I write this to you, almost as unashamed procrastination from a looming deadline, the subject of which I am struggling to remain interested in.
Today, for the past four hours or so I have been scrolling through the forums reading up on all the latest FSAE discussions (I'm following the 'Suspension Design' thread in particular very closely). What I've just described is a perfect reflection of my life since September 2011, including all of last summer, and my uni life since the start of this academic year. It's fair to say, I've been hooked on Formula Student.
Last academic year, the work I did towards our University's Formula Student team at least counted for one of my module marks, a group "dissertation". This year, I am back at the University doing postgraduate study, and have decided to continue being involved with Formula Student (much like a heroin addict 'decides' to take their next hit). I'd be a complete liar if I didn't admit that a strong reason I returned to University (the same one, in particular) was to be involved in Formula Student again. This year, Formula Student counts for nothing towards my course. And I can see that this year, just as last year, the rest of my studies will suffer, perhaps greatly, due to this distraction.
I have never been great at moderation. I see my dedication to the team as a reflection of the kind of person I am. In most stages of my life, there has always been one main goal that I have been working towards at that particular time. In relation to that goal, everything else at that time has taken a back seat, nothing is as important. Usually these goals have in some way or another been associated with cars or other engineering projects! In the future when I look back at my time in University, I'm sure I will only remember Formula Student, and not a lot else.
Where I say Formula Student highlights the kind of person I am, I guess I also mean it highlights what motivates me. Doing personal project work, I may often lose drive, and question why it's relevant, and what I am really gaining from it. Knowing that what I do for Formula Student is (at least, what I hope is) valuable contribution to a team's common goal means so much more to me, and helps me complete that work with a much better attitude, with a higher level of commitment, and to a much better standard.
Anyway, I'll try and get to the point, as I know this is a bit of a gay post and not very engineering-ey. Firstly, I would like to know, not just how many people on these forums are in similar situations, where FS is completely extra-curricular, but how many of these people often question whether it is worth it. I'm imagining the story of Formula Student for many people is very similar to what is conveyed by Matt Brown's Racecar, as it is for me.
What I'd also like to know is, in everyone's personal opinion, do you think it is actually worth it? I know that fundamentally, time you enjoy wasting is not time wasted. If Formula Student is to be considered this way, then yes, it is worth it. But I'm also thinking of how a prospective employer will consider how a student's time has been spent on the project. As one example (not indicative of myself, just hypothetical) if a student, perhaps capable of graduating with distinction in their course, achieves less, but has dedicated much of their time to a project like Formula Student, how is this viewed in industry when that student is applying for a job? I imagine the answers from various industries may differ greatly, from OEM companies to race teams.
I often see posts from professionals on this forum. Some posters have names I recognise (ClaudeR, DougM, EdK, BillC, Ben, JTom et al), there are also some posters that you can tell have experience in some form of industry, usually just by descriptions of past experiences they have had. How valuable do you guys really see experience in Formula Student? Are there things you would like to see FS students have learnt throughout their time on the project which may serve as some compensation for the time it has cost them, time they could have spent on improving personal course-work and grades? Is there something that an FS student may have at the end of his/her experience that a 100% straight-A student may not?
To put this question into perspective, a lot of my postgraduate buddies question why I am again involved with the project this year, when it does not count towards my course. As you can tell, I have been asking myself the same thing! To put another spin on this question, might a student from a university that performs more successfully in FS events take more from the experience than a university that is often unsuccessful? How can a student doing FS ensure they get the most from the experience to help them in their future engineering career?
And to these same professionals, and others, how would the attributes I have described above be viewed by an engineering organisation looking to hire. Is admitting to being motivated more greatly by a team-based atmosphere regarded as important? Could my admission that I struggle to be motivated as much with personal research hinder me as a potential employee?
There is no way I can regret the time I have spent being involved with Formula Student. Even with the late nights, arguments, poor living conditions, and our poor performance at competition last year, I have loved it all. But until I move on to that next stage in my life, I will always be wondering if I made that magic 'right' decision!
I look forward to hearing some responses from you guys, keep up the good work![]()