At 15 years old, I worked with a neighbor, who had a garage style business to custom made computers for physically challenged people. We would custom make a computer, provide software training and computer training and then be on call for phone support. It was fun.
Word spread of our service and businesses started calling us for computer support, software training, and phone support. There were a lot of skeptics out there who wondered if a 15 year old could handle a business environment. I got to admit, it was kind of fun looking at their faces while I was showing them a few of our tricks. This business got out of hand and Russ had to retire.
I later joined the military as a data communications and electronics technician.
After getting out, I started studying Biochemical Engineering. It never really appealed to me. So, I looked into other Engineering fields and started towards my degree on those. Only Mechanical Engineering appealed to me. But, I find most Biochem and Mechanical engineers spend time either in a lab or office. I enjoy the outdoors too much for that.
Later on, I went to work for a couple Telecommunications companies. I became a high speed data tech, and loved the job. I worked at a couple mega Colo sites. We were working on everything from the customer's equipment to the Central office. We installed, troubleshot, and repaired everything from ISDN, to T1, T3, POTS, and PBXs. I was out in the field, climbing poles, working in bucket trucks, inside of underground vaults, in the telephone company central offices. I loved that job. I knew I made the right choice of not being in a lab all day.
I currently work For NOAA. That stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The national weather service is a part of NOAA. I work for the Marine and Aviations side. We collect data on our