An Engineer’s Dilemmas

The Training of an Engineer
(An illustration from Numerical Analysis Methods)

This is intended to be a summary of everything I have learned as an engineer (aka “applied scientist”) to celebrate graduating from Auburn University. Since it has taken so long to finish, I guess it will also include insights from my introduction to graduate school. For those of you non-engineers, I suppose this will give you a glimpse of what our lives are like. For those of you who are, you already know what is contained here, but perhaps an explicitly written summary might help consolidate your knowledge or challenge your thinking. For those who are considering becoming one, hopefully this will give you a glimpse into the world in which you are entering (Here’s another great resource).

I must caution you that I will make some generalities in this essay which may or may not be universally true, so do not be afraid to question my conclusions. The three questions I want to address are: “How is an engineer trained?”, “Who do engineers become as a result of their training?”, and “Am I willing to be an engineer and follow the path where that leads me?”.

I. How is an engineer trained? Why are they trained in these ways?
A. Training Methods
While I will attempt to describe the training an engineer receives in a linear manner, it rarely occurs in such a manner. Instead, due to differences in teachers, scheduled course material, and work and research experiences, these lessons may be learned concurrently, incompletely, or even “backwards”!

Sometimes things don’t seem to be connect… (Chris Holland and Nathan Lucy)

1. “Problem” Solving
Each method discussed below is big enough that often an individual will not become proficient in solving problems with that method. However, a well rounded engineer will at least understand the role of each of these methods in approaching an issue. Engineers rely on their problem solving skills to give them the information necessary to make a good decision.

Most people begin their lives with a sense of wonder and curiousity about the world around them. Children have an inherent desire to understand how the world around them works (here will tell you). This trait remains strong in engineers, forming the initial foundation on which training will build. So how does the training of an engineer start and how is it different from any other training?

-Mathematical (theoretical)
From the first day a student encounters a “word problem” they have started to establish the mathematical foundation required to be an engineer. As a student they are forced to determine how to analyze a physical situation and then come to some conclusion about it. Initially, these problems require them to use mathematics to further describe a given situation with set knowns and unknowns, which are often denoted clearly. There is usually one basic way to solve the problem, although occassionally there are a few paths one may follow to determine the “answer”. This is commonly referred to as “plug and chug”.

However, as the difficulty of problems progress the student is expected to learn to rearrange the fundamental concepts and equations they have learned to be able to obtain an answer. While the answer is still mostly “plug and chug”, a certain amount of rearrangement of the problem is required. “Guessing and checking” might be used to allow the student to understand the trend of a problem before they are able to find an answer. They learn to break down a problem into manageable components. They learn to identify known data that needs to be extracted from the physical situation and the difference between what they really know and what they really don’t know. An engineering student becomes more and more adept at utilizing the basic mathematics of algebra, geometry, calculus, linear algebra and differential equations. Often before they are comfortable with such methods, they are told to apply these techniques to problems where their math skills are refined by fire. As an engineer progresses they are taught to look at an increasingly complicated system in a more and more complete manner.

The engineer’s training teaches them not just information but also the techniques to obtain information. They are not only trained to be experts, but they are trained on how to become experts. This has given rise to the saying that “engineers can do anything”, though I remain somewhat incredulous on that point. However, as one continues to develop their problem solving abilities they start becoming more aware of the assumptions which are made to solve a problem. Thus they begin to realize that their answers are only approximations and that there are problems so complex so as to be indefinite. Thus one is taught techniques which account for uncertainty, ways to numerically approximate the real solution or make good enough assumptions to obtain answers which are considered acceptable. An engineer, to be practical about how much time is spent obtaining this approximate answer, is often forced to settle for a description of how things are to some defined “confidence level”. This leads to the disturbing realization that we will be and are forced to make decisions based on an incomplete picture of everything that is going on. Although everyone has to make decisions in this way, the daily decisions required of an engineer make him continually lock horns with the truth of that reality. What then are other ways engineers learn to obtain information to base their decisions on?

