mines Source-International Living
Where mines turn into minds: the unwritten story of NMT university
As an average Asian kid—particularly in India—children are often given only two career options from the moment they are born: doctor or engineer. In fact, even while the child is still in the womb, their life and career are already being planned out by their parents. By the time the baby is born, they become a victim of an artificial and unrealistic life, designed not by them, but for them.
All their extra time is packed with various activities, leaving them no time to play or explore freely. This, combined with the intense academic pressure, makes children more prone to mental health issues. It may even explain why one in four teenagers today struggles with depression. In many households, doctors and engineers are portrayed as the heroes of some grand action movie, while more creative professions—like artists or designers—are viewed as the villains.
The truth is, creative careers often aren’t valued. Professions like engineering, medicine, or civil services are considered more “respectable” and carry higher social prestige, especially in traditional circles. On the other hand, creative paths require years of dedication before gaining recognition. They’re not always seen as “serious” careers by extended family or society. Even if a child breaks free from strict gender roles and decides to pursue their own dreams, another obstacle awaits: college. Many students dream of getting into an Ivy League school, but the reality is that most—especially immigrants—don’t make it.
But should a rejection from a prestigious college stop someone from chasing their dreams? Absolutely not. Beyond the well-known Ivy League schools, there’s a whole world of underrated institutions offering great opportunities—one of which is New Mexico Tech (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology). What makes NMT stand out is its strong emphasis on research and STEM fields. With an acceptance rate of 74%, it’s more accessible for a wider range of students, including immigrants. The campus is diverse too, with 51% of students coming from minority backgrounds, including Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian students.
You might be wondering why it has “Mining and Technology” in its name? this is because, when NMT was founded, mining was a booming industry in New Mexico, especially in the town of Socorro, where the university is located. It was created to train engineers and scientists for the mining and minerals industries that played a big role in the local economy back then. Over the years, though, it has grown far beyond mining and now covers many different science and engineering fields. We all know about Carl Sagan, the famous astronomer and science communicator,.
Besides his work on discovering the possibilities of life beyond Earth, he also specialized in exobiology, was once connected to NMT , as they test explosives all the time ! Just outside of Socorro, you’ll even find the ghost town of Kelly, owned by NMT. Students often explore it for geology fieldwork—or just for fun. If you’re into adventure, science, explosions, and quirky campus culture, NMT is truly a hidden gem. In conclusion , If you’re into adventure, science, explosions, and quirky campus culture, NMT is truly a hidden gem. NMT is the perfect campus for astrophysics, geology and engineering enthusiasts.
By: Gayatri wayal
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