The Time Is Always Right to Do What’s Right: A Lesson from Dharan

How often do we tell ourselves that we’ll start making tough ethical choices "later", once we graduate, land a job, or reach a position of authority? It is easy to treat integrity like something reserved for grand, high-stakes moments. But real character isn't forged in a executive boardroom or on a massive commercial site; it’s built in the daily choices we make right now.

Beyond the Blueprints
Take Samyog Sapkota, a 6th-semester Civil Engineering student at Tribhuvan University's IOE Purwanchal Campus in Dharan. Between back-to-back lectures on structural analysis and rare weekend breaks spent relaxing around local scenic spots, his weeks revolve around precise calculations, surveys, and lab deadlines. Like most engineering students, he dreams of designing bridges and infrastructure that stand the test of time. But recently, a real test of engineering ethics arrived much sooner than graduation day.

A Critical Catch in the Lab

During a major group project focused on designing a pedestrian suspension bridge for a rural trail, Samyog was double-checking the team’s foundation estimates late one night. That’s when he spotted a glitched value: a miscalculation in the soil shear strength data.

Leaving the error alone meant their design appeared light, cheap, and guaranteed a quick, top-tier grade on paper. Correcting it, however, meant scrapping days of CAD modeling, re-analyzing slope stability, and pulling an exhaustive overnight session right before submission. When he brought it to his team, the temptation to overlook it was clear: "It’s just an academic assignment. No real concrete is being poured."

Building on Integrity

For Samyog, the line between student work and professional practice was non-negotiable. Compromising on paper forms a dangerous habit of compromising in the field, where structural failures carry real human costs. Standing his ground, Samyog led his team through an overnight overhaul, recalculating a deeper, rock-anchored foundation that actually met safety standards.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously reminded us, "The time is always right to do what is right." Integrity doesn't wait for a formal job title or a convenient moment. It is the foundation you lay today, one choice at a time.

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