Faiyaz Ahmad, who is soon to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the Cullen College of Engineering’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE), paints a remarkably well-rounded picture compared to the stereotypical concept of an engineering student: in addition to succeeding in academics, he has recently joined a new book club, practices martial arts, set to travel to Japan this summer, and plans to take up a new hobby in archery.
No big deal, right?
In fact, keeping his options open is something that hits home in Ahmad’s experience as a systems engineer. Having started in chemical engineering with an interest in a potential future in oil and gas, he took some time off from full-time schooling to serve as a caretaker for an ailing family member, and in working to get his schedule back on track, he realized that perhaps some changes were in order.
A chance encounter with ISE lecturer Nathanial Wiggins, Ph.D. opened up an entirely new path — or perhaps many — for Ahmad.
“Due to a few hiccups, I scheduled a meeting to see what I could do about my major. From this meeting I met Dr. Nathaniel Wiggins, who thought that systems engineering would be a great fit for me,” Ahmad said. “It’s a very interdisciplinary field. I could graduate and focus on technology, or focus on hardware, or — realistically — a lot of other avenues.
“If I was still in chemical engineering, I’d be set to be in only chemical engineering. But with systems engineering, I can work with NASA or do just about anything with aerospace, or I could go towards optimization and planning… It’s my niche. Most people nowadays don’t really have their niche — they haven’t found it yet. But I found something that interested me as a major and a future.”
Though his mother — herself a businesswoman — described engineering as being “just a little bit harder” than a business degree when she convinced him to pursue it, one course in particular — engineering mathematics — seemed determined to through Ahmad for a loop.
“‘It’s just a little bit harder,’ she said... I think she lied to me,” he laughed.
He wasn’t alone, though; a dozen of his fellow classmates ended up forming a regular study group to pore over the textbook, review quizzes, and work as fiercely as they could to succeed in the face of challenging expectations.
“We used Discord. We met in person. We texted. We weren’t a formal organization or anything — we were just 12 people dying to make the grade. I think that was the most rewarding grade — the most rewarding A, actually — that I’ve earned,” he said. Similarly rewarding was the satisfaction Ahmad experienced when successfully helping to teach or explain a concept to a fellow student.
He also hopes to inspire more people, students and professionals alike, to talk about systems engineering so that more students would be able to have the exposure that he did and view it as a viable pursuit for their futures.
After graduation, Ahmad’s focus is on personal and professional development: he plans to obtain multiple certifications and licensures, including sitting for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and obtaining his Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) certification, and is also considering certification to teach high school calculus — a passion pursuit that echoes his experiences and would allow him to give back to his community.