Michael Tocco

Scholarship Status: Awarded 3rd Place
Scholarship Awarded: Achievement Scholarship
University: California State University, Long Beach
Date of Graduation: 05/2016


Essay:

4 October 2014 I love to build. It really does not get any simpler than that. Ever since I was a kid, I would take a great deal of pride in anything I would create, be it a Lego house or a wooden, skate ramp. There was always something internally gratifying about using the skills I have accumulated through teachings and schooling and putting them to use in a practical way. To me, nothing was more satisfying than stepping back, after I had finished a project/model/creation, and taking a look at what I did. It has been quite some time since I have played with Legos, but not much has changed. A life geared in the direction of civil engineering has taught me new concepts and impressive ways to apply myself. I have realized how much more complex the application of engineering to the field of construction is. I love the intermingling of creativity and practicality within projects, along with the ability to inspire awe. Some of the world’s most impressive feats of engineering are true marks of beauty, including skyscrapers like the Empire State Building and the Burj Khalifa, to infrastructure like the Hoover Dam and the Brooklyn Bridge, and even major historical highlights like the pyramids of Egypt or the cobblestone streets of Rome. When I am not attending classes at California State University, Long Beach, I am most likely found working at my part-time job at the Port of Los Angeles. I am a student engineer there, in the Construction Division. I work under a Senior Construction Manager on a variety of projects including a new highway on-ramp, berth rehabilitations, and the construction of an administration building. I absolutely love the combination of in-office work, along with the ability to strap-on boots and a hard hat and go out to the field and observe. I have learned just as much from my job there, getting my feet wet in a field that I hope one day to work in. I admire the skills it takes to bring a project from drawing to reality, with managerial help. It is extremely satisfying to have a meeting about the pouring of a foundational footing one-day, and the next week, be able to see it in person, ready for the next step of construction. My dream job would be to work as an Imagineer for Disney. I would like to further my education to specialize in the structural aspects of civil engineering and have the ability to help create some of the most magical and awe-inspiring builds in Disney parks and locations. I want to have the opportunity to be part of a team that creates more than just concrete, physical objects. I want to have the chance to create something abstract: a feeling of awe that comes along with the site of major engineering projects like the Eiffel Tower or the many churches of Italy. I hope that it is easy to comprehend that a career within the civil engineering field is not a drab job where I look forward to clocking out at 5pm. I plan to find a career that I can invest my heart and soul into, to create things that continue to inspire the next generation. Thank you for your time and consideration, -Michael Tocco Go Beach! California State University, Long Beach Civil Engineering, Class of 2016

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