Wednesday, September 7, 2011
1. What is your age?
27
2. Where do you live?
I reside in Pasadena, California.
3. What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy working on my corvette. I also enjoy reading about topics like dinosaurs. Sometimes, I go to the beach to enjoy the sunshine and sipping on wine.
4. What is your job title?
I am an environmental engineer. More specifically, my job title reads Water Supply and Treatment.
5. When and why did you choose your career path?
I choose this career because I enjoy the natural aesthetics of nature. I decided on this career when I was a junior in high school. I had no clue of what I wanted to do throughout school, but combining the creativity of engineering with the beauty of nature proved alluring.
6. What is the name of your company or employer?
Hydrologue, Inc.
7. Describe your primary duties and skills. [Cite your source(s)]
My primary duties revolve around water. I insure the safety of water by checking for contamination and making sure the water supply is secure and won't leak into natural sources. Also, I design and can implement the irrigation of water sources for domestic or agricultural uses.
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering (3rd Edition ed.). McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1993.
8. Describe your physical work environment.
I spend lots of time around water. I do spend some time in the office, but I also have to be on sight to physically inspect the situation and to test the quality of the water.
9. What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is working outdoors. I enjoy using the engineering and mankind's technology in conjunction with the beauty of nature.
10. What is your salary? [Cite your source(s)]
Since I have been in the field of engineering for less than five years, my salary is currently only at $65,000 per year. I eventually hope for a raise to compensate for the high cost of living that California requires.
http://www.mycollegesandcareers.com/careers/environmental-engineer/environmental-engineer-salary/
11. Which accredited school did you first attend, and what was your degree? [Cite your source(s). I attended Purdue University to attain a bachelor's degree in Environmental and Ecological Engineering.
https://engineering.purdue.edu/EEE/Academics/Courses/
12. Describe in detail three of the courses that you took which are closely related to your current career. [Cite your source(s)]
Three of the courses I took related to my engineering field were watershed systems design, ecohydrology, and water quality montoring. Watershed systems design is the process of designing a land area in a way that it forms a desired drainage flow and irrigates water to where you want it to go. Ecohydrology is a course that explains the relationship that water has to the entire ecosystem. Water quality monitoring is the act of making that water is an acceptable quality for whatever the task it is being used for.
https://engineering.purdue.edu/EEE/Academics/Courses/
13. Describe the two courses that you considered most challenging. [Cite your source(s) and include a course listing from the appropriate degree program]
Advanced hydrology (CE642) was probably my the most difficult course that I've ever taken. The definition of hydrology sounds simple enough: it's the study of the Earth's (and other celestial bodies) quality, distribution, and flow of water. There are, in fact, intricate descriptions and reasoning to why, when, and where these things occur that are difficult to grasp.
Flow phenomena in porous material (CHE 577) was another difficult class for me. The difficulty in this class revolved around the large amount of theory involved in the course. Naturally, it would be difficult to measure the flow of water through a rock. But, this is certainly an important aspect in the development of a watershed or another kind of hyrdo-engineering project. The formulae were diverse and discrete, making them harder to remember.
http://www.hydrology.nl/
http://rmp.aps.org/abstract/RMP/v65/i4/p1393_1
14. What resources did your school have available to help you get through the most difficult courses? [Cite your source(s)]
I used the glossary and abreviations link on the purdue self-help site when I converted my hastily written notes into something comprehendable. I also used a human resources self-help center to find things to help in my studies.
http://www.pnc.edu/depts/hr/self_service.htm
http://www.purdue.edu/onepurdue/help/index.shtml
15. Regarding the two most challenging courses, how did you persevere?
A leading factor i my perserverance was my determination to succeed in the field of environmental engineering. It was something that I really wanted to do, and if that was not the case, then there was probably no way that I would have made it through the classes that I took. My girlfriend also helped me study and kept me focused.
16. From what school(s) did you receive graduate degrees? [Cite your source(s)]
I recieved a master's degree from Stanford University. To do so, I was required to take an additional 45 credit hours with courses like hydrodynamics.
http://scpd.stanford.edu/public/category/courseCategoryCertificateProfile.do?method=load&certificateId=1240738
17. What was the title or titles of the degree(s)? [Cite your source(s)]
My degree's name is "Civil and Environmental Engineering MS Degree."
http://scpd.stanford.edu/public/category/courseCategoryCertificateProfile.do?method=load&certificateId=1240738
18. What licenses do you have and what were the exams required to receive those licenses? [Cite your source(s)]
I have acquired the principles and practice of engineering license. To do this, I had to take a specific exam known as civil breadth and water resources and civil engineering exam. The exam contains eight parts, with each one between 20 and 2.5%
http://www.ncees.org/Exams/PE_exam.php
19. How would your clients and co-workers describe you?
I hope they describe me as a dedicated and hard-working co-worker. But, they probably see me as the aloof and paranoid guy who does ph checks on the local sewage tributaries. Either way, I'm seen as pretty easy-going and not too difficult to get along with.
20. What do you hope to accomplish at the conclusion of your career?
At some point in my career my desire would be to improve the water quality for urban environments in the U.S. or in other impoverished countries around the world. The ancient Egyptians based their existence around the Nile and the famous Roman aqueducts provided for centuries. I hope to help the people in just the same way.
21. Why should a high school student consider a career in your field? What important contribution(s) can they make?
A high school student should consider a career in environmental engineering because of the diversity that it offers. If you enjoy engineering things, but also enjoy the simple aesthetic beauty of nature, then this degree can help you to mold these desires together in elegant and elaborate designs.
Conclusion
1. You described a career related to civil engineering and/or architecture. Is this the career field that you are currently most interested in at this stage in your life?
I am currently more intrigued by some of the social science fields pertaining to psychiatry and psychology. In the field of engineering, the complexity of electrical engineering is something that is mystifyingly dynamic to me. I would say that I do have a keen interest in civil engineering, as I would love to design rollercoasters.
2. Rank and describe the three most important characteristics that you value in choosing a post-secondary school.
1.) The most important quality that I would consider when choosing a post-secondary school is it's credentials in terms of national rankings. These rankings are in no way concrete, however, but the respect that a college has garnered would be a large influence for me.
2.) Another quality that I would enjoy is the campus environment. I think a nice and beautiful campus would allow the mind to wander and expand perspectives and the horizon. Also, a nice looking campus is always enjoyable.
3.) Finally, cost affordably is my third most important aspect of choice. This probably should be first, but since I should already have my bachelor's degree at this time, I hope it would be less of a factor. It would still be important though, as I don't want to be in a lot of debt when I enter into the field.
3. Rank the following in the order of importance to you regarding a career: job satisfaction; salary; making a difference; level of responsibility; titles; benefits; hours; co-workers; supervisors. How will a career in civil engineering or architecture satisfy the factor that you ranked highest?
1.) Making a Difference 2.) Salary 3.) Job Satisfaction 4.) Hours 5.) Benefits
6.) Supervisors 7.) Co-Workers 8.) Level of Responsibility 9.) Titles
With a career in civil engineering and architecture, I could have the opportunity to help everyone from the tycoon hotel mogul to the blue-collar factory worker with my works. If I had the opportunity, I think it would be awesome to help improve the inner-city infrastructure of urban America or the infrastructure or water of other countires.
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