Live and Learn on Purpose.
I entered college directly after high school. Like everyone else, I was told to pick a major. Looking back, I can’t imagine how I handled the pressure of deciding the rest of my life at 18. Traditional I’ve come to resent the term “traditional student.” […]
Yesterday, I had a conversation with an amazingly talented student who will graduate in a few months. In an effort to decide what she should do after graduating, she took a radical step: a ten-day fast from tv and movies! As she told me about […]
You’d be amazed at the number of exception requests I’ll get over the next few weeks. I’ll be asked for project deadline extensions. I’ll be asked to accept unsubmitted homework weeks late. I’ll be asked how to make up for low midterm grades. I’ll be […]
“I am an Intentional Learner. I own my time and my money. I realize that both are finite and I decide how I spend them. I do not allow either to limit my future.” Time and money feel infinite. When we misuse them, it’s easy […]
Have you ever worked on a big project? Maybe for school? Maybe for work? Even binge-watching an entire TV series counts. When I finish a project, I have two strong feelings: (1) accomplishment at having completed a long-term effort, (2) “what’s next!?” There’s a quote […]
We’ve been talking about this for a couple days now. Picking majors, internships, and full-time jobs is scary work. First, take some pressure off. This isn’t the rest of your life, it’s just the next step. Second, get to know yourself. If you base your […]
We’re eight weeks into the Fall semester, which means you’ve got some big choices to make. If you’re a first-year student, it’s time to get serious about choosing a major. Sophomores and Juniors: you should be looking for a summer internship. And seniors? You need […]
I’m a magpie. I realize the reference is dated, but it fits perfectly. I’m a magpie. I see shiny things, I get excited, and I go after them. I don’t mean shiny things like fancy cars or watches or anything material at all. I mean […]
Fear is used, often unintentionally, to motivate and control people far too often. Do you study because you love to learn and can’t wait to add something new to your world, or do you study because you’re afraid of failing an exam? Do you go […]
You may not know this, but I’m actually a full-time professor of mechanical engineering at one of the major universities in the Philadelphia, PA area. However, I don’t hold the typical professor position. I don’t have tenure. I never will. I have an annual contract, […]
