WHY I LOVE
engineering

Dominic Lipscombe is studying BSc Software Engineering at Liverpool John Moores University.

Here’s why he loves it.

I come from a little place called Ellesmere Port. Some would describe it as the ‘rear end of the Wirral’…

I describe it as my home. I grew up with my mum and sister in the same house, so tensions are always going to be high. Two girls against one boy – I was outnumbered. That was no issue though, because my grandad could always be called in times when back-up was needed!

Just like every other teenager, I didn’t take school too seriously. I was one of the ‘I can’t wait to leave’ type of people. Despite this, I still loved tinkering around with computers and making basic programs. Fast forward a bit and I grew up. Playing up is great, when you’re about eight. Not so much when you’re 15. You look a bit daft.

I went to West Cheshire College, where I studied software engineering. It’s here I excelled, and it showed. This was my passion, this was my calling. This is what I am to do. I left college with flying colours, and now I’m going into my placement year on my sandwich course at Liverpool John Moores University. Unsurprisingly, I’m studying software engineering.

Software engineering is the pinnacle of the 21st-century world, and that’s partly why I love studying it. I know that after I graduate, my undergraduate degree on its own will open lots of doors – I could end up on a team that makes missile launch systems, an aircraft’s navigation system, the next generation of games consoles… the list really is endless.

Software engineering allows me to test my own abilities and further them – having to solve complex problems in order to make a piece of software work as intended. I love this, I love a challenge. I love the feeling of solving a complex problem even more. It empowers me.

"I love this, I love a challenge."

The question is not ‘Would I have focused on the software engineering field had I not gone to uni?’ The answer to that is obvious. Of course I would. The real question is ‘would I be looking at software engineering with the same view I have now if I had not decided to go to university?' No. Definitely not.

This course has been a significant part in my learning, as it has allowed me to modify the way my mind focuses on a development task – rather than act like a bull in a china shop, all guns blazing when trying to solve a problem… I STOP. THINK. Take a minute.

If I had gone straight into a job in this field without a degree – which by the way would be an achievement in itself – everything I’d have been lacking that I’ve learned throughout this course so far would become apparent… very quickly.

I’m now on my way to get an amazing degree and I can’t wait to show it off. Thank you college, university, my family, everyone, for believing in me.