebble has a purpose. Experiencing the souk first hand made me think about how mechanical engineering isn’t just about designing machines—it’s about understanding movement, efficiency, and adaptability. Studying mechanical engineering in the RAP program will allow me to explore how different cultures solve the same challenges in unique ways. Knowing about all the different cultures allows for Engineers to utilize strategies to build new structures, taking what we already know and building something new with it.
Sometimes the best engineers aren't the most high tech, but those who are able to utilize the given resources around them. While I was growing up, I thought that engineer's only job was to continue advancing technology to the point we would have flying cars or robots doing the work for us. While I was working on a house down in South Carolina, however, I realized it was much more complex than that. We were building houses for people who lost their houses during hurricane season, and we had to work with very scarce resources. We didn't have massive cranes or top notch materials. Just simple wood stakes, piles of metal, and the work of 30 mission trip students. There are tons of constraints that engineers have to consider on every individual build, such as climate, resources, and politics. In the United States, the apartments on Californian beaches are going to look a lot different than the houses built on Utah mountains. Imagine the difference across the Atlantic. However, the beauty in engineering is the ability to utilize the constraints around you to make the best possible build. Back down in South Carolina, we utilized the metal to create hurricane straps, and attached it to every single foundation. We used each other to line up the columns and create the houses from the ground up. Thats the beauty of utilizing each other. The experience using my skills in a different environment opened my eyes to the truth about the real world. This is why perspectives keep growing the field of engineering. These experiences showed me that mechanical engineering isn’t just about designing cutting-edge machines; it’s about understanding the needs of different communities and building solutions that are sustainable, cost-effective, and practical within their environment. By studying mechanical engineering with a global perspective, I hope to develop solutions that improve communities worldwide—whether it’s designing more efficient water systems, creating sustainable energy solutions, or improving transportation in underserved areas. Engineers must collaborate across cultures to solve today’s biggest challenges, and my mission trip experiences have prepared me to think beyond my own surroundings and approach problems with a global mindset.
After all my experiences in high school, I realized that engineering isn’t just about designing machines—it’s about designing for people. Every culture has unique challenges, and the best engineers understand how to adapt solutions to different environments. That’s why I want to be part of the Global Engineering RAP. As a future mechanical engineer, I want to explore how different cultures approach engineering challenges, whether it’s through innovative transportation systems, renewable energy solutions, or sustainable building materials. I want to be able to further my knowledge in this certain field, as well as engage with other aspiring engineers who are looking for the same thing. Looking at where I am now, going to my dream school for my dream major, I realized none of this wouldve happened without the people around me. Engineering is a rigorous course, and even in high school it was a challenge. But I always had my fellow classmates behind me, and thats what made me motivated to push on. I want the same type of tight knit community in college as well. Being part of this RAP will give me the opportunity of a tight knit community. The chance to engage in globally focused projects and discussions will push me to think beyond my own experiences. I’m excited to gain new perspectives and develop skills that will make me a better engineer, whether I’m working in a lab or designing solutions for communities around the world. Beyond what I hope to gain, I also look forward to contributing to the RAP community. As president of my school’s engineering club and the head of sound for the theater department, I’ve loved leading projects and encouraging younger students to explore the complex world of engineering. I hope to bring that same passion to this RAP—whether through teamwork on global projects, mentoring peers, or sharing my experiences. The Global Engineering RAP is the perfect place for me to grow as a future mechanical engineer, expand my perspective, and collaborate with peers who share my passion for solving global challenges. I’m eager to immerse myself in this community and contribute my experiences, leadership, and enthusiasm for engineering on a global scale.
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