Blog 003

Sarah, August 26

Talking with a friend the other day, she asked, "Is your life always like this, or has it just been that way since I met you?"

My life has always been somewhat chaotic and adventurous. Some years are fantastic, where it seems like it is a well-oiled machine gliding along smoothly. Some years are, well, not as good.

2005 was an awesome year for me. I decided to go back to school, finally, and work towards an engineering degree. I ran my first marathon. I realized that I actually understood calculus, and what's more, I actually really enjoyed working on the problems. I was published for the first time.

This year has been a bit more trying. There have been great times in the past year. I met the person I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. I bought my first house. There have been some pretty awful times. I was in a fairly bad bike accident and broke both arms in several places, causing me to spend fourteen weeks of my summer in a cast or two. I keep having to attend funerals, from a friend killed in Iraq to my grandmother, and the list keeps going on. I'm worried that I may need another back surgery prior to being able to run another marathon, putting me out of commission for another running season.

I am, in a word, having an interesting year. I keep wondering what is around the next corner, and am a bit apprehensive of what might be there. It has always been something this year, and I look forward to a moment in which I might be able to catch my breath.

Through this, I've learned several things.

1. Planning is key. If you have the time management skills in place to cope with the unexpected, you'll usually be okay. Unfortunately, I let things pile up more and more (especially spring semester), and that is never a good idea. If bad stuff happens (and it does), let your professors know. Get notes from classmates. Keep up. Do not start watching CSI:Miami reruns no matter how funny David Caruso unwittingly is; you will feel cheated and want that hour of your life back. In the remote chance that you will have to do the unthinkable and drop a semester or a class, do it early, so you do not have to deal with the possibility of losing financial aid or status.

2. Don't wait until the last minute to plan your classes. I signed up for most of my classes early. However, due to the fact that I am still waiting to hear from my Math 181 professor in order to take the final, I kept off from signing up for Math 210. Big mistake. There is now not a single spot open in Math 210. Who knew that Calculus III would be so popular? I am hoping that someone will realize that three-dimensional math is not their gig and drop this week. That is my only hope. That and some very nice member of the Math Department taking pity on me after either reading this blog or from my planned sit-in at the Math Department offices.

3. When frustrated, remember why you went into this in the first place. Something made you choose Engineering over English or Sociology or Psych. For me it was writing patents. It is the nerdiest thing ever, but I LOVED writing patents for a downtown law firm. I loved the world of priority dates and prior art. This, strangely, led me to electrical engineering, as most patents are filed for electrical engineering applications. Most patent prosecution law firms hire only B.S.E.E.'s (unless you have a Master's or preferably PhD in your science field), and I did not want to go to law school only to not be marketable. I loved reading through the patents we were filing. Technology is advancing at a seemingly exponential rate, and I keep being amazed by what is new. I may not even seek my law degree after this one, as I realized I really liked the science of engineering. I like the political and ethical questions we face (open source versus closed systems, etc.). I love the anticipation as I wonder what we as a field will come up with next: efficient induction electrical systems? What will be the next great leap in the all-out race for faster and faster microprocessors? I try to remember, when I'm plugging my way through something that I'm not exactly loving, why I'm doing this. I'm doing it because I'm learning the baby steps upon which I'm going to learn how to research and develop these things - things that I find endlessly fascinating.

4. Ask! Ask questions, ask for help. As my advisor, Professor Feinerman, recommended to me, ask professors questions in order to get the most out of your class. Visit office hours. Ask practical applications to what you're learning. Ask them what sort of research they're doing. And, if you're frustrated over homework, project, or your studies, ask for help. Ask your professor, your TA's, and the people sitting around you. I know that as electrical engineers, we have the reputation of being socially awkward, but I assure you that most everyone is friendly and I haven't met anyone yet that bites. Also, I've been told that if you are able to explain a concept to someone else and teach them what to do, you will remember that concept far better than you would have if you just did it by yourself.

The thing I love about a new semester is that it is a clean slate. What I did in the past does matter, but nothing is preventing me from getting a 4.0 this semester. I'm looking forward to class tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the Fun Fair East on Wednesday, where IEEE has a table. I'm looking forward to a whole new semester.