Reborn Engineer

Chapter 1: The Dreamer's Burden

John Parker had always been a dreamer. Even as a child, he would spend hours tinkering with anything he could get his hands on—old radios, broken toys, discarded scraps of metal. His small bedroom had always been a chaotic workshop, filled with the sounds of gears turning and wires sparking as he pieced together his creations. His parents, though worried about his obsession, had always encouraged his curiosity. They saw the spark in his eyes, the unyielding determination to create something extraordinary.

But dreams, as John would come to learn, were not always enough.

By the time he was in high school, John's talents had become evident to everyone around him. His teachers marveled at his ability to solve complex engineering problems with ease, and his peers often turned to him for help with their projects. But while others saw a prodigy, John only saw the mountain of challenges that lay ahead. He knew that talent alone would not be enough to achieve his dreams.

His family's financial situation was dire. His father had lost his job at the factory when John was twelve, and his mother worked long hours as a nurse to keep food on the table. The bills piled up, and the stress weighed heavily on all of them. John's older brother had dropped out of college to take on a series of low-paying jobs, and his younger sister, Lily, had been diagnosed with a chronic illness that required expensive treatments.

John knew he couldn't rely on his family to support his dreams. If he wanted to become an engineer and build the company he envisioned, he would have to find a way to do it on his own.

So, John threw himself into his studies. He applied for every scholarship he could find, took on part-time jobs after school, and spent his nights designing and building prototypes in his garage. His social life was non-existent, but he didn't care. Every waking moment was dedicated to his goal: creating a future where his family wouldn't have to struggle anymore.

By the time he graduated high school, John had already been accepted into one of the top engineering programs in the country. His family was proud, but the reality of the situation weighed on them all. The scholarships covered most of his tuition, but there were still living expenses, books, and other fees to consider. John's brother offered to help, but John refused. He couldn't bear the thought of adding to his family's burden.

Instead, John took on multiple jobs while attending classes full-time. He worked as a lab assistant during the day, a cashier at a local grocery store in the evenings, and a janitor at night. It was exhausting, and there were times when he thought he might collapse from the sheer weight of it all. But every time he felt like giving up, he reminded himself of why he was doing this.

It wasn't just for him. It was for his family, for the future he wanted to build for them.

His professors noticed his dedication and often commented on his work ethic. But they also saw the toll it was taking on him. He would show up to class with dark circles under his eyes, his clothes rumpled from a night spent cleaning classrooms or stocking shelves. But despite the exhaustion, John's mind was always sharp, his focus unwavering.

He quickly became known as the "quiet genius" on campus. While others partied and socialized, John spent his weekends in the engineering lab, perfecting his designs. He rarely spoke to anyone unless it was about a project, and even then, his words were few. He was driven by a singular purpose, and nothing could distract him from it.

But as the years went by, the pressure began to mount. The weight of his responsibilities, the relentless pace of his studies and jobs, the constant worry about his family's financial situation—it all began to wear him down. He started having trouble sleeping, his mind racing with thoughts of unfinished projects, unpaid bills, and the looming fear of failure.