A New Civil Engineer

[TripleR]

Congratulations on your son's new job.

I just noticed where you live, I use to visit my grand parents, aunt and uncle in Greensboro, Winston Salem. My aunt finished her education at Chapel Hill and taught at UNC Greensboro, really pretty country out there.

 

[brin]

Great accomplishment for your Son and you and your wife must be very proud...

 

[Ted Summey]

TripleR, we think it is pretty here too. I grew up around Greensboro mostly. I married into the land and farming life here in Stokes County. Our view from the deck is of Hanging Rock State Park. It doesn't get much better.

 

[Paddy]

Ted,

That is great. I too am an engineer. I try to encourage young students to go into engineering. job opportunity is a big appeal. I told my son, work real hard for four years to get your degree, and you will have a well paying job for life. most students think if the degree requires 4 levels of calculus you be crunching calculus problems all your life. Not true in most jobs.

Engineering is a field that is very diverse. Getting that first job is only the first step. Over time the perfect fit will come. I was told many years ago, "Do the tasks you don't like just enough to get it done, the tasks you most enjoy, excel and make an impression of good work. Soon they will be reducing the ugly work and increasing your desirable work." Also, volunteer for tasks you really want. My first year out of school I wanted soooo bad to be the test engineer. I offered to pay for my own plane ticket. Boss came back with, If you want to be the test engineer so bad, fine but we will pay the flight.

Good luck to a great future

 

[Ted Summey]

Paddy, civil engineering is certainly a field in which, once one finds the right fit, can provide a long satisfying career. I am a vocational education leader here in NC and have always told my children that being educated is very good, but equally important is having skills that the labor market requires. That combination is unbeatable in the job market.

My son seems to have done exactly that.