-Literature Search/Historical Background
When the solution to a problem is expected to be applied beyond a classroom setting in the world, before an engineer can begin to know what to do, they must look at history. Often solutions to a similar problem already exist and can be used to save the engineer time. During this search, it is important for the engineer to learn to discriminate between relevant and irrelevant knowledge, determine what knowledge needs to be aquired and then use their time accordingly. Search engines (Suggested technical search engines) and libraries are invaluable resources in this process. They use automated tools like FreePatentsOnline, Google Alerts, Engineering Village Alerts and Zotero to stay on top of information in their realm of expertise. Engineers must become proficient in informational organization to be truly effective since the amount of information in the world is large and proliferating quickly. Many programs are available to help track important information and databases allow us to organize many sources of information to be easily accessible. Social networks have are enabling many people to share information. Engineers become good at using technical tools to organize and consolidate all of this information. For example, I have started using Microsoft OneNote to take all my class notes with a Wacom tablet. Alright, enough of the product placement.

-Experimental
When previous experience has not given enough information about a problem or there are too many unknowns to adequately describe a system, or you want to simply get an idea for a concept or what is going on, experimentation can be used to fill in the blanks. Here statistical analysis tools can be used to set up an efficient experiment and yield a statistically valid description of physical reality. While the engineer must pay careful attention to detail to avoid noise from the experimental apparatus, experiments provide an invaluable source of information. They have lead to many of the basic physical laws and revolutionary breakthroughs existent today. As a side note, remember these may not only be physical experiments, but Einstein also proposed setting up “thought experiments” and computational experiments are often used, both of which can also be rich sources of information

-Computational
Computers have revolutionized the way engineering is done. They are indispensable tools which allow the engineer to do multiple tasks to gain insight into a particular problem. Computers can handle and organize much more information and do not make computational mistakes. They can also perform calculations must faster. Thus an engineer is trained to use many different computer programs which under their direction will simulate many different circumstances simultaneously.

Computers have allowed us to obtain answers to problems which cannot be solved completely. While these solutions are based on certain approximations, they provide valuable data for extremely complicated problems. Often they can be compared to experimental data to check for experimental error or visa versa.

In order to prevent themselves from “reinventing the wheel”, engineers will have to use software written by other engineers. The ability to learn new programs and interact with unfamiliar code may form a sort of computational intelligence which will be vital to future progress. Computers will continue to play a major role in almost every future engineering project and will continue to require engineers to be on their toes to change quickly. They may eventually provide the platform which engineers use to work together at home as individual contractors with teams of people all over the world.

-One must learn how to learn, not just concepts, but literally how to THINK and solve problems, not just memorize the answers to them. When one type of solution method does not work, an engineer will try another based on what someone else has done, or will create their own method to solve a problem. However, describing a problem and obtaining as much information as required to analzye the situation is only part of what an engineer is trained to do.

2. Developing Advanced Concepts: To know what has never been known before

An engineer may have the opportunity to be trained in engineering research if the problem one needs or wants to address requires more technical training, or the engineer just wants to focus in on a certain area to learn more. In pursuit of a masters degree, their research will be required to solve sophisticated problems in a certain area and possibly make some new contribution, while a doctrate’s research will create completely new knowledge. The process of research forces the engineer to approach the problem as realistically as possible, paying systematic attention to detail, and persevering to bring the project to a conclusion.

A masters level engineer will generate new information, but with a view to justify bringing an idea into a real-world application. Their mathematical background will continue to be strengthened such that differential equations and linear algebra are rote. For example, at the end of high school, algebra is generally something that would be pretty easy. However, it still would take some effort to work through a word problem. At the end of a master’s degree, substitute say linear algebra for algebra, and you get the idea. Solving problems is still difficult, but it is mainly a matter of just taking the time to address the problem. While they may discover new fundamental science, in general, masters engineers have learned how to apply a higher technical expertise to any given problem. They are trained not just know approximately how to do something, but to know why they are doing it. They may not be as skilled in determining which path they are to follow into the vast darkness of the unknown.

