Life With Boys

Somewhat reluctantly Matt agreed to be the keynote speaker at the Carlinville High School National Honor Society induction last night. This has caused more than a little stress in our house — he is a perfectionist you know and the speech went through several drafts. He did very well — I wish I had a video to share with you but I knew if I did that I’d be walking home. So here is the next best thing — a copy of the speech.

It really wasn’t that long ago that I sat where you are today, wondering what the old man on the stage was going to drone on about. With any luck I won’t be the guy you’re going to post on your facebook page as the most boring public speaker ever. So, why was I asked to talk with you tonight? I hope it is because someone thinks I have something valuable to say – I’ll let you be the judge.

I am a rocket scientist, or an enginerd as my wife likes to call it – technically speaking, I’m an aeronautical engineer. I work in a room with no windows, no cell phones, no internet access … they’re all considered potential security leaks. I do have a computer that’s 250 times more powerful than your typical desktop unit, although I don’t get to load any cool games on it. I help develop classified projects that I can’t tell anyone about – including my wife – and I love it. I’m doing exactly what I’ve wanted to do since I was six.

You see I’ve loved airplanes all my life. As a kid, I read everything I could find about airplanes. I spent hours drawing airplanes. I enjoy designing, folding and flying paper airplanes – always looking for the next idea that would make the Wright Brothers proud. I decided a long time ago, before I even knew what an aeronautical engineer was, that I was going to design airplanes when I grew up. I enrolled in college intent to learn as much as possible about aircraft design. However, I chose a difficult major with a very limited and selective job market. In the mid 90’s it was an accomplishment to graduate with a degree in aerospace engineering. It was a triumph to land a job as one.

The aerospace job market is very cyclical. When I entered college, the market was bottoming out. The seemingly unlimited defense budgets of the Reagan years had dried up, and aerospace companies had laid off hundreds of workers. I watched graduating seniors struggle to find jobs. Some gave up on their dreams of designing airplanes to settle for careers in other types of engineering. Others delayed their entrance into the market by pursuing advanced degrees.

When I was a junior, I had a tough decision to make. I had done very well in my first two years of college, taking the general prerequisites required by all engineering majors … physics, math and chemistry. I was about to start taking specialized aerospace engineering courses. As excited as I was to begin taking “real” classes in my major, I knew I was heading into dangerous water … a specialized degree with a lousy job market.

I had the opportunity to switch majors… rather easily in fact. I could have switched to mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering without having to make up any classes. These alternatives had thriving job markets that spanned the world. My dream job market was tiny and limited to a handful of cities. Would I have been happy as a mechanical engineer? Probably. But would I second guess myself later? Undoubtedly. So I stayed the course and continued towards my dream with increased determination.

I knew that not only would I have to excel in my studies, but I would have to distinguish myself from the other graduates. I figured getting a taste of some real world aerospace engineering experience would be crucial. I had to excel in my classes so I could get into a top grad school and earn an internship to gain valuable hands-on experience. I had to do everything possible to make myself into someone that every aerospace company would want – regardless of the job market.

I applied for and earned a place in a prestigious summer internship program at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia. That’s where I met a young lady who was also a summer intern, honing her skills in public relations. Danielle is one of the people who thought she knew what direction she was headed when she first started college – until she found out her chosen path didn’t match her given talents, especially in math. With a great deal of exploration in everything from biology to music — six majors later she graduated with a degree in public relations. Yes, she changed her mind six times, but her determination to find her place in the professional world matched mine and also brought her to NASA — a place where she could combine her love of science with her aptitude for communication.

While our degrees and our respective paths were polar opposites, we had a lot in common. We were both determined to make the most of this incredible internship experience – including weekends at the beach! While not obvious at first, we both possess tremendous determination; mine to find my niche in the aerospace world, and hers to learn as much as she could about the power of communication. And I guess I could mention we were also determined to be together after graduation – you see she was from Utah and I was from Illinois. We managed it, and had the phone bills to prove it.

