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Unread 16-03-2008, 18:37
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dtengineering dtengineering is offline
Teaching Teachers to Teach Tech
AKA: Jason Brett
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Re: Mechanical Or Electrical???

You can't go wrong with either EE or ME, especially if you go to a school that offers lots of options, and doesn't require you to choose until second year.

When I graduated from high school and went to the University of B.C., I had no doubt that I was going in to electrical engineering. None. That is what I was going to do.

After first year, however, it seemed like mining engineering was far more interesting, offered more opportunities to travel and get out from behind the desk, and was more "hands on". (Note to EE's... I'm not saying that it IS, just that it really seemed like it at the time.)

So I went into Mining, but after a year of that didn't really like it, so tried some civil and finally settled on Metals and Materials engineering. Meanwhile I got involved with a number of other activities, including chairing the Canadian Engineering Competition, working in the gas plants of northern Alberta, on the pipelines in Saskatchewan and ended up becoming president of the entire UBC student society. That was lots of fun.

Eventually I realized that for a variety of reasons I would probably rather teach tech studies than work as an engineer... so for the past eleven years I have been a high school teacher. Something that I never, EVER wanted to do when I graduated from high school, but it has been a pretty good career for the most part and is now opening doors into other interesting opportunities.

Likewise my wife, who earned her Ph.D in biotech and considered a career in research science has since discovered an entirely different opportunity to exercise her knowledge by writing patents for a major law firm.

My brother started out studying EE, then went into plastics then got his journeyman ticket as a plumber and now works on industrial and commercial heating and hot water control systems.

A good friend, who is taking a couple of FTC teams to Atlanta this year, started out as an electrician, then was an air traffic controller and is now a teacher.

Another, who started out in science and then got his law degree, discovered that he didn't want to work in a big law office, so co-founded a software company that now employs dozens of people.

In fact I know very few of my friends who are doing what they thought they were going to do when they graduated from high school. So my advice is that whichever option you choose you can't go wrong so long as you work hard and are honest and open enough with yourself to ask "do I still like doing this" and have the courage to take opportunities as they come along.

Make your choice wisely, and honestly, and never regret it... but remember that it will not define your life nearly as much as people might like you to think that it will.

Jason
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