Experience in blazing new trails amidst an awareness of what has been attempted throughout history is aquired in pursuing a Ph.D. Doctoral students must be able to balance the demands of researching the unknown in light of their previous training, but also set a path where no one has gone before. Therefore, even an engineering Ph.D. has a large science component to it since it not only addresses an immediate application, but also a new concept with a view toward many different applications. Basically I think a PhD engineer is simply a scientist (one who seeks why things happen and knowledge in general) who has acknowledged the practicality demanded by the world. I still have much to learn about what is actually required of a doctorate student, but I am looking forward to doing it here at the University of Florida.

Aside: Engineers in general are trained to become decisive decision makers though they are aware of how little they actually know. They can act confidently in the face of complexity by obtaining data about the situation and then proceeding in the way which appears best. While I was talking with my undergrad research advisor, Dr. Gale, he suggested this may be the root of the academic ego, which is only a mask to cover over their insecurity, caused by a continual demand on them to make decisions in unfamiliar territory. FYI.

3. Design: A eureka moment AND sophisticated process

An engineer must have skills which go beyond mere problem solving, data collection and research. They must be able to use that data to make decisions which will formulate the design of a system, however small or large. Often a eureka moment will form the basis for a lot of sweat later working out a design idea. Truly great engineers see the bigger picture and see how solutions to the details contribute to an overall design. Often the complexity of a system prevents the engineer from being able to fully characterize everything. Yet, they must be able to look at the data and provide some sort of decision or a fully designed product. Computers have become the method of choice for optimizing many parameters simultaneously to obtain the best solution. Visualization tools on computers also help the engineer see what they are designing and how all the parts come together to make a whole design solution. Specifications from customers or some specific needs usually drive the product design. Often legal issues must also be considered throughout the process. Design criteria must take into account the factors below in addition to the data that has already been found describing the system.

-Practicality/Economics
The world around an engineer puts strict restraints on what solutions can actually be considered. We were able to go to the moon because this strict restraint was loosened somewhat to passionately pursue a goal, however, this was a rare case. An engineer may be able to design the lightest and strongest bridge, but if the material costs or availability are prohibitive, one may have to come up with a compromise.

- Manufacture
Engineers must be able to use common sense while making their decisions. They are called to consider how a solution would be realized. This may involve knowing various manufacturing processes and limitations on those processes or ensuring that the solution can be implemented without affecting other parts in the process. A good engineer will keep the final product and production method in mind throughout the design stage to prevent a fruitless final product. They will oversee that the manufacturing process is carried out with scrupulous attention to detail.

Sam Kobliska making the Eagle Eye

-Testing
A design is only so good on paper. Once it has been made, an engineer must know how to use testing to determine how close they are to having provided a real solution to a problem. This often implies many repetitions of the same thing with slight differences to ensure that the engineer knows what is going on.

Sometimes testing can drive you crazy…

-Maintenance/Use
A design must take into account how the solution will be maintained and used, hopefully in the design process. It could be argued that this is one of the most important parts in any design, since this is where the customers are most directly affected by the engineer. If a solution does not meet their needs, the engineer has not done his job correctly.

Not your everyday RC aircraft… AUAV-2 Eagle Eye, Our DBF plane for Auburn

4. Leaving a Record
Once an engineer has done all this work, they absolutely MUST leave a record which is useful for those who come behind. While this involves the dreaded “paperwork”, it can be one of the most important parts of an engineers job. Since this work is often done towards the end of a project it requires perseverance to finish well. The best situation occurs when data is recorded while working through a problem so it does not become such a burden torwards the end of a project. As I discussed earlier, here again efficient data management is essential for engineers as they address increasingly complex problems.

