Declaring a college major at 18 or 19, and essentially influencing the direction of potentially the rest of your life is a pretty scary prospect. Looking back, I didn't declare my major during B term of freshman year at WPI, I declared it in fifth grade.
My school project (since teachers wanted to encourage exploration and research in areas that were not limited to science, it became a school project) in fifth grade was on roller coasters. I can't even fathom how I picked that topic. At the time, I was a ten year old scared of just about everything. We'd taken family day trips with my grandfather to local amusement parks and there wasn't a single non-wooden or -kiddie coaster that I was willing to ride. So there I was in the kid section riding a roller coaster with my six year old brother while my 8 year old sister and mom were off finding the craziest coasters and rides they could.
Researching the history of roller coasters and the modern design, to a level a fifth grader could understand, I picked my college major and future career right there and then. Who was responsible for bringing roller coasters to life? Engineers.
So, there it is. The cheap and dirty way back history of the beginning of my foray into civil engineering. I am sure more will follow on this development.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Kate Toomey knows what is important in Worcester
Kate Toomey, candidate for Mayor and re-election to the City Council in Worcester, Massachusetts, has five priorities to define the campaign as well as her history and furture on the City Council and your next Mayor.
The five priorities are important to the success and growth of Worcester. How Kate Toomey plans to attain to what these priorities set out to do builds on past accomplishments and the ingenuity and community Worcester is so well known for. It also sets her apart as the preeminent candidate for Mayor and City Council on the November 3, 2009 elections. The priorities are as follows, in no particular order:
The five priorities are important to the success and growth of Worcester. How Kate Toomey plans to attain to what these priorities set out to do builds on past accomplishments and the ingenuity and community Worcester is so well known for. It also sets her apart as the preeminent candidate for Mayor and City Council on the November 3, 2009 elections. The priorities are as follows, in no particular order:
- Economic Development
- Education
- Fiscal Responsibility
- Public Safety
- Infrastructure (Streets and Sidewalks)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Kate Toomey for Mayor and City Council
My mother is Kate Toomey, a Worcester, Massachusetts City Councilor running for re-election and for Mayor of this great city.
One of the things that has stuck out about our family and the campaign is that our family IS so involved in the campaign. In the beginning, it was because we were without a foundation, and the five of us were what we had to make it work. It also was easier than leaving a 12, 10, and 8 year old trio at home to fend for themselves. Ten years later, after serving three two-year terms on the School Committee, including one as a Vice Chair, and two two-year terms on the City Council, I find myself working hard on my Mom's campaign because I want to and need to - I feel the passion for her candidacy not because of familiarity and mother-daughter love, but because I believe, I think, I KNOW that Kate Toomey is the best candidate for Mayor and to be back on the council.
I've had the fortunate upbringing to watch Kate Toomey in action first hand. Not only is she responsive to the constituency and successful in resolving their concerns, but Mom (and Dad!) gave us invaluable insight into the civic process. I now know that municipal elections and government have a greater effect on my life than do state and national. I now know the importance of making a phone call to have your opinion heard. I now know how the political process works, and how cruel it can be to those with the best of intentions and efforts as others are like peacocks: only in politics for ego, show, and power. I now know how invaluable the faith and actions of volunteers can be to getting the message out. I now know that nothing matters in a campaign except what names are chosen on the ballot on that first Tuesday in November.
Leading up to the election I will be posting why I know that Kate Toomey, with her focus on the future and ten years of full time public service, is the right choice for Worcester Mayor and City Councilor.
One of the things that has stuck out about our family and the campaign is that our family IS so involved in the campaign. In the beginning, it was because we were without a foundation, and the five of us were what we had to make it work. It also was easier than leaving a 12, 10, and 8 year old trio at home to fend for themselves. Ten years later, after serving three two-year terms on the School Committee, including one as a Vice Chair, and two two-year terms on the City Council, I find myself working hard on my Mom's campaign because I want to and need to - I feel the passion for her candidacy not because of familiarity and mother-daughter love, but because I believe, I think, I KNOW that Kate Toomey is the best candidate for Mayor and to be back on the council.
I've had the fortunate upbringing to watch Kate Toomey in action first hand. Not only is she responsive to the constituency and successful in resolving their concerns, but Mom (and Dad!) gave us invaluable insight into the civic process. I now know that municipal elections and government have a greater effect on my life than do state and national. I now know the importance of making a phone call to have your opinion heard. I now know how the political process works, and how cruel it can be to those with the best of intentions and efforts as others are like peacocks: only in politics for ego, show, and power. I now know how invaluable the faith and actions of volunteers can be to getting the message out. I now know that nothing matters in a campaign except what names are chosen on the ballot on that first Tuesday in November.
Leading up to the election I will be posting why I know that Kate Toomey, with her focus on the future and ten years of full time public service, is the right choice for Worcester Mayor and City Councilor.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Put one foot in front of the other, or, self discovery road trip
I'm trying to determine what I really love in life and what is actually important. The self discovery road is exciting in that I am revealing me to myself, yet terrifying that who I am is not who I was hoping I would be or that others might expect me to be.
Where will my career go? Will I ever get back to being a practicing Catholic, instead of just a believing one? Can I manage to keep in touch with the friends I love and miss? Will my gmail account ever be conquered? What am I good at? What do I like to do? When will I get myself in gear and start volunteering and reading intelligent books?
This is admittedly a pretty selfish point in my life. But if I'm not taking the time to find out what makes me tick, laugh, cry, and get it done, I don't know if I will enjoy the richness in life that is sharing relationships. There is nothing that is getting dropped; more time is being made in my day. I'm multitasking where I can: doing the dishwasher while grilling dinner, folding laundry while watching The West Wing with my roommate, phone calls while on the road (perhaps not the safest idea, but so far I've been fortunate - waiting for a stop light/sign certainly helps!). Certain things cannot be multitasked, and that is where the limited hours in a day competes with a growing and sometimes mis-prioritized to do list. It is also competing against sleep.
One step at a time. I walked the Boston Marathon route for the Jimmy Fund this weekend, and that's the only way to complete it. There is no distance or measurement for life, but I've got to take it, and my search for me, all in stride. I'm looking forward to what I find out about myself along the way.
Where will my career go? Will I ever get back to being a practicing Catholic, instead of just a believing one? Can I manage to keep in touch with the friends I love and miss? Will my gmail account ever be conquered? What am I good at? What do I like to do? When will I get myself in gear and start volunteering and reading intelligent books?
This is admittedly a pretty selfish point in my life. But if I'm not taking the time to find out what makes me tick, laugh, cry, and get it done, I don't know if I will enjoy the richness in life that is sharing relationships. There is nothing that is getting dropped; more time is being made in my day. I'm multitasking where I can: doing the dishwasher while grilling dinner, folding laundry while watching The West Wing with my roommate, phone calls while on the road (perhaps not the safest idea, but so far I've been fortunate - waiting for a stop light/sign certainly helps!). Certain things cannot be multitasked, and that is where the limited hours in a day competes with a growing and sometimes mis-prioritized to do list. It is also competing against sleep.
One step at a time. I walked the Boston Marathon route for the Jimmy Fund this weekend, and that's the only way to complete it. There is no distance or measurement for life, but I've got to take it, and my search for me, all in stride. I'm looking forward to what I find out about myself along the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)