Academic Reflection:
Word Format
Upon my last semester at ISU, I was asked to prepare a paper describing my academic, professional, and social experiences I’ve had as an electrical engineering student. There are many experiences I’ve had at ISU that have been pleasant and enriching and others that may not have been so pleasant but have nonetheless educational. Throughout my entire career at Iowa State, I’ve gone through a time of change that I’m sure is not unlike many college students. Changes in major, interests, and times of doubt have shaped the person I am today. When I think back on my long time as an engineering student, I recall times when I asked myself just what I was thinking. Engineering, that’s too hard! You don’t want to learn calculus or physics or why current can’t flow into an ideal op-amp, why do this to yourself?!
When I first started at Iowa State, I was a computer engineering major with a great deal of interest in computers and how they worked and the many applications for them. At the time, I was considering coursework in network security and information networks. However, as time the number of classes went by I felt a little lost and unsure of my choice in computer engineering. At this time, I was heavily involved with Team PrISUm and met people on the team that were working with radio communications and various types of circuits. One of these people, whom I dated and eventually married introduced me to amateur radio and his love of working on radios, antennas, and basically anything related to electronics; was a key influence in my decision to switch majors to electrical engineering.
Throughout my involvement with Team PrISUm, the Cyclone Amateur Radio Club, and amateur radio a genuine interest in all things electronic came to focus. Finally I felt that I had a calling in something I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. And it wasn’t just electronics that peaked my interest, the actual idea of how to solve problems didn’t seem like a chore, but more like an intellectual exercise that resulted in a tangible theory or product. After I realized this, focusing on coursework was no longer such an exercise in futility or frustration, but one that had an end product – a degree in engineering. After classes in materials engineering and my senior design project about learning about using nondestructive techniques for testing, I thought these applications were interesting and have contributed to my interest in test engineering as well.
One class that I felt that I learned a lot in was EE 418x, which is a class in high speed systems. Dr. Mina and Dr. Weber gave us a lot of leeway in solving problems, running tests, and thinking outside the box on all kinds of topics, not just electrically related ones. At the end of the semester we were asked to come up with a project that would incorporate many of the things we learned in class about making test measurements and highs speed systems in general. At first this was frustrating to me because those were the only guidelines given for this project. This was one important lesson that I think I learned in this class was to think and act independently, without rules or expectations, but to just do. At first it was hard to overcome this idea, but once I embraced it and made it my own my outlook on my career was broadened further.
Eventually I decided to do a project on how amateur radio operators use coaxial cable and connectors in a real-world environment. A lot of the testing we did in class seemed very sterile and unrealistic in a non-laboratory setting. I wanted to base my work on both worlds, the ‘real’ and laboratory worlds. I was so intrigued by the results that I decided to make it an independent study project for Spring 2005 and make some improvements my experiments.
One last thing that I think has contributed to my academic experience, albeit indirectly, is my experience in forming an engineering company with my husband, Matthew -ISU BSEE alum 2002, and two other persons Jon Williams – ISU MSEE alum and Cindy Williams – ISU alum. Open Engineering, LLC was formed to be an engineering consulting firm with an emphasis in utilizing open source software. As a group we analyzed and developed projects that we thought were interesting and that might be marketable. Through our company I’ve learned a number of different things from how to write business plans, do market research, how to balance the budget, and other more technical skills such as programming and designing circuits. I feel that by forming this company and working for myself has been more of educational experience than some of my other classwork.
Looking back on my experience as EE student, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve either persevered or kept my ‘eye on the prize’ through these times of worry and indecision. Or possibly, I’ve been too stubborn to know when to quit and do something else. In the end, I feel that I’ve probably a little of both, too stubborn to know when to give up as well as my innate desire to do something unique and special with my life. As I look back on the past events of my career as a student and look forward to my future as an engineer, I’m glad I made the choice to stick through the program because the rewards have far outweighed the times of difficulty and frustration.