So You Want to be an Engineer? If I Could Do it; So Can You! And Here’s How… “Life In 9 Phases”

1. So You Want to be an Engineer?If I Could Do it; So Can You! And Here’s How…“Life In 9 Phases” James H. Donahue, P.E. Captain, USCG, Ret.

2. PHASE IFrom High School Through Freshman Year High School Graduation. So What’s Next? • Work, Play, Service or College? • Define Your Goals, to the Best of Your Ability. (Hey, you’re only a “kid” --- 18)! • Choices – We All Have Them. (Probably Life Time Choices). • College, Major, Job, Marriage, Children, etc. • Then Decide. • Don’t Look Back. Look Ahead. Live the Journey, Not the Station. (Robert Hastings Poem)

3. College: Back to school-high school that is. My First Mentor (Dick – Ford Motor Co.) Transition to College (i.e., What Do I Want to be When I grow up?) • Congratulations! You’ve Been Accepted at ODU’s Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology. • You Wouldn’t be Here if You Weren’t Qualified. Think “I Can Do It.” • Engineering – an Evolving Profession. • What Was Important Then --- to What’s Important Now.--- Sputnick and the race for outer space to Environmental, Climate Change, Failing Infrastructure, Terrorism and Wars). • “Nervous in the Service” - Summer of ‘59 – University of Massachusetts ---Orientation (Dean Marsden story). Got My Attention Like, Real Quick!

4. Freshman Year • First Time Away from Home? You’re Free to Be, Don’t Get Carried Away. • So You’re Overwhelmed? Welcome to the Club. • What Not to Do--- Don’t Rush a Fraternity - At Least Not Now!! Can be Death Knell on Graduating an Engineer. (i.e., You’re Here to Learn, Not to Play).--- No Heavy Drinking; Nor Drugs. • What to Do --- Study Hard; Party Light. --- Learn How to Study (paying attention; taking good notes; “Mr. Neatnick”).

5. --- Find a Mentor. --- Ask for Help. --- Prepare for Exams. --- Grades. You May Not Be a Genius. Welcome to the Club!!! (Jack Flaherty story) --- Overcome Fear of “Striking out.” Common Problem. Use as a Motivator to Study Harder. --- Exercise Regularly (Minimum One Hour/Day. Intramural Sports. Running. Swimming). --- Think About a Major. Understanding What an Engineer Does. Talk to Professors, Upper Classmen, “Real” Engineers. Find your comfort level the best you can. • Now That’s Behind You! What’s Ahead? • Don’t Look Back. Look Ahead. Live the Journey, Not the Station.(Read “The Station” by Robert J. Hastings)

6. PHASE II Sophomore Year • Why Engineering? • What Kind of Engineering? • You May Have to “Fail to Succeed.”(My Story). • Learn Your Strengths & Weaknesses. • Reorient Your Goals to Achieve Success. • Changing Majors – If Need Be. • Join an Engineering Society. (ASCE, ASME, IEEE, etc.) • Join the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). Get Connected, Network (Important), Understand the Military – and Industry, Scholarship Opportunities, Internships, Eventual Full Time Employment, and all for Free! http://www.same.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1http://posts.same.org/hamptonroads/

7. Phase IIIJunior & Senior Years Junior Year • Increased Comfort Level.(I think I can make it after all). • Major Confirmed. (More Interesting Subjects). • Attaining Better Grades. • “Hitting Your Stride; Not Striking Out.” • Increased Confidence.(Yes, You Can Do it)! • Almost Home. Yeah!

8. Senior Year • Seeing the Road at the End of the Tunnel. (But Don’t Let Up-Grades are Important) • Goal - Make the Dean’s List!! • Increased Confidence. • Graduating. (But do I know it all?-Prof. Tom Grow). • Professional Registration (Fundamentals of Engineering Exam). • Hallelujah! You’ve Done It. • Now What? Graduate School? Now or Later? Another Choice. Let’s Evaluate.

