Behind the Struggle | Exploring the Emotional Rollercoaster of Structural Engineering Exam Prep

[@Kestava_Engineering]

1:00 - A discussion on Non-SE engineers 6:35 - A discussion on SE's 10:14 - Kestava SE exam day recap and insights 15:00 - Calculator Horror enjoy!

[@pavanpatel4150]

Took it a couple of months ago and passed both components of bridges exam. I also thought that I would have failed because of the morning sessions, but my afternoon scores must have made up for them. It is an extremely intense exam and made the PE Civil Structural exam look like a walk in the park. Even the brightest senior engineers I know would tell me how crazy the exam is with one of them telling me that he'd be happy to take the PE exam once a year to maintain a license (not that that has ever been a requirement), but he'd run a mile if he had to do the SE again. By the way, I do not think lower of any engineer that takes the SE. In fact, taking the SE is the mark of an elite engineer. It is notoriously difficult and I respect anyone who has the determination to take and then some more for the people who take it, fail it, and then pick themselves up again ready to try again. It's a true mark of one's character. With that said, I know a bunch of great non-SEs who are very sharp (and I hope they go take the exam in the future). I can't say I have much experience of seeing SEs look down on non-SEs since, in Oregon (where most my career has been), you don't need an SE license for bridge designs. It's probably more of thing in the buildings part of the industry where Oregon requires an SE for certain types of buildings. I just left my company yesterday and I am still encouraging my former coworkers to get their SE. One of them emailed me asking for advice and I am more than happy to help him.

[@Kestava_Engineering]

Pavan great comment and additional info! it was great meeting you and looking forward to connect in our engineering careers down the road. hopefully your staying in this part of the country but very happy for your success in the SE!

[@pavanpatel4150]

@@Kestava_Engineering Thank you! I will indeed be staying around here. In fact, our Portland office is in downtown Portland Btw, did you get my email from Tuesday 12th? Sent it to your Kestava LLC email address

[@granitebuilt5836]

Would agree, there are some gatekeeper types out there and rather than taking on a role of mentor, they choose to criticize and not in a constructive way. I like messages and positive attitude you have tried to convey in your videos. Keep up the great work. 👍

[@oleopathic]

100% agree. They not only gatekeep technical knowledge, a taboo in a democratic society, but also bolster their own lowly self-image in their mind. Simply go around the gate and its lowly keeper. The gate isn't impenetrable.

[@Kestava_Engineering]

thanks for adding to the convo @granitebuilt5836!

[@archer111000]

7:30 Your perception of that is not wrong. When I passed my PE exam in July, right after congratulating me my boss said "when are you taking the SE?" Like this huge milestone meant nothing. I had that same sort of sensation dealing with other companies when my signature said "Designer" rather than "Engineer." Now that we've got the same title written in our signatures I'm finding they are more receptive to my suggestions or analysis of problems. Hopefully as we (millennials) move up we can work that hierarchical nonsense out of the system. We're all on the same team here guys, quit it!

[@oleopathic]

The purpose for existence of a hierarchy is to lubricate the gears of the business machine. It's not there for ergonomic or animal-comfort reasons! And works contrary to those human needs. :(

[@Kestava_Engineering]

thank you for your input @archer111000! I wasnt sure if this was just in my head, but felt it important to talk about.

[@SouthBayEngr]

Good luck my man. Got my fingers crossed. And if you didn’t pass, we don’t care; we know you eventually will. There’s more admirability for the guy who doesn’t get discouraged and instead gets back up when things don’t go his way. Your videos and channel have helped me more than words can describe. I passed my PE in hydrology/water resources and decided I want to shift to structural. Your content has made that shit considerably easier for me. Best of luck

[@SouthBayEngr]

Shift* haha

[@Kestava_Engineering]

@@SouthBayEngr shit - shift...eh same thing! and thanks for the kind words. means a ton, glad we pulled you into the structural side of things

[@samuelsteiner333]

I really appreciate you opening up and sharing about these things. I'll be taking the SE in a couple years and hearing your experiences and thoughts helps me shape my expectations.

[@juampi861226]

Man, I just wish you the best of luck. Hopefully you passed the Lateral portion of the SE. Please, if you did 🤞, don’t stop posting videos.

[@Kestava_Engineering]

no matter the outcome ill be making content for you all!

[@oleopathic]

Thank you for candindness, Rich.

[@Kestava_Engineering]

Thanks for listening! I wasnt sure about the topic but tried my best to convey my thoughts

[@stevenauyeung1410]

You'll always be a SE to me, regardless of what any licensing body says

[@Kestava_Engineering]

would love to chat more during a friday meeting! hope all is well

[@milanlal999]

Thank you sir for motivating us. I just saw your video and really it motivated me 🤪😆

[@Kestava_Engineering]

thank you and glad to hear

[@noahhough285]

Great video as always. What do you think about creating a video laying out what a good resume looks like? Just an idea.

[@Kestava_Engineering]

great idea, I know there are a couple other structural engineering channels that have covered this, but I could give my 2 cents!

[@oleopathic]

When do SE results flood in? Post about that. We're learning from your every video!

[@Kestava_Engineering]

im thinking they will be here in a couple more weeks. oh boy...

[@oleopathic]

@@Kestava_Engineering good luck, Rich. Plans in the meantime ?

[@MajiDreamer-pe6tg]

Hey I'm just wondering what would you do if there are no exams like these in your country. In my country there are no exams like these, it makes me wonder whether learning structural engineering more would be a waste of time, cuz when there are no exams like these, even if you have the ability to pass these, people wouldn't acknowledge it. What would you do if you are in my situation? Is it better to just follow the crowd and learn only the necessary things to finish a project, or learn more even if the effort felt like a waste of time cuz nobody would acknowledge it anyway? Please give me a honest answer. I know the 2nd choice is better in terms of being a better engineer, so please think in terms of other thing beside being a better structural engineer.

[@oleopathic]

Gatekeepers are sadistic because at one point they themselves were victims of sadism. ;)