From There to Here
[Note from the Proprietor: This is one of an ongoing series of posts called Scenes From a Sidewalk. Want to know what it's all about? Follow that link to read the series introduction.]
Call it a quirk (heck; call it insanity if you like – I don’t mind), but whenever I see a crosswalk, it always brings to mind that Question of the Ages: Why did the chicken cross the road, anyway?
But I digress.
See, as I leave the building on my daily mosey to the deli over in our main building (it’s a ways down the street), one of the first things I see is that crosswalk in the photo.
While it ain’t exactly the Mona Lisa, as crosswalks go it’s a rather nicely-painted one, wouldn’t ya say? Clear, white lines; smooth, unbroken concrete; hey, it’s pretty much everything you’d want in a pedestrian safety guide, right?
And that word guide is what triggered this lesson.
A Convoluted Trail
I may have mentioned once or twice about how I ended up becoming an engineer. Believe me, it’s a somewhat convoluted trail, to say the least.
You could say that engineering was in my blood. (Well, you could say it; that didn’t necessarily make it so.) After all, my dad was an engineer, and my mom had always worked for engineering firms, too. In fact, when I was little, some days my mom used to take me with her and let me explore the company library where she worked (she was the company’s librarian and travel agent). So I spent my days there perusing such esoteric publications as The Mechanical Engineer’s Handbook, assorted engineering and construction equipment manuals, and fun stuff like that.
All the way through school, including junior high and high school, everyone in my family just sorta assumed I’d be an engineer. As a matter of fact, so did I! Hey, it was only natural, right? Thus, when it came time pick one, I chose a local college – Texas A&M University – well-known for its engineering school. By then, I was more than ready to follow in my parents’ footsteps.
Unfortunately (sound of buzzer), when the time came to start my engineering courses, I ran into a high, smooth wall called Calculus (sound of terrified scream). It was a rude awakening, to be sure. (I wrote a little about this in “The Pain and the Prize“. Feel free to go read it. No worries; I’ll wait.)
To tell you the truth, this was just the first turn in a long, convoluted path that would probably take a book-length post to relate. After everything was said and done, though, within a couple of years I somehow ended up in the engineering business anyway! Ironic, huh?
What I discovered, after a few false starts, was that I somehow seemed, I dunno, predisposed towards engineering as a career choice. Once I realized – and accepted that fact (believe me, it was a real struggle!) – I got a job as a designer (which is sorta like one step below the engineers) and ended up filling that role for a great many years.
Although I truly enjoyed the work, a wintertime field assignment to a tiny town in Illinois finally brought me face to face with the realization that something wasn’t quite right (You can read about this particular epiphany in “What I Learned From a Manlift“). You know that feeling, don’t you? It’s that innate sense that – although there’s nothing wrong with your current situation – you just know there’s something “out there” for you to do.
Anyhoo – after hemmin’ and hawin’ around a while, by an amazing series of circumstances I managed to find myself with a degree in Engineering (plus a couple of other degrees too while I was at it), and nowadays I work as an Engineering Project Manager for a global-sized Engineering firm here in Houston.
I’ll tell ya; it was quite a trip!
What I Learned From a Crosswalk
I guess the thing I learned was that there was something, I don’t know, guiding me along in my path from without-a-clue child, through my mathematically-challenged years, to where I finally made it to Project Manager.
Almost, strangely enough, like that crosswalk. I mean, sure, it was perhaps a bit more twisted than you’d usually find these days (as if painted by a drunken road worker on the day after a three-day bender), but still, somehow I ended up crossing that street and ending up where, apparently, I was headed all along!
Anyhoo -
Take a moment, if you would, to consider where you are right now in life: your chosen profession (if you have one), your goals, and how you got there. My question is this: now that you’re, y’know, here – what was the one single influence that made the biggest difference in how you got from there to here?
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Photo: Crosswalk, by Robert Hruzek
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Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Hi Robert, Your choice of words – predisposed to be an engineer – is quite accurate in my case (the predisposition part, I mean). I’ve always loved reading and writing, and have been lucky enough to have family and friends that encouraged me to develop and explore those interests. You’re blessed when you can practice the vocation you’re predisposed for. Sometimes it can be a long road, but it’s worth the journey.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Is Your Company Ready for Social Media Marketing?
@Brad – Yup; that pretty much sums it up, Brad; glad you’ve found your thrill (was it on Blueberry Hill?)
Hi Robert,
Hey, I have to say it’s interesting to find out these tidbits about how you managed to get where you are today. Thanks for sharing this stuff.
I have been racking me little ol’ pea-brain to come up with a single influence and I just can’t. I need to ponder this one for a bit.
George
When I was in 9th grade, I wrote an essay during the hour allotted in our English final exam on our family car. The topic seemed to me the easiest choice given to the class. Because there were six kids in the family and at least two at the time anxious to drive our old car, the essay was humorous. Later, my English teacher casually mentioned to my mother that I had “a flair for writing.” Those words stuck with me, and I’ve enjoyed writing ever since…sometimes professionally as a reporter, technical writer, and columnist as well as an English composition instructor, but mostly as an avocation.
Like you, my Dad was an engineer. He had an eighth grade teacher who told him that he had a talent for math and that he should get off his duff and exercise it.
Terros last blog post..Ducks and Roses!