5. Engineering (Doing #1-4) as a team
While all of the previous training may have involved oneself, the engineer’s training is missing a vital organ without exposure to working as a team. Engineers must realize that they are not the only experts in order to be able to propose solutions that require knowledge beyond what they themself have. They must learn the role of both a leader and follower since they will be called on to walk in both positions often. They must be able to relate with many different people to solve the problems of the future. Good engineers know how to present themselves and can communicate well, not just to those who know exactly what they are talking about. Globalization is making this even more imperative. I may elaborate more on teams in the future, since I find their workings facinating, so I for now I will leave this subject at that.

vs.

DBF Team-AUAV-2 Eagle Eye is different but similar to Auburn Ultimate

6. Did I mention stress?
Engineers live in a stressful environment by definition. People’s lives may hang on their work. Their world constantly changes, they are constantly under pressure to do a difficult job with excellence, and oh, by the way, it would have been better if they had finished yesterday. This environment has given rise to the somewhat cynical but perhaps true statement that any given engineering project usually hits 2 of 3 goals: done on time, with excellence, and under budget. Constant challenge is an inescapable part of an engineers training.

Alright, well hopefully I haven’t convinced everyone out there to run away from engineering. From everything I have seen it is a very rewarding career, but it constantly requires ingenuity, perseverance and committment, just as doing anything well would. Ultimately, after and during all this training, an engineer will be able to contribute to and understand a great deal about this world, which is an amazing privilege.

II. Who do engineers become as a result of their training?
I actually found a site which claims to know who engineers are, and since it is supported by our friendly neighborhood govenernment agency, it must be right? See it here. It defines engineers as “people who make things work” and proceeds to specifics. Universally, engineers are defined by what they DO, and less so who they ARE. I think personally this is sad somehow; that when I am asked what I do, I say “I AM an aerospace engineer”. On a more serious note, after some study, I believe that I have figured out finally how to define who I am. The ironic thing is that I am left unable to define myself, by myself. Please don’t miss this side note: 21+ Methods of Definition along with my first attempt at a formal philosophical argument. (I am excited about sharing this with you!).

Within the framework of what has been stated above, certain attributes seem to me to be exceedingly common among various engineers. Whether these are because of their nature or from their training I don’t know, for now I’d like to make a few observations. I was going to try to fit this into “strengths vs. weaknesses” category, but too often the traits had some good and some bad, so I decided to treat them simply as characteristics which “are”. However, I would caution you in reading this not to put a box around a person since no real individual fits in a box (I know I’m actively trying not to!). Still, perhaps herein lay some insights which might help you encourage or understand your engineering brethren.

A. Worldview of Engineers
1. The Facts
Knowledge is an engineer’s most valued commodity, and thus an engineer usually takes the development of a worldview “model” as a serious matter.

2. Personal Observations
Engineers desire to understand the world and believe in general that at least certain regimes of the world are comprehensible at a given time. Therefore often they are often rationalistic and believe that the world can be discovered as a true reality. However, they are often skeptical and ask that facts be proved to a large extent before they will believe them. They don’t mind holding and cultivating a complex view of the world, but they try to keep it as tangible as possible. Engineers rely on some combination of reason, emotions, experiences (personal and external-in accordance with natural law or miracles) and faith to determine their basis for truth, just like everyone else. However, they often deemphasize emotions, miracles and faith compared to others.

B. Characteristics of Engineers
1. The Facts (What type of people become engineers)
The most common Myer’s Briggs types for engineers are ISTJ, ESTJ, INFJ (source), but almost anyone can succeed as an engineer. If you really like Myer’s Briggs and want a more detailed version, click here.

