Thread: Hey Don Meyer

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I read in your sig that you have a Ph.D in Mech. Engineering. I am currently studying to be a mechanical engineer am interested in hearing your story: Where did you go to school? What kind of jobs are you getting? Etc...

I started at Youngstown U in 1956, Ohio U in 1960 & then Byu..

Spent !963 in the Army(2nd LT). Went to Korea. Worked for Western Electric after the Army, then AT&T & finally for Lucent.

I think education is the key to getting a high paying job you are HAPPY with. The one thing I never did learn was to spell & as a typical engr my reports are short & to the point as witnessed by my posts here.

My Dad was always interested in fast cars so I got my love for cars from him..He bought me a Porsche 356 in 1956 to take to school. My first new car was a 1960 Corvette. I have owned 8 of them & currently have a 2002 Corvette Z06, a Rolls Royce w/GM drivetrain,A 1931 s/w Ford streetrod. I also have a totalled Corvette.

I have also been to 2 other schools & taught college part time for a short period(too hard) I also went to a Mid Florida trade school to learn how to weld,body work,paint & auto upholstry

I had 4 children - 2 girls & 2 Boys.The girls both have advanced degrees & are doing well. The boys we had a hard time even getting them thru high School. They both are just getting buy.

School is more difficult to get in now & quite a bit more expensive, but stick it out - it will be a one of the highs of your life.......Don
It's probably detemined my lfe more than any one thing

I am already in college, I just started my freshman year at the California Maritime Academy. I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a Coast Guard 3rd Mates License option. That means I can work in the engine room of ships and make oodles of money. However, spending 6 months a year at sea will make it hard to have any kind of a family let alone work on cars. My current plan is to spend a few years at sea, earn about 200-500 grand, go back to school, and get a job doing research and development. As a part of the Coast Guard license, we have to be able to weld and operate some machine tools such as lathes and mills, so the school requires us to take those classes to graduate. I start plant operations next semester where I will learn how to service and run marine diesels, and I will learn to weld. And my sophomore year we start the ME courses such as statics, diff eqs, calculus based physics, etc...

Good words, Don. I have been planning to go into Mechanical Engineering and am at the community college in town. Unfortunately I am beginning to think I am not cut out for the job. Had to drop Calculus already cuz I couldn't make it. Not doing so hot in Chem and am behind in Comp. All this and I graduated well up in the class in a top 100 school district. I'm about fed up with school. Bout all I want now is money, and I'm beginning to not care how I get it. Read my title line. Amply true. Tain't happy, but the $$$ sure helps ya get through it.

I know this was directed to Don, but the follow ups have triggered some thoughts.

76, it looks like you have a fundamentally sound plan to pursue a course of action that fits your desires. What I want to point out for you, Matthew, and anyone else around, or in, your 20 something period is that you have way more time than you can imagine. We've all been there and lived the impatience of youth. And that's not to say that perpetual procrastination is a viable alternative either. But each person has a different life "clock". Some can focus in early (say in their teens) on a career path, design an education plan to meet that objective, and follow that plan with a strong sense of purpose. I see that in Don's path, and his reward has been a very successful career, and attainment of some of the highest credits in his field. Other's may take longer to figure out where their path is. I'm reminded of another poster here who was apparently lamenting that he wanted to change his life's direction but was unsure that at 30 he could do that anymore. As someone nearly twice that age I can tell you that not only can you do it successfully at thirty, but you can do it at 40, or even later, if you want to. I would certainly encourage anyone to make every effort to choose a path as early as possible and pursue the highest form of education you are capable of. You can never start too young, or learn too much. But, if your first choice isn't working out well for you, don't lock yourself in misery for the rest of your life either. We do make mistakes, whether it's forming a bracket, or choosing a "profession". Those mistakes are turned into positives when we recognize them as what they are, learn from them, and then move on to a better choice remembering not to make that same mistake again.

