2006 in Review

It's been another big one ... but maybe they're all this way?

Professional:

Two more semesters of undergrad work at Lehigh are done. The degrees I am now officially working to complete include a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a BS in Integrated Business Engineering, and a minor in Aerospace Engineering. If everything stays on track, these will be done by Spring 2008 ... after that, either the working world or graduate school. Grad school, either for a Master's in some field of engineering (what?) or an MBA.

I finished my first real summer of interning at Lockheed Martin. The work was ridiculously easy, and I learned very little in terms of applicable or transferable technical skills. I did, however, receive that critical first working position, bolster the resume, and make enough money to purchase a used car, a new trombone, car insurance, and pay off about a semester of loans. This summer the pay promises to be even better- with the trombone and car out of the way, maybe I can pay off two or three more semesters of loans?

Most importantly, perhaps, I also learned what I did not want to do:

1. Be a cog in a company that was too big to appreciate even the best, most talented low-level employees.
2. Sell myself to a stable, well-paying job with no sense of satisfaction.
3. Become trapped in such a job after other life factors (marriage, children) make it impossible to leave.
4. Work in the defense or military industries. I cannot in good conscience design things that will be used for destructive ends, nor work for a company which sells those things to a reckless government. Imagine designing a missile, only to learn that it landed in some poor guy's backyard in some desert somewhere halfway around the world. That precious missile, that technological marvel, then burst into a chaotic inferno and destroyed that man and his entire family in the blink of an eye. No thanks, not for me. Isn't there a new, longer-lasting light bulb to be invented somewhere?

Extra-curriculars:

Not much new here. Musically, my chops have healed, I've enlisted in the brass choir again on euphonium, and I've decided to do the teaching gig. This fall really helped me to re-discover my love of music, but I've already discussed that here ad nauseum.

I finally found the proper balance in terms of Gryphoning. Trembley Park is the perfect location for me ... the work, being mostly administrative, is exactly suited to my strengths. I'd like to think I could do the more hands-on work of the position (mediation, counseling, advising, etc.), but in upper-class housing it's usually just not necessary. Planning, organizing, and handling paperwork are considerably easier in almost all respects.

I took an officer position in NSCS starting this past fall. It's been a very educational experience, seeing the workings of an independent student organization from the inside. As always, I'd like to think I could help or contribute more than I do- maybe in the coming semester, now that I've got a bead on my role and how everything operates in general?


Mm, it's getting late ... this entry is thus to be completed in the future.

Before I forget, by the way, if you haven't heard the score to Spring Awakening, it may be one of the most beautiful collections of music I've ever heard. Listen to it if you have any desire to be moved.