Ethics in Engineering: Different perspectives and educational approaches.
Professors often pointed to professional society ethics pages or ethical dilemma tests.
University now offers entire classes on ethics, analyzing real-life cases and discussions.
Lecturer’s Personal Disclaimer
Uses personal examples not because they are a paragon of ethics, but to illustrate points.
Admits personal flaws and brokenness like everyone else.
The lecture is personally challenging due to self-disclosure without knowing the audience.
Structure of the Lecture
Where You're From: Family of origin.
Who You Say You Are: Self-identity and choices.
Who You Show You Are: Actions and behaviors that define you.
Family of Origin
Operating System Analogy: Parents install your initial 'operating system'—values, humor, interests, etc.
Example: Food traditions and cultural differences encountered in school.
Growing and Changing: College is a time for discovering who you are beyond the installed operating system.
Accepting or challenging the initial system is a personal choice.
Personal Experience and Background
Upbringing: Did not graduate high school; married at 16.
Early Life Struggles: Early pregnancy, various relocations, and eventual decision to attend community college without prior family precedent.
College Transition: Feeling out of place and struggling with educational context. Highlights the feeling of discrepancy and disconnection from family of origin and old friends.
First-Generation College Student Challenges
Social Disconnection: Experiencing a sense of discomfort when visiting family or old friends due to educational and experiential changes.
Culture Shock and Expectations: Different backgrounds leading to different worldviews and the discomfort of bridging the gap.
Personal anecdote: Feeling out of sync with her mother and community after gaining new experiences in college.
Discovering Personal Values and Identity
Decision-Making: Emphasized the importance of oneself making decisions about personal values and identity.
Example: Choosing college despite no family precedent or support.
Phases and Trials: College as a time for trying on different identities and values to see what fits.
Long-term Change
Continual Process: Personal growth and change continue beyond college years.
Example: Educational journey and life changes recounting the decision to pursue higher education.
Achieving Success through Personal Effort: Importance of integrity and self-driven success.
Behavior and Ethics in Practice
Actions Define You: Emphasizes that actions speak louder than words—who you show yourself to be through actions is your true identity.
Example: Refusing to cheat on an exam because it didn’t align with personal values.
Career Choices Based on Values: Making career decisions that align with personal ethics and values.
Example: Avoiding industries that manufacture weapons or medical devices where failure could cost lives.
Conclusion
Incorporating Ethics: Urges students to align their professional life with their personal values.
Continuous Growth: Learning and adapting values is a continuous process and shouldn't be rushed.
Closing Remarks
Encouragement to Reflect: Encourages students to reflect on their own values and how they live them out in real life.
Shared Experiences: Highlights the importance of shared experiences and normalizing feelings of change.