Water resource engineer, Mingxi Lin, loves that her job challenges her. Her work is complex, technical, and important \u2013 water resource engineers play a critical role in managing one of the world\u2019s most crucial and delicate resources. And since the technologies and methods engineers use to do their jobs are constantly changing, there\u2019s always more to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI do a lot of modeling, and use theories which involve complex equations and calculations,\u201d Lin said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of technical knowledge to keep up to date.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lin\u2019s interest to expand her technical knowledge is what led her to research going back to school for a master\u2019s degree in civil engineering. She figured a master\u2019s would help her stay on the cutting-edge of the field, open up more career opportunities down the road, and give her an exciting new challenge. But she needed a program with flexibility so she could continue working, and she wanted to focus her master\u2019s on water management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of Lin\u2019s coworkers, a Purdue alumnus, recommended she check out Purdue University\u2019s online Master of Science in Civil Engineering<\/a>. The alumnus said the program was highly-ranked with a practical, career-centered focus. After doing some research, Lin realized it checked all her boxes \u2013 it was 100% online, had a large variety of classes, and included a track in Sustainable Water<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI knew immediately that the program would be applicable at my work,\u201d Lin said. \u201cThere were lots of course options, and I could study part-time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before starting at Purdue, Lin had never completed an online course or program. However, her professors in Purdue\u2019s College of Engineering made sure the transition was seamless. They were always available to help her tackle the program\u2019s challenging coursework, and they encouraged her to complete projects with graduate students studying on campus, ensuring that her experience was equal in quality and rigor to the experiences of on-campus students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe program was definitely just as challenging as an on-campus program,\u201d Lin said. \u201cThe classes are the same, the interaction with professors is very good, and you work with on-campus students to complete assignments, so you feel like you\u2019re a regular graduate student.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since Lin was studying online and working at the same time, she did have to tackle the added challenge of managing work time and school time. In her career, she sometimes works over 40 hours a week, and pursuing her master\u2019s added another 10-20 hours a week of reading, assignments, discussions, and more homework on top of that. Balancing both responsibilities could be a struggle, but Lin says it taught her an invaluable skill: time management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI really learned how to pace myself so I could get through all of the work,\u201d Lin said. \u201cI worked a lot of late nights and weekends, but the work was interesting, so it didn\u2019t feel as bad. And now I can say I\u2019ve mastered time management \u2013 it’s something I can use in my career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the long hours, Lin kept herself motivated by thinking about why she decided to go back to school: to challenge herself and learn new skills. One of the most useful new skills she learned was how to use ArcGIS Pro, a new GIS software designed to replace the older version of ArcGIS, which Lin uses in her job as a water resource engineer. Since the older version of ArcGIS is being phased out, Lin knew she\u2019d have to learn to use the Pro version eventually \u2013 but learning the software by herself was daunting. One of her graduate courses taught her how to use the new software, and she was able to apply this new skill in her career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI got to use it to complete some projects, which helped me get comfortable using it,\u201d Lin said. \u201cNow I feel confident handling the transition at work, and I\u2019m able to teach other coworkers how to use the software.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Lin, being able to share new knowledge with coworkers and be a mentor to younger engineers is one of the most rewarding things about going back to school. Now that she\u2019s graduated, she can see clearly how getting a master\u2019s has increased her confidence as an engineer, made her a more effective teacher and mentor, and helped her grow through adversity. Even though the road to graduation was not easy \u2013 Lin sacrificed a lot of her free time to pursue a master\u2019s degree \u2013 she can use what she\u2019s learned to help younger coworkers find their footing in a challenging industry. When they look at her, they see a knowledgeable leader who can help them succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSince I have about seven years of work experience now in the field, I\u2019m transitioning from being a project engineer to a manager, which comes with more responsibility,\u201d Lin said. \u201cPart of being a good manager is being a good teacher. If you can help your team grow, you grow too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To learn more about Purdue\u2019s online Master of Science in Civil Engineering, ranked #2 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, 2024, please visit the program\u2019s webpage.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Water resource engineer, Mingxi Lin, loves that her job challenges her. 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