For More information on who engineers are:
Governmental Definition

Popular Opinion Definition

Case Study

2. Personal Observations of Characteristics

Aside from doing more research on the subject, I can only offer my own assessments. So here they are.

a. Spiritual Characteristics
Engineers approach religion from a very practical stance and they expect it to be as consistent as possible. They are usually consistent, systematic and faithful in their pursuit of truth and God. Often they deemphasize passionate or relational aspects of religion and are prone to legalism (thinking their actions can earn favor). They struggle to let themselves be loved and are often self reliant to a fault. They often struggle with pride, selfishness, self-reliance and materialistic attitudes. They are often extremely stubborn, but if moved are capable of acting boldly.

b. Emotional Characteristics
Engineers have been trained to take their emotions out of the decision making process, and thus may be immature in knowing how those emotions could or should play a role in their decision making process. This can hamper their relationships since they are perceived as cold and unsympathetic. However, although this may be true, I believe engineers often feel things deeply, even if they have trouble expressing those emotions.
c. Intellectual Characteristics

Usually engineers are mathematically minded, like to solve problems, are gifted spatially and like intellectual challenge. Their intelligence is probably partly natural gift, but I am often inclined to think that it flows more from their naturally curious propensities which have driven them to continuously learn throughout their lives or by a stubbornness coming from their desire for others approval and subsequent monetary or status rewards.

d. Social Characteristics
In engineering world, physical solutions to problems and ideas are valued highly. Therefore, often engineers don’t see as well how to affect the world through people directly. That said, they generally are caring people. Every action they take, every word they say, and every person they serve is a very intentional action. At best they desire to serve the good of society.

Often the decision making skills that they are forced to practice make them good leaders, especially if they learn to communicate with others. Most are fairly risk-aversive, or at least take risks after they’ve done their risk management calculations. They often lack spontaneity and the ability to “turn their brains off”. I often have people telling me to “just relax”! Their sense of humor can be dry, ironic and sarcastic (think the Office, Dilbert, Office Space, He Was a Quiet Man), grounded in the world they know, which is another reason why many recommend that engineers “loosen up”.

Often they take a little longer to warm up to the ladies. I’m not sure if that’s a wise thing or if it is mainly just motivated by some kind of intimidation since ladies tend to be somewhat incomprehensible. That’s about enough on that subject…

e. Personal Characteristics

They are trained to deal efficiently with large amounts of information (ie: they are organized). Along that line, they are usually very punctual and often rely on schedules. They are reliable and generally loyal.

f. Physical Characteristics

Engineers come from pretty much all walks of life. It seems there are fewer women and minorities in engineering. There are probably many reasons for this; I think most of them are just that the cultural obstacles are higher. Still if you are a lady or a minority and interested in engineering, there are many opportunities for you; go for it!

III. Am I willing to be an engineer and follow the path where that leads me?
So, now having examined the training process and some personal character qualities, am I actually going to be an engineer? I ask this question of myself to counter the submissive mentality expressed by the movie “The Weatherman” where Nicolas Cage asks the question of how he got to where he is and his only answer is that life took him there. Quote I want to try to control the path of my life, but more than likely life is a stream that I will get swept up in and Cage is right. I do have some ability to swim around, and I’m a pretty good swimmer, but the river still moves me.

I almost look professional already!

I do believe that I am willing to follow where engineering may lead as a career. However, if anyone is to make the best of what training they have received, they must examine both it’s strengths and deficiencies or they are destined to stagnate. As a result I hope to continue to ask myself these questions. That’s ok though. I am convinced that without such a struggle, life would become boring, a perspective driven into me by all of my engineering training. So, if there is nothing more you take away from this assay at an essay, please use it as an encouragement to continue to persevere in struggling through life’s complexities. Peace.

Great Lives … A Full Semester… By Suprise!

Forget a glass just half full or half empty; it is overflowing now!
source

There has definitely been an irony about my last fall semester at Auburn. In the past, I have had such a curiosity about life that I have pressed myself to take on a very full workload. However, this semester I determined to take a less directed approach to examining life, which has seemed to actually provide a richer experience. I maintained being part of the ultimate team, helping support the Navigators ministry (through website and e-mail communication, leading Bible Study on Colossians and The Gospel with Dan Drown) and kept involved with the Tennis Society about once a week.