9. PHASE IVTransition to Working for a Living The “Real World” of Engineering (More Choices; More Opportunities) • First Job. • Find a New Mentor – Perhaps for Life. (Note: you can have many mentors). • Big Transition from Solve the Problem to Define the Problem. (No Unique Answer; It’s Not in the Back of the Book). • Analyze, Analyze, Analyze. • Check Your Solutions. Reasonable? Practical? Cost Effective? • Define Alternatives. More Analysis.(There’s More Than One Way).

10. Peer Reviews. Very important. You may not have the best solution. • Final Solution. (i.e., Recognize that all Decisions are “Political in Nature”). • Once Again…(The Road Ahead. Don’t Look Back. Live the Journey, Not the Station.)

11. PHASE V MOVING ON IN LIFE • What’s Next? For Me. My Family. (More Choices). • Aim High. (Be All You Can Be)! • My first professional Mentor (CAPT Larry Crowell) • Maintain a balance between work and play and rest. Don’t lose your sight on what’s important. (Family). • Professional Engineering Societies---What’s in it for You? • Professional Registration (Professional Engineering Exam). Why Now? • Project Management. - Importance of Documentation, Documentation, Documentation. - Examples: (Wilmington Moorings; Juliet Nichols Training Building)

12. Continuing Education. Remain Current. (Important - Maintain Competence for Professional Licensure). • Transition from Engineer to Manager. Is it for You? (Can, probably will, be a major transition in life for you). • Recognize the Value of Experience – No Substitute. • Again…The Road Ahead. Don’t Look Back. Live the Journey, Not the Station.

13. PHASE VI NEXT UP? GRADUATE SCHOOL? FINALLY! • Starting Over Again (Studying). • Full Time? Part Time? • Master of Engineering? MBA? PhD? What’s Right for You? • Higher Power Learning. Check Your Answers. • Continue to Work Hard. • Find a New Mentor (Professor Advisor) • Thesis or More Courses? (Challenges of a Thesis). • Check Your Answers. • Comprehensives. • The Joy of Finishing. • Keep a steady hand on the helm maintain a balance in your life. Never loose sight of the importance and meaning of marriage and family. • Last, but not Least…The Road Ahead. Don’t Look Back. Live the Journey, Not the Station.

14. PHASE VIIDEFINING CAREER SUCCESS • For Me - Being a Coast Guard Officer, Engineer, Manager, Leader. (Joined for 3 Years…Stayed for 30). • What About You? • Continue to Work Hard --- No Substitute • Continuing Education (You Never Stop Learning). • Be a Mentor --- Now it’s Your Turn. • Accept Change. • Need I Mention Again? The Road Ahead. Don’t Look Back. Live the Journey, Not the Station.

15. PHASE VIIICHANGING JOBS, CAREERS, OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS • Choices, Choices, Choices. • The Road Ahead. Don’t Look Back. Live the Journey, Not the Station.

16. PHASE IX RETIREMENT • Recognize the need and fulfillment of giving Back to Our Nation, Community, Church, Profession. • Mentoring Others. (Helping Others). • Continuing Education (for Fun; You Never Stop Learning). • Lastly ---The Road Ahead. Don’t Look Back. Live the Journey, Not the Station.

17. SUMMARY • What Can I Leave You With? • Recognize that Throughout Life We All Have Choices (Early Choices are Usually Life Time Choices). • Recognize What You Can Control and Not Control. • Never Give Up.(Especially During Freshman & Sophomore Years). • Study Hard; Party Light. • Find Trusted Mentors Throughout Life. • Seek Help --- When Needed. • Find Your Comfort Level --- then Hit Your Stride. • Professional Registration. • Never Stop Learning. • Trust Your Judgment. • Above all, maintain balance in your life. Live a Healthy Life (Nutrition; Diet; Exercise; Sleep). • And, Again, Never Look Back. Accept that You Made the Right Decision for You at the Time.

18. So You Want to Be An Engineer? If I Could Do it --- So Can You! Questions??