Tanner Used 3 Highlighters To Pick His Branch Of Engineering
Tanner Zachem is a graduate of Duke University and a Goldwater Scholar
Tanner Zachem is a Goldwater Scholar who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering applied to Neurosurgery from Duke University.
1.High School Passion
Tanner’s passion while in high school was snowboarding and snowboard photography;
He spent his summers out in Oregon, at a snowboard camp on Mount Hood, taking photos and training;
He didn't really pay attention in classes.
That is till Miss Okada appeared on the scene!
2.Ms. Yokana & The Engineering Curriculum
During his sophomore year he met Ms. Yokana.
Ms. Yokana was an architecture teacher who was starting an engineering program in their Public School;
She persuaded him to help her build the engineering curriculum;
Tanner fell in love with the idea of building things and serving other people, to make their lives society and everything just a little bit better!
3.“Which Engineering” Dilemma?
As Tanner progressed with his undergraduate study at Duke, he realized that he liked more than one branch of engineering:
Biomedical Engineering,
Mechanical Engineering, and
Electrical Engineering!
When Tanner was figuring out how to decide, Professor Gustafson at Duke Engineering suggested a simple way to resolve it.
4.Three Highlighters
So, in the Engineering department, there is a flowchart
For each Major
With all the classes you have to take,
And spots for the electives.
The first step is to print them all out.
Then take three highlighters - Yellow, Green and Red.
Highlight in Green, the classes, you're really excited to take,
The classes you're kind of indifferent to or you have to take, in Yellow,
And classes you're not looking forward to, highlight them Red.
Now, score the Greens “+1”, Yellows “0”, and the Reds “-1”.
Pick the Major that has the most points!
5.And The Major is…
Mechanical Engineering!
Tanner believes Mechanical Engineering is an unbelievable major, because you can specialize in anything after being a MechE;
You can pursue Mechatronics, Biomedical Engineering, Materials;
His Mechanical Engineering friends have graduated and gone into cybersecurity, robotics, mechanical design, electrical design, venture capital, to name a few.
Tanner is now pursuing a PhD at Duke before he takes on MD!
6.On with the Podcast
On my Podcast, Tanner shares his Duke University undergraduate experience, Interest in Neurosurgery, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Applying Engineering for Medicine, and his Advice for High Schoolers.
Listen to the Podcast with Tanner Zachem of Duke University.(53-Minute Listen).
Hope you find the stories and articles in the Newsletter inspiring and helpful. Please give me feedback or leave a comment to let me how I am doing.
Thanks.
Finally, my heartfelt Thanks to all my Podcast guests who have been generous with their time and counsel on my Podcast.
Have a wonderful week!
Venkat