Hello! My name is Jacob, and I’m a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Michigan. I currently live in McChesney Hall. Today, I’ll be taking you through a typical Monday at Cedarville, which is typically a busy day. I hope that this read gives you a glimpse into college life at Cedarville!
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I have morning classes at 8 a.m. I typically get up at 6:30 a.m. to allow myself time to do my morning routine. Around 7:15 a.m., I walk to the dining hall for breakfast.
On campus, we like to say, “no Bible, no breakfast,” highlighting the importance of quiet time in the Word, and I typically do my quiet time before class. I’m reading through the book of Matthew, and I’ve been encouraged by the teachings of Jesus and how He brought the Kingdom of heaven to earth.
Once I spend time in the Word and finish breakfast, I walk to my first class: Circuits and Instrumentation. This class discusses the analysis of electric circuit design, and we demonstrate what we learn in the lab. Our professor, Dr. Brown, also has a devotional to help us reorient our minds on Christ before the lecture.
My next class is Dynamics at 9 a.m. I like this class because we learn to describe things that are moving and how to model their paths while analyzing the forces influencing those paths. This is a fundamental class for the mech-e degree that emphasizes problem-solving, which is why I chose the mechanical engineering major. I enjoy learning how systems work and solving real-world problems that impact people’s lives. I want to use my gift of engineering to advance God’s Kingdom.
Once Dynamics is over, I walk over to the Dixon Ministry Center (DMC) for the daily 10 a.m. chapel. Even before going in, I love seeing the crowd of people coming into the building at the same time, knowing we’re about to worship God together. I typically sit with a few friends. Today, our president, Dr. White, preached from Joshua 13–17, highlighting God’s faithfulness to an unfaithful Israelite nation. We also worshiped God through song after the message.
After chapel, I go to my Calculus 3 class at 11 a.m. Multi-variable calculus concepts are the core focus of this class. Like many others, this class is three credits, meaning it meets three times a week, whereas my Circuits and Instrumentation class is four credits and meets three times per week plus a lab once a week.
After Calc 3, I grab lunch around noon, either at the Chick-fil-A on campus, The Cafe, which is a grab-n-go-style venue in our new Scharnberg Business and Communication Center, or the dining hall. Depending on how busy I am, I’ll also crank out some homework in the hour before my next class. While an hour may not seem like much time, those 60 minutes can be valuable to begin an assignment, finish smaller ones, or continue that weeklong project. Occasionally, I’ll have lunch with a hallmate, roommate, or a group of friends. If you want to have lunch with others, just ask around in your hall or invite that friend from class. Most people would be glad to share a meal, and it’s an excellent way to build relationships.
I also have time to get a cup of hot chocolate at Rinnova, which is our coffee shop on campus, located in the lower Stevens Student Center (SSC). It serves a wide range of coffee, tea, mochas, and even smoothies, with seasonal options appearing throughout the year.
My final class of the day is Computational Methods at 1 p.m., which deals with the programming language MATLAB to use numerical methods and linear systems for solving complex problems. Dr. Fredette explains the content well and has a lot of fun doing it. It’s my favorite class of the semester so far.
My classes are done at 2 p.m., so I have two hours before my next activity. If I have questions for circuits homework, I’ll go to my professor’s office hours. The professors delight in helping students with content or just discussing life with you, which is why their offices are often open for students during certain times. After that, I worked on some Calc 3 homework for about an hour.
Here on campus, there are many opportunities for students to get involved, and I’m involved in a student theatre project. Today was our first meeting, and I helped with script-reading and acting for a couple characters. Other people on the team also did an excellent job, and we had fun doing it.
Another involvement opportunity I have is the Society of Engineers Aiding Missions (SEAM) org. We meet weekly on Mondays either to pray for our missionaries or build solar lights for missionaries without electricity so they can prepare sermons later into the night. Today is a build night, and we use soldering irons to attach the components of the circuit together. Once finished, they are sent out to our missionaries. It’s a tangible way to serve those who are among the nations fulfilling the Great Commission.
As per tradition, after the build or prayer night, we go to Chick-fil-A as an org for dinner. It’s a great way to bond with other engineering and STEM majors and build community among the group.
After SEAM, I typically finish up homework that I have during the week and try to work ahead if possible. Because of my schedule this semester, I have no classes on Tuesdays or Thursdays, so I try to get as much done as possible to spread out the workload. On other days of the week, there will be Discipleship Group (d-group) meetings, opportunities to play in the Pep Band for Yellow Jacket basketball games, or other social events put on by my hall or Campus Experience. Students here are never bored!
This has been a day in my life on a Monday. I hope this helped give you a glimpse into life at Cedarville. If you’re interested in learning more about mechanical engineering at Cedarville, I encourage you to check out the program page!
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year of Graduation: Class of 2027
Tags: #academics, #classes, #day-in-the-life, #education, #experience, #helpful, #major, #mechanicalengineering, #personal, #student, #studentguide, #studentlife, #students
Posted in: Student Guide, Student Life