The thing I don't understand is, as an engineer and generally a "things" oriented person, I can't imagine any scenario where I would switch from an engineering major to a "studies" major. Even if for some reason I couldn't (or didn't want to) do my engineering thing I would still try to work in skilled trades building stuff.

If this daughter didn't want to live and breathe mechanical engineering, we're probably better off not having her work as a mechanical engineer.