My Chemical Engineering Story | Should You Take Up Chemical Engineering?

Chemical engineering???

Let me share my story as a Chemical Engineering graduate. Definitely one of the most defining experiences of my entire life. Watch this video, especially if you’re trying to decide which path you want to take in university.

As the thumbnail says, in this video I'll talk about what chemical engineering actually is, what chemical engineers do, the pros and cons of taking up chemical engineering for your bachelor's degree (plus how I was as a Chem Eng student in university), traditional and alternative career paths for chemical engineering graduates, when you should NOT take Chem Eng, and lastly, if the whole Chem Eng experience was worth it for me. Of course, God's role in this whole journey of mine is never out of the picture.

This is the video I wish somebody had shown me when I was 16 and clueless about what to expect in the next five years of my life, as a university student. Comment any questions you may have about this, as well as what you want me to talk about in the second part of this video. I'm hoping this video would help!

Love,
Kim

P. S. Congratulations to the newly licensed chemical engineers of May 2022!

Watch the video at HD (1080p) or higher (4K ready).
♪ Marshmellow (Prod. by Lukrembo)

[shadowx]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who's interested in ChemEng because of the interest in Chemistry... Thanks for your knowledge 🖤

[anfaalalbarwani]

I’m so glad you shared your experience on youtube, because mine is literally the same . Even the smallest details . They way I chose chem eng was just for no reason in particular just like you and I was good at maths and science and heard you make lots of money out of it so i thought why not. Again I didn’t have an insight as a teenager to make that kind of life changing decision. Also I suffered from mental health problems going onto my second year of uni . I ended kp repeating a year . Failed some modules throughout my journey which further enhanced the anxiety. I procrastinated a-lot didn’t enjoy it, felt stupid most times and I failed module at my last year didn’t get honors. By the last year I just wanted it to end I reached a point I didn’t care about the grades. I wanted to survive throughout because I literally felt like I couldn’t breath all time. That was my experience.

[Drie]

You speak so eloquently, with maturity, and composure. I am a big fan Kim!

[mycaasiquia]

This is so helpful thank you so much!
Im a senior high school graduate.
I really want to be a chemical engineer, I’m about to take chemical engineering course next school year.
but as it get closer and closer I’m starting to doubt myself if i will be able to overcome it and if i can take the difficulty of this course.
You’re amazing. Thank you!

[samnichles]

I am a PhD Chemical Engineer who recently retired from a rewarding career where I designed and commercialized sub-components for products such as disinfecting and industrial wipes, bio-degrable wipes, disposable diapers, protective medical fabrics, filters, and building insulation. These product designs and commercializations required developing expertise in man-made fiber, natural fibers, wood pulp, water soluble adhesives, hot melt adhesives, superabsorsent polymers, surfactants, fiber coatings, engineered fabric process design, injection molding, and a dozen different processes for bonding fibers into engineered fabrics. If a career in the company’s spotlight with a tremendous range of products and processes appeals to you then definitely consider chemical engineering. Always remember that college last four years, graduate school lasts four years, but your career will be for up to forty years. It’s better to be stressed for four years than depressed for forty years.

[charlesmorello]

chemical engineering is a fantastic opportunity. Sure there are tons of math, but you are open to a lot of professions. Cheers

[gwnnestella]

I hope I knew this before. I just graduated last year but if I was taken back in time, I won't pick this either. I discovered my preference for coding just a little too late...

Anyway, for anyone planning to take this, make sure you really like this career, otherwise you might feel regret. Taking ChE requires dedication, perseverance, huge effort, and sacrifice. So much sacrifice to the point you'll lose family time and alone time. It's to the point I never slept the whole day, awake since 6 AM till 9 AM and that is in ONLINE class. Judging by our seniors' remark, it's just how it is. It's that extreme given the amount of workload.

If you can't survive stressful and anxiety inducing situations, I highly recommend you pick something else.

[ellaa]

you are so right that God allows us to take certain paths. the uni I previously went to was a top university, the number 1 in my country. but after 2 years, I was faced with a decision to leave because I wanted to change majors and the program was so restrictive it didn't allow me to change. making that decision was the hardest thing I had to do in my life, but when I thought about why it was such a hard decision for me, I realized it was because I attended the school to "prove myself" to others- to prove that I was smart. I was very insecure and the school only exacerbated that; I felt below all my peers and didn't make the grades that I wanted. on top of that, I felt that ppl would tell me to just stay at the uni and graduate in something I didn't want to major in, simply because of the name of the uni, the clout it brings, and possible career ventures. but now, I have learned a lot about why God sent me there and put me through that. I would not have been able to address the insecurities that have been engrained in me since early childhood. Leaving the school allowed me to work on a huge rock that was blocking my life, and I thank God for that. I am at a much smaller university now, pursuing materials science and engineering, but I am happy knowing that I can excel anywhere God puts me.

[gabrielpinheiro]

I am from Brazil and I'm thinking about changing my course to Chem Eng

At this moment I am doing Material Engineering, but I actually don't know what God has planned for me and that really scaries me and if I change my course, I might stay one more year at College, what I do not think is a good idea

I've never dreamt about a career, but I know how important is to think about it

Your video really helped to remind me that God is always there and sometimes He does not mind the way that we are going, but actually sometimes the most important is to trust in Him

So thanks, God Bless u
(And sorry for any grammar mistake, I am still enhancing my English 😅)

[angelphalane]

I love that you trust God!
May He continue to work in your life!

[anjolierodriguez]

Taking this course because of the same reason as yours, ma'am!! Incoming freshman this year!!<33

[ChemEngWeekly]

Very good video- I have to agree with the careers points! I am planning to make a video on this myself soon, mainly to help those considering doing ChemEng at university, so great job 👏

[chudiokoye]

I think more than half of students studying chemical engineering picked the major because of those exact same reasons

[RHTQ]

Wow, I wish this video existed when I chose to pursue chemE. So glad you're willing to share!

[corazon]

thanks, kim! i am thinking of shifting to chem eng bcoz I'd like the challenge so I'm stuck midway. i know it's hard but I like it 😅 but I will be studying under scholarship soooo I'm not really sure now, I know I will fail at least once and I'm ok with that but yea scholarship... my last resort is if I ever passed the shifting application, then God approves of my plan 😆 I love that you included Him in your advice as well! Thanks for this video!

[MultiJoe]

What you said here is similar to what I went through. I tried my best to like it but just couldn’t. It was too difficult, too dull and too technical ! Glad I left it behind a long time ago but I did get my degree ! Good luck

[ayushsaxena]

As a Chemical engineer who has 2 years of experience in one of the biggest EPC firms I repent choosing this profession.

Chemical engineering was fun at University, I was a good student too. But job prospects aren't good at all compared to IT. But if you are interested in research that combines pure science and engineering you should be considering this course.

[starmokhele]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, it was really helpful!

[sore-xlhy]

I really really love how you brought God and faith into this, it made me so comfortable and understood while watching as I am a Christian trying to find my way in life with my future. God bless you sister thank you <3

[shraddha-thefrustratedhuma]

My reason for choosing chemical engineering was the same and now I'm very clueless 😐😐
know how I'm gonna earn