An Engineered Saudade

By Ken Banh

Engineering, the career that powers the pistons and rotates the gears of the world. Silicon Valley is a hub for those who seek a future in engineering and San Jose is no exception.

Yerba Buena High School once had a program to teach high schoolers about engineering but as of this article, it is currently defunct. As a result, students have been cut off from getting a head start on one of the most popular and viable possible careers in San Jose.

But first, what is engineering? And why is it such a popular career in San Jose? For starters, engineering is the application of science and math to solve problems in our world. Engineers design, develop, evaluate, test, modify, install, and inspect a variety of products and conduct failure analysis to bring humanity higher and higher.

With so many complex machinery, buildings, and various other contraptions, there are many branches of engineering to keep the world running and moving forward. According to Types of Engineering Degrees, the six major branches are mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, management and geotechnical engineering. With hundreds of subtypes that spawned from the six.

As a career, engineers are high in demand and often have some of the highest paying jobs. It is no wonder why so many people want to become engineers. However, with such popularity comes great competition.

According to San Jose State University’s Fall 2019 Impaction Results from their own website, nearly every single type of engineering class had a SAT Eligibility Index (a system that uses a person’s SAT score and GPA to help decide who gets into a certain class) of around 4350. For comparison, a major like English - Creative Writing only has an Eligibility Index of 3000. To add onto that, applicants are ranked on a modified Eligibility Index that places greater weight on their Math SAT score.

Yerba Buena’s students could once take an engineering class but now it is nothing but a memory of the past and disappointment especially for the senior class of 2020. It once taught the likes of civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

It was apparently closed due to a lack of a teacher, since the previous teacher, Mr. Osuna was promoted to a higher position.

In an interview with a senior student and former engineering student for three years, Hailey Tran states that “I was shocked and kind of at a loss because it was supposed to be my final year of engineering as I entered my senior year.“ and when asked on what disappointed her the most about the closure, she responded “What disappointed me the most about the closure of the class was that I was no longer able to look forward to improving the go-karts that the previous classes had worked on.” These are the same go-karts that were always a highlight of the rally at the end of every school year.

Another former student, Hai Ly said that he was saddened but has no regrets because the two engineering courses were one of the most memorable experiences. When asked about his biggest disappointment, in response he expressed his displeasure, saying “The class was replaced with marketing, a subject I have no intention of pursuing as a major in college”.

This class was not only important to students but to the identity of the school itself. The school is somewhat known for its engineering program and even has its own advertisement on YouTube that showcases the engineering magnet program and the construction program.

In the same interview, Hailey says that “I believe it allows lower income students like those at YB to learn how to use certain tools and machinery that would be impossible to acquire otherwise, and it is a big factor for incoming students in their decision to attend YB.” Hai Ly stated something similar, that the program helps students prepare for the industry with industrial education such as Nextflex.

Losing such an important class has caused great pain for those who have experienced the wonders of such a class but some students didn’t let such a hindrance stop them in their tracks. Former students like Hailey and Hai continue their engineering and work on STEM related events in the MESA club (a club that focuses on science, engineering and mathematics).

Engineering is an insanely popular career choice, even kids from elementary school look forward to trying their hand at the skill. Such was the case when I asked what job she wanted to do in the future. Her response? Engineering, to which I responded that YB has a fantastic engineering program for her. Now, it is currently defunct and unless it were to return, little kids like her will be unable to follow through on their desires.

The engineering program must return, for it plays a massive role at YB for not only the school but to those who are already here and those who have yet to come. It is a class that is not so easily expendable and Yerba Buena will continue to bleed as long as it stays out of commission. Those who enter the gates of the school, aspiring to learn about engineering will have no engineering class to enjoy, no ability to experience the skills needed for engineering, and no headstart for when they reach college.