On the engineering front, I managed to drop my part time job with the labs, not participate in Cupola Engineering Society, and also take just 13 hours, 1 which was a pass/fail fortran class requiring little work, and 2 of which are golf. I thought this might result in a lighter workload, but my senior year aerospace classes, propulsion, aerodynamics three and design have certainly provided enough of a mental challenge. As part of my design class I joined the “Design Build Fly Team” at Auburn, to work on a design for the “AUAV-2 Eagle Eye”. My role has been to keep communications going and the team organized with captain Sam Kobliska, working on the stability and structural analysis for the aircraft, and assuring that we have a design strategy that can allow us to win the competition. I am currently working on a GUI (graphical user interface) to make many of our analyses and optimization run more smoothly. We have a great team and I am excited to see the plane we will design and build flying at the competition next spring (sorry, no sneak previews yet!). Working with Sam, who is a young man who also enjoys examining life has been a privilege and a joy. I also have definitely enjoyed being able to focus and even explore some of the concepts on my own as opposed to just surviving the barrage of assignments from classes. I have begun the search investigating job and graduate school options, and think I have found a few places where I can really develop in building very small aircraft. We’ll see what the future holds; hopefully I will refuse to be selfishly lazy and seek God’s direction throughout the process. Ultimately though, the load of class and engineering related responsibilities has not really been what made this semester “full”.

“Campus Golf” Auburn Style in front of Samford Hall

(Invented by Kirk Oliver, Thomas Sheffield, and Rand Lemley at TCU)

Ah, golf. The sport of relaxation and escape from the reality of life for so many. I have noticed in myself an occassional, but despicable, mediocrity developing. You can consider writing this my first contract to rid myself of such behavior. The balance one must draw here is difficult, since you desire to obtain many experiences and be a genuine “Renaissance man or woman” yet tasks in our world require a great deal of focus to achieve excellence. I remember while I was at Lance’s wedding we wandered into this park in New Port Richie at about 10pm. The park was closed, so we had it to ourselves and walking down the road led to a causeway out to an island. During my time on it, I remember standing on a part of the island which jutted out, dropping off to the water about 12 feet below and just staring out at the harbor/open ocean. You could hear a very human concert going on by a band trying to replicate some of the popular songs of the day but what really struck me was looking out onto the horizon and seeing such a dark open expanse, full of so many possibilities. I stood alone for a while, but then together with my friends, yelled out into that infinite abyss. Recently I have read the book “Lessons from Great Lives” by Sterling W. Sill (notes). Although I still wonder about some statements the books makes, he skillfully highlights the traits of great men and women and writes in a manner which inspires you to greater heights. His premise is that “the greatest creation ever brought about upon our earth is people; everyone has something to teach us and one of the most inspiring things on earth is a great human being”. I hope to live my life on that plane of existence, which is one reason I am giving myself to the labor of writing these journals. By far what has made this semester so rich is interacting with great lives. You need the discipline to organize thoughts on your own, but one must balance that with interacting with people, who bring such a variety to life and are a continual source of new and challenging perspectives. If you are allowing yourself to be afraid of pursuing a relationship with anyone I would really urge you to commit to getting to know other people on a deeper level. Yet I digress from my point of letting you know what went down during this semester.

It has been a privilege to spend the semester meeting with, investing in, and being invested in by others. I met with Daniel Gossman, William Dunham, Ryan Schumacher, David Bilodeau, Tito Jackson, and Todd Hendrix often during this semester.

