Monomyth

"For those who have not refused the call, the first encounter of the herojourney is with a protective figure ... who provides the adventurer with amulets against the dragon forces he is about to pass. What such a figure represents is the benign, protecting power of destiny. The fantasy is a reassurance ... [that] protective power is always and ever present within or just behind the unfamiliar features of the world. One has only to know and trust, and the ageless guardians will appear. Having responded to his own call, and continuing to follow courageously as the consequences unfold, the hero finds all the forces of the unconscious at his side."
-Joseph Campbell

I handed in my thesis to the department chair, thanked him, and walked out of his office. I passed through the halls of Packard Lab as I had countless times before. Descending a staircase, I turned left, which was the opposite direction from where I wanted to go. I never could figure out which way I was facing when I was inside that building. Ironically, time and space had always seemed to take on a different meaning in the building devoted to developing human mastery over them.

As I realized my mistake in direction, I turned around to find Professor Hart. A former jet pilot and astronaut, Hart was easily one of the most genuine, humble, and helpful faculty members at Lehigh. Taken together, those qualities and experiences made him seem nothing less than supernatural to us. Even without the space flight, though, I imagine we would have at least thought of him as one of the few "cool" professors to be found in our field.

"How goes it, Jeremy?"

"Pretty good ... just turned in my thesis, now I'm making preparations to go to Kentucky to start work."

"Air Products? They're lucky to have you. You're a great student, and you're going to be a great engineer very soon. Just do what you're best at."

"Thanks ... but what's that?"

"Work hard."

We said goodbye and I turned to head outside again. The feelings I had initially experienced after handing in my thesis- relief and exultation- were replaced with something less instinctual. In retrospect, the conclusion I came to reach was obvious, but it was something that simply I hadn't thought of before.

There are a lot more people who believe in me than I'd ever realized.

I sincerely doubt I'll be a maintenance engineer for the next 40 years. I doubt I'll work at this company, or even be an engineer, for half that long. But what I will do in Kentucky is become the best new hire they've ever seen. I'll do what I do best. I'll work hard ... to make options to choose from for the future.

I cross the first threshold in a few days. Wish me luck.