It's too easy to try something once, meet with obstacles, and cave in, only to accept something less than we are capable of acheiving. If this has happened to you you have a LOT of company. Meeting failure is not failure. Giving in to failure is failure. I'm reminded again of another member of this forum who has a signature line that shows a lack of understanding of his subject. Trying to be charitable I'll just concede that he's inexperienced and, at best, insensitive. I don't remember it exactly, but the general message is "Even if you come in first at the Special Olympics you're still retarded". Now, I've spent a fair bit of time at Special Olympics events and come away with a different perspective. What I see there are people who struggle mightily to do the best they can in spite of being short changed. By comparison to us "normal" people their performance may appear awkward, and substandard. But what they are doing is the best they are capable of without excuses. And what I've observed is a decided lack of "quit" in nearly all of them. Even the slowest keep "running", or rolling, or whatever their event requires, and their capabilities allow, until they hit the finish line. And then they go to the next event and do it again, with the same level of commitment. And I've never seen any other winner take more joy than any one of those kids do. Having run competitive track I can safely say I've seen a lot more "quit" from "normal" people.

Some of us learn early, some of us learn late, and, regettably, some of us never learn at all. Some will aspire to higher school based education , others will get theirs at the street level. Whichever way you choose, make the most of it. The best piece of advice I ever got was; "You'll be on the path to success when you stop saying "I can't.........................." and learn to believe in "How can I.............................."".

Your first year is the hardest. My first year I got a very low grade in a subject & had to repeat it. I do not believe that I am a smart person nor do I think most people like calculus BUT, if you are persistent in studying more than some on the subjects that are difficult you will make it. My problems inn school was to fall behind a little in my course work....I soon learned that if you hit the books early the subject is a breeze. Calculus is a bitch. If you do not do good repeat it next yr. & you will see how easy it can be.

Once I was working I do not recall ever using calculus again & today most designs are CAD/CAM. One more thing if M.E. is not to your likeing investigate I.E.

What ever you do please do not drop out of college...Don

Mathew and 76GMC,

Don is correct in stating that the first year or two of the engineering curriculum is really tough. Part of my freshman orientation into the civil/structural program was being informed that there was a larger drop-out rate in engineering than in any other field of study (including pre-med). That was 25 or 30 years ago, but the statistic is more than likely still close.

The truth is that no matter what you are wanting to do with your life, it's going to take commitment and endurance. The great thing about engineering, is that you don't have to stay in the pure engineering field in order to benefit greatly from the knowledge you will gain in "structured" problem solving. I didn't stay in engineering after graduation, but I benefit everyday from the experience of earning my degree in engineering.

Mathew, the dean of my engineering college once told me that I wasn't quite as smart as some of the other students (go figure). But, that I would be an excellent student if I only approached my studies from the position of not memorizing my material, but learning where to "find" the answers. My new approach to the engineering studies resulted in my becoming an "A" student from that point on.

Both of you guys are at the point in your life where opportunities like college are MUCH easier to achieve than it will be when other "family" obligations are present. Try to stick with it!

I'd better get off of this airport internet terminal and catch my flight home, or I'll be in a mess! I've been in Vegas checking out the SEMA show with Uncle Bob for a couple of days and had a great time.

Dan J

Well son, I can agree with all these previous posts ,hell the only reason I left school was to get out of the mindless drivel we were fed as a curriculum......needless to say I soon found out that to succeed in my "chosen career" also needed lots of study
and its funny that once I realised that,learning became something of an obsession,a joy in life,for infinity,or as long that beast lets it go on,and for the last 35years its been the focus of my life.Learning never stops and if it does youre dead meat .
look at it this way, all the knowlege you have accumulated in the last 25-30 years is like kindergarten, now go forth and educate
yourself ,have fun while youre at it theres no point otherwise

but the general message is "Even if you come in first at the Special Olympics you're still retarded".

Looks like some one was mad they came in last?

All these posts are wonderful, I am gonna have to save this link fer a daily reminder to stay in the pink for the good fight. Good stuff, really helps.