Daniel wanted to meet with the mormon missionaries one week, so I decided to be supportive and go with him on it. I also met with them with Tito for a while. I am thankful for the privilege to have met with Elder Sharp, Elder Tiernan, Elder Galloway, Elder Hill, Elder Wilson and Elder Spencer, all of whom presently believe mormonism to be true. Their challenge has continually been to “read the book of mormon, and pray asking God to show you if it is true”. Over the course of college, I have gone away from my high school apologetic roots in favor of a more experiential investigation to see how Christianity works out in everyday life. Their challenge to reexamine what I know/believe to be truth helped to renew my enthusiasm for studying the question “how do we know the truth?” and corollaries (see next journal entry for expansion). Also, it has enabled Daniel and I to minister together, to refine our Biblical interpretation skills (observation, interpretation, application), and to start to examine the character of God in the Old Testament (link). I have started considering how I will leave the scape of the Navigators at Auburn, and Tito is stepping up with the website and communcations soon, so that will be great. I will probably try to meet with some of the younger guys more often next semester.

Elder Sharp, Daniel, Elder Tiernan and Myself

Some of my relationships with the “older guard” of Navs have continued to develop over this semester. William and I have taken golf together in his last semester here. He has been there with me in times of doubt, exposed me to many movies and encouraged me always to trust God, whose way is best because he unconditionally loves us. Ryan has also been there when I doubted and has reinforced the great importance of having a hope that you are always prepared to give a reason for. David Bilodeau has continued to show me the value of prayer and what it means to engage life with everything you have. Conversations with Todd have continued to point me back to the Bible as we have shared our excitement about our findings in Colossians and on The Gospel, which we have also shared in the Open Study. Here are notes for Colossians. The Navs also continued to meet often at the “Du” for Friday Night Double Dollar Dinners. I organized two events, the Navs Prayer Night, and a Video Scavenger Hunt, while we also had fun building gingerbread houses or just playing random board games on occassion. I also tried to lead worship for the Navs on various nights since it seemed no one else wanted to step up. I enjoyed doing it twice this semester, though my guitar skills still need work. We also went caroling again which hopefully brought some joy to the surrounding community.

source

The overwhelming amounts of input from people has not just come from my guy friends. Some of the most valuable women in my life have been “birds of paradise” this semester, since by enriching the lives of those around them, they have reflected what life might have been in Eden. I have been blessed to have ever deeper friendships develop with a few young ladies. Quite a few insights into the nature of relationships have surfaced as a result. I have attempted to summarize them and previous information from my journal on relationships. Thanks to Briana, Laura, Shelley, and Sarah for their amazing friendships. I am embarking on an experiment with them where I strive to define my relationship with anyone (especially young women) as clearly as possible. See the relationship page for an explanation of what the experiment actually is; if you want in just let me know!

There is too much both Shelley and Laura do to even put into words, but here I want to publically thank them for being two of the best sisters ever! Shelley has been a great sounding board for my ideas and I love having her around at school. Hopefully Laura and I will continue to deepen our relationship as we move on in life.

For a while I thought I was ready for a relationship. I have had to reevaluate that stance as I continue to see a significant degree of immaturity in my life. You may have noticed my first, albeit short lived, facebook relationship with Sarah Wirgau towards the end of the semester. That was essentially a prank, but we did have a very good discussion to clarify where things were at in our relationship. Briana challenged me to figure out how to guard young women’s hearts and to find ways to encourage other guys to do the same. Therefore, I was compelled to work out an experiment to really set things straight with Sarah, and while doing so realized that the clarity I was striving for was one way to really guard others hearts. Thus we embarked on the “experiment”. See the further explanation of the experiment at the link above. On the crazy/spontaneous side, I greatly enjoyed painting up with her for the second and probably last time in my college career. Beating Florida also helped, since last time I was painted it was a rainy 40 degrees and UGA beat us on a last second pass!

