I feel that an explanation is in order for a few of my resolutions, er... goals. The motivation behind some goals are obvious: paying off credit card debt, for example. But Learning electrical engineering? There's got to be a story there somewhere.
With me, there's always a story.
Here's the short version:
I spent ten years in the Navy working on electronics. I was trained in basic and advanced electronic theory, and was responsible for the test and repair of advanced electronic systems. I earned a General Studies Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA/ Technology Management degree while on active duty, and I still have two years worth of college benefits left. With all my basic classes already out of the way, completing an electrical engineering (EE) degree would not take long, and it would add substantive heft to my resume.
That's an admirable motive, but it's also a lie. Here's the (longer) truth:
I dislike my General Studies (GS) degree. Finishing the degree was a big accomplishment for me, and allowed me to continue on in pursuit of my MBA, but it definitely was the easiest of two paths. Pursuing an EE degree is a long, drawn out endeavor, and I was more of an instant gratification kind of guy. While the EE program would have taken me four years (or more) of hard work, the GS program involved receiving a bunch of college credits based on my training in the military, and earning the rest through college level exams (pass the "History of Nazi Germany" test, you get 3 credits). Excelsior college is regionally accredited, and their tests are approved by the accreditation body, but still... I "tested out" of my college education. I earned my bachelor's degree in 9 months from 20 exams (72 credits) and 60 "job-related" credits, and it cost me $300 (the Navy paid the rest). I feel sensitive about this. I took the easy way, and I could have done better. I dislike my General Studies degree.
So, I have two years worth of college benefits left from the Navy. I can attend University of Texas at Arlington (like 5 miles away), or enroll in distance learning classes at University of North Dakota (electronics labs are done all at once over a two-week period in the summer- I'll have to fly out there). At any rate, I have the opportunity to smooth over this soft spot in my curriculum vitae, which will both help my career and restore a bit of self-esteem.
A noteworthy addendum: completing an EE degree requires full coursework in Calculus (and beyond). So why is Learning Calculus a separate item on my list of goals for 2009? Well, my friend, that's a different story...
-Sailor Matt
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7 comments:
Easy as Pie! I so get it. It slipped by me at first, but then I took a pause, and light suddenly dawned on marble head. Doooh!
I can’t for the life of me, see why you would feel sensitive about helping to pay for your own education, while providing for your family. Oh, and throw in the whole serving your country thing as well. If I was a potential employer (and I have hired and fired), I would definitely offer you a job. Maybe if they rattled off some live fire above your head while you were doing the exams, it would have made you feel a bit better about your qualifications. Nah dude, you should be proud and feel good about the fact you could do better.
You seem a hard working bloke; I’m sure whatever task you take on board the good ship Matt, you will give it your all.
Time to update my own blog. Expect the same kind of career and life preponderances. It would seem no matter where you come from, ambition is still the grindstone that our nose is firmly placed upon. Good luck Sir.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, friend. I can't wait to check out your blog update. In fact, I think I'll hop on over there right now...
It always pleases me to see a young man with a clear grasp of his priorities and his values. You should be proud of your achievements and realize that you still had to have the knowledge to pass the exams. I applaud your desire to put your education and degree on firmer ground, and if you are talking an electrical engineering degree, you will soon understand even more about hard work. Good luck!
Ancient Reader
What Marky said.
Also, calculus is easy once you figure it out. Okay, no, no it's not. But you just have to wait until it clicks over in your head, and then it's easy.
I've got two years of college/university left, too. I'm thinking of adding criminology to my degree - would make that ol' resume sparkle.
Gotta have a fall back, even though I'm soon to be a bestselling novelist.
@Ancient Reader: I often think about what I'd do if I could go back and rethink my decision. I'm not entirely certain I could have finished my degree before my time in the Navy was up. Now, instead of separating with an incomplete EE degree, I got out with both a bachelor's and a master's degree.
The part that gets to me is the reason WHY I chose the path I did. In my heart I wanted the EE degree, but I sacrificed my dream for the sake of convenience. There'll be more on this later :)
@Cap'n Joe: That's the same kind of thinking I had. I was originally going to major in Fuzzy Animals, but realized that a degree in Fuzzy Animals just wasn't very practical, so Electrical Engineering is my fallback plan, instead.
Oh, the Calculus... how its derivatives and integrals and ridiculous use of trigonometric functions swim in my head. It's like the warmth of an old family friend hitting me in the head with a bat.
So I'm currently a Graduate in Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Louisville. My best friend for the past 10 years is an EE at UofL, too, and being an Engineer nerd, I hang out with other engineers, many of which are EEs. Furthermore, I am an engineering calculus grader for UofL. One other point: another friend of mine left the Navy at (or around) age 29 and enrolled in the ME dept at UofL, and graded calculus, too.
The point is, to my understanding, just as long as you get around 50% you'll be okay, and in some cases (physics) a 35% might be a C. Just stick with the classes and try and you'll be just fine. Good luck!
Thanks for stopping by, Logankstewart! Your comment is so on topic with my calculus relationship that it has compelled me to post a post about it right now. Here's to bad memories...
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