I don’t think it was any one influence that got me from there to here. I think there have always been influences along my path.
Certainly, my love affair with making television started as a very young girl. Ironically, I didn’t have much in the way of TV growing up. My influence was definitely my father in this case, who helped to start (as a volunteer, he was in the Navy as a career) a community TV station on the remote island where we lived. When I was 8,9, 10 years old he’d drag me around town with a video camera on his shoulder, get me to help him edit, and enlist me as his special assistant as he produced local telethons and town events. By the time I was 11 years old I knew exactly what I wanted to do for a career.
At the ripe old age of 27, after a successful run as a TV producer for a local station, I decided on a career change. This time, my influence would have been my brother. He was the person who, in 1995, showed me the Internet for the first time. It was just a plain grey page with black text on it, but when he told me that the page was actually coming off a computer in Germany, it nearly blew my mind! Thus began my love affair with computers and the Web.
As for my current love affair with new media, I have so many influences that I could write a book.
So, in terms of influences, I think it’s a set of circumstances and people that define and shape the choices I’ve made in my career. However, what’s important to remember is to always be open to those people around you who can help show you your path.
For me it was being bored out of my mind and depressed when I was a kid. It gave me enough motivation to last me a lifetime.
@Tumblemoose – Man, that snow and ice up there must be leeching your brain!
Hey, at least I made ya think, didn’t I?
@Terro – Isn’t it amazing how one simple little phrase can affect the course of our lives?
@Suze – Very convoluted and interesting path ya got there, Suze! And I love your conclusion; it’s the people we meet that can make the difference. So very true!
@Jean – Now that’s the way to turn a negative into a positive! Way to go, Jean!
Robert, it wasn’t until I read your post that I realized “me too!” I took a long, convoluted path to end up where I always supposed to be- writing. Wow! In my case there was one single turning point. I was “that close” to opening a pet sitting business. I had even gotten my pet CPR certification (in spite of not being overly fond of cats I had resolved I would save one from death with my new skills). However, I kept researching businesses and in my umpteenth trip to the library arms piled high with books, I opened a book by a writer on how to start a writing business (sound of heavenly trumpets overhead). The page seemed to glow at me when I realized I could actually write for a living. I am forever thankful for those words.
Robert,
Your posts always make us think. That’s one reason I’ve awarded you the Premio Dardos Award. You can read the details on my blog.
@Karen – That’s the thing about Turning Points, isn’t it – you never know when one will smack you right between the eyes and change your life! I’m glad you found your thrill (but was it on Blueberry Hill?) because the rest of us would be shortchanged without bein’ able to read you every day or so!
@Lillie – Thank you kindly for the honor, Lillie! I’m ranked up there with some pretty fine company, I’ll tell ya!
Hello Robert,
I have to say that your post really got me thinking. Just recently graduating UCLA as a History/communications major, I think I am even more confused than ever as to what I what I want to do with my life. I was always interested in the fashion design world, but was always afraid to make it my profession. This is most likely because of my parents traditional old school values that always went against it. Not to long ago passing by the design building i saw a statue that bought my attention. i asked myself “who can be this talented to create such a masterpiece” this was my calling Robert. Now I am back in school taking some design courses and i couldn’t be happier. I also took my old sketches and taking them to put on some t shirts.
All the best,
-Shawn
Well, you probably owe it to yourself to at least try it, Shawn. Hope it all works out for ya!
The one major influence of how I got to where I am today…having a profound and overwhelming spiritual experience that brought peace, which is still present today, and instilled the lesson of letting go and letting God. Easy? Not always, but something I strive to live by everyday.
Annies last blog post..Day’s Death
Hehe, I’m also a former graduand in the engineering field, Robert. I know how it feels, when you’re being separated or away from the things we loved the most…
@Annie – Good for you, Annie! Having an anchor for the soul is critical for making it in today’s world, in my humble opinion. But you’re right – it ain’t always easy. In fact, it’s RARELY easy!
@Wilson – Still gotta wonder; is there something else “out there” for me? Like finding a winning lottery ticket, or somethin’? (I never buy them.)
I’m glad you found that Crosswalk Robert. It sure helped you get to where you are now. Your words are witty and inspiring. Keep it up and more power to ya!
Thanks for sayin’ so, Lorraine, and a tip o’ the hat to ya!
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I’m very much still on that crosswalk. In my case, I’d always thought I wanted to get a PhD and work in a university, doing computer science research. What I’ve discovered is that what I really love doing is teaching. There had been hints before: I’ve run youth music workshops at festivals in the summer for years and loved it. But I’ve always lacked confidence, and I’ve always associated teaching with classrooms of rowdy kids. Without the need to earn a little bit of extra cash by doing some university teaching, I never would have tried it. Now I’m finding that confidence can be learned and that there are myriad contexts in which I can help people to learn. I’ve never been really excited about a career before, but I am now.
I’ve still got a long way to go, but it’ll be interesting seeing where the crosswalk takes me next!
Jez Copes last blog post..May’s theme: reflection
@Howdy, Jez! Hey, a tip o’ the hat for bein’ willin’ to try something outside your comfort zone, Bubba! Definitely puts you outside the mainstream, I’ll tell ya.
Do me a favor and keep in touch, I’d like to hear how it all works out. You may want to consider joining us for our monthly What I Learned From… groupwrite project, y’know? (hint, hint)
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