I realize that very few people take what fascinated them at age six and turn it into a career. Imagine where you might be headed if that was the case — we would be a world filled with Jedi Knights, Pokemon trainers and ballerinas. Some of you may think you know how you will further your education and what career you will enter. Others of you may not have a clue – and that’s OK too. Neither guarantees success or failure when it comes to finding a fulfilling career. People change – the job market changes – fate intervenes. What does matter is determination – the unwavering pursuit of a goal and the fortitude to accomplish that goal no matter what. But to say you need to have determination isn’t enough. Determination entails so much more — preparation, enthusiasm, perseverance, and adaptability.

I believe that the most fulfilling career choices are the ones that spark enthusiasm and passion — this enthusiasm generates and sustains the energy needed for the tough work of preparing for a career.

Preparation, in part, means class work and your preparation has already begun. It is not just taking classes; it is knowing which classes to take. You can’t trust only one source, you must consult advisers, upperclassmen, professors, and, if at all possible, professionals and mentors in the field. If you don’t have a specific career in mind taking a wide variety of classes will provide many options as you begin to more fully focus your interests and talents.

College courses are demanding. It is not enough to pass the course, you must also master the content be truly prepared for a career. And mastery requires perseverance. It means doing homework even when it isn’t going to be checked and not giving up on a problem after one try. It means learning from instructors with all types of teaching styles, even those who prefer to lecture for the entire period. Maybe you’ll need study groups or to consult supplemental textbooks. In the end you’ll be putting in the time and taking control of your learning and doing whatever it takes to master a concept or subject.

Many times while preparing for a career, and sometimes when it seems you are half way in, your goals may change – perhaps because you have changed or your horizons have expanded –sometimes, because change has been forced upon you. And, it is in these situations where adaptability becomes an important aspect of determination.

My wife Danielle is a good example of adaptability. She graduated from college and has enjoyed a very successful career in public relations for more than 12 years. As technology boomed and her company’s needs changed, Danielle was inspired to take on the challenge of web design and web marketing. Because she was adaptable, she established in new niche in her company and has been able to help them lead and succeed even in these difficult times. Even today Danielle continues to refine her skills and is looking forward to starting graduate studies in digital media – a field that didn’t even exist when we started college. And, trust me, NONE of us here tonight can imagine the new fields of study that will emerge for those you who are about to graduate from CHS.

Earlier I told you that I took a childhood fascination and turned it into a career. What I didn’t say was that I had a lot of help along the way, including a very good education at CHS.
The skills I developed within these walls are now employed in cutting-edge aerospace applications. You too have received an excellent education at CHS, how are you going to make the most of it?

So far my path has worked out well; I get to do what I want – help design airplanes. Maybe you already know what you want to do when you grow up. Great … but you must also be willing to admit you might be wrong. Maybe you have no idea. That’s OK too; it will help you keep your eyes open. Maybe you don’t want to grow up – let me know how you plan to get paid to do that. Just remember that there is a perfect path out there for everyone. You must only maintain your drive and determination to find the right fit.

Whatever your path, you will encounter countless obstacles in your pursuit of your dreams. Maybe it’ll be a killer advanced calc or a psychology class. Maybe it will be a weak economy and a limited job market. Support from family and friends will help overcome some obstacles, but ultimately you’ll sink or swim based on your grit and perseverance. There will be bills to pay, deadlines to meet, and seemingly unsurpassable hurdles. There will be times when you will feel defeated, but also times that you will be elated and inspired to keep going.

You are the only one who can make yourself a success – you don’t get credit for just showing up, but you will earn it by making the most of every opportunity that comes your way. You do this with preparation and adaptability.

If you listen to the news media, yours is a generation of individuals who feel they are entitled to the corner office on their first day. Prove them wrong. Show them how your skills and determination will make you the best choice for any and all assignments on the job and in life.

You’ve been elected to the National Honor Society based upon your academic achievements, your leadership, your service, and most importantly, your character. This is evidence that you have all the attributes needed to achieve your dreams. So dream big … and if you are determined, and have enthusiasm, preparation, perseverance, and adaptability, hopefully what you would like to be when you grow up is exactly what you will become. Now is the time for you to take this education and begin to answer the question that you often heard as a child: What would you like to be when you grow up?

Thank you, and congratulations!