Painted Up 2002 and 2006

I had the privilege of riding to Lance and Tara Armbrester’s wedding (16 hours round trip) with Briana Keafer. Honestly, I did not think I could handle such an experience, but this car ride, and the conversations following it, have been nothing short of life changing. What a privilege to have gained another deep frienship with an amazing young woman. Do you know what it means to encourage someone not just by “bucking them up” with some phrase, but to actually speak to their heart where they are at? I honestly believe that for one of the first times in my life she and I encouraged each other at this level. To interact with a young woman who has such depth at such a deep level and know that although we are similar, we can remain good friends, is freeing and immensly encouraging. Our relationship has been “iron sharpening iron” as we also have engaged in the “experiment” together.

Wedding Mischief with David, Briana, and Steve
(It would look even more impresive if the interior mood lighting was turned on!)

 

Slowly all these ladies are teaching me more about how to feel, how to express those emotions, what occurs when there is a difference in our intellectual expectations and our emotional desires, and living with a greater degree of spontaneity in my life. Perhaps there is a poet, artist, and muscian which lies underdeveloped deep inside me and will soon explode onto the scene; I am trying to work up a few submissions for the Circle next semester, although graduate school applications are consuming most of my free time. I will probably be sticking to conversation, photography, prose, and organized, didactic journaling as my communication to the world while experimenting with other techniques, so we’ll see!

Many others I have only had a glimpse of this semester. So I really need to thank also: My Parents (anything and everything!), Andy Carroll (firm committment, even when things get tough), David Peake (meanings of rest), Tom Williams (encouragement in doubt), Jordan Vrbas and Andrew Campbell (view back to freshman year), Marty Carlisle (call to pray), Andy Rauschenburg (call to pray, approaching big decisions), Sam Rauschenburg (finding good books, relationship advice), and Oscar Price (you can choose to hope even without knowing every detail, not to buy into the lie of “I can minister-once I get the next promotion”). You have all come alongside at times when I needed it and been a source of encouragement for me.

Thanks again to everyone else who has even slightly impacted my life over the course of this semester. Your input and support has made this one of the most productive and conviction producing semesters in my college career.

As somewhat of a side note, this semester I have made some efforts to examine my diet. It appears I average around 3000 calories a day, which could explain why I am always full of energy. I highly recommend two peanut butter and jelly waffle sandwhiches for breakfast.

I managed to record most of the verses I have memorized and make a verses document with them listed in order in it. It includes a list of the verses in the Navigators Topical Memory System and Life Issues packs if you are interested in knowing. I was somewhat suprised by how much I know and how much I do not know. I have been slacking recently and letting my “sword” become a little rusty, but I do see the value in memorizing scripture and so I think it will become more a part of my everyday life.

One of the last random events/activities I have done was to really consolidate where I stand financially and set up a budget for next year, giving, and assess where I am at in my mutual fund holdings. I am thankful for the good financial start that God has given me, although I am working at becoming more responsible with my finances. My main resolution as I move into the new year will be to live on a budget and to check up on my finances weekly.

This semester I have read: 1984, Freshman, Pride and Prejudice, The Silence of Adam, Lessons from Great Lives, Escape from Reason, also parts of The Idiot, English Poetry, and Emerson’s To Pray Without Ceasing and Woman.

I have watched the movies: “V for Vendetta” (three times), “Finding Neverland” (again), “My Fair Lady” (twice), “Beauty and the Beast” (again), “Garden State” (again), “Cars”, “Something’s Gotta Give”, “She’s The Man”, and “Assault on Precinct 13″. I am not going to start a review service here, but V for Vendetta is done by masters of an art form. Those listed above are in order of my opinion of them.

I have set up a forum to leave any thoughts you have about the website or life in general. I would enjoy hearing any feedback you might have the time to leave. (now outdated)

So, to attempt to summarize, the semester which was supposed to have been a little more relaxing has ended up being full, but one of the most satisfying yet of my college career. I am loving my fifth year and consider it a privilege. Undoubtably I have had some amazing interactions with many “great lives” over this semester.