Since first arriving at the decision my senior year in high school, I have not changed my mind about majoring in biomedical engineering. Many people will ask what exactly is biomedical engineering. Coming in to college, I did not know even half of what I know now about the major. My definition of biomedical engineering is it is the intersection between innovation and medicine. Biomedical engineers innovate anything clinicians use in their practice such as catheters, surgical screws, and imaging devices. Biomedical engineering also encompasses novel therapies that may not have translated to the clinic yet. The development of gene-editing techniques and different methods of drug delivery are great examples of research being done to improve the health field. The goal of biomedical engineering is to create the solutions to disability and illness, so people can live healthier and pain-free lives.
Biomedical engineering students acquire skills like 3D design, programming, and circuitry, and they learn how to apply them to the health field. Since the health field is vast, biomedical engineers need to have an understanding of many different aspects of science and engineering: chemistry, biology, physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and materials science. This robust background allows biomedical engineers to seamlessly collaborate with other scientists and engineers to address health problems.
First and foremost, I chose biomedical engineering because I was passionate about people’s health. I did not want people to have to change the course of their lives just because of a disease they obtained randomly that could not be cured completely. I myself suffered a devastating injury playing soccer that I could not recover from in high school. Part of my identity as a soccer player hoping to play at the collegiate level was stripped away from me, and I did not wish that experience for anyone else. Thus, my decision to pursue biomedical engineering comes from a personal drive to combat disability.
I was also curious about all the fascinating research being done to tackle our most pressing health challenges. In my senior year of high school, I saw a professor lecture on tissue engineering, and I was amazed by how revolutionary artificial tissue could be for people with arthritis. I came into college already wanting to find my place in this growing field of biomedical engineering. Health is something that is not discriminatory. Everyone will face a health problem at some point that will threaten to disrupt daily routine. I believe biomedical engineering is the way in which I can make the most positive impact on people’s lives.
