Notebook in one back pocket, calculator in the other. As their future profession requires team work, you always spot them heading to class in multiples of “n”, where “n” is a number greater than one. The topics of discussions on their way to class more often than not , centers on principles learnt, but not yet fully understood, objections to a particular lecturer or teaching assistants method of teaching, or on very good days their plans to change the world cometh the hour when the degree is earned.
From all directions of KNUST they come to their destination, the hallowed grounds of the College of Engineering. Their objective, one and the same; get through class for the day so they can return to their personal studies. These groups of students so described are no other than the Mechanical Engineering students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). In this piece, I shall attempt to chronicle the lifestyle of second year Mechanical Engineering students of KNUST.
Most often than not, the average Mechanical Engineering student wakes up at 7:45am, to prepare for the first class of the day which begins at 8:00am. In the fifteen minutes before the beginning of the class, one would normally learn the true meaning of optimization as the engineer would bathe, dress up, pack the required course material s for the day and still be in class on time.
Working witthin a limited timeline is a crucial skill every Mechanical Engineer is required to posses hence waking up late and still being in class on time is ultimate proof that the skill has being honed. While in class, every Mechanical Engineer has come to accept the fact that in any given lecture, only twenty five percent of the lecture would be understood in class, fifty percent more in the library, and study rooms, the remaining twenty five percent, well, you understand in the exams hall or upon graduation.
Assignments and deadlines forever our companions. A general rule of thumb is if two weeks has being given as the deadline to submit an assignment, you only look at the questions a week later, three days to deadline you start asking around “chale, you do the Dynamics?”, or “chale the strength, how far?” Usually no one gives a positive response as they were also all too busy with other pressing course materials.
Finally, a day before submission, by general consensus , the supreme brainstorming council convenes at headquarters which happens to be the Vodafone cafe study area. There, gathered and split into groups, the assignment is tackled and ultimately defeated. I am yet to go to the Vodafone cafe during a supreme brainstorming council session and find out that an assignment was too difficult and could not be solved, this goes to show the quality of intellects gathered in the class.
At lectures end, hungry and exhausted , you see the engineers all heading in one direction. They are all going to tend to their stomachs at the famous “ATTA MAAME” food joint. At this joint, anything goes, food combination wise. Senior colleagues who have gone through the system have developed an algorithm of food combination for maximum satisfaction at minimum financial burden. You see bowls filled partially with “jollof” partially with “Gobe”, partially with “yam” and partially with “plantain”. The air is filled with music and the atmosphere is one of camaraderie and brotherhood, as all settle to eat before dispersing to reconvene for lectures on the morrow.
There is no doubt in my mind, that amongst these unique minds gathered in the second year Mechanical Engineering class, is the next Professor Francis Allotey, the next John Nash, the next whoever they want to be or surpass. Here on this hallowed grounds of the College of Engineering are the individuals who would lead Ghana out of technological poverty and into abundance in the nearest future. They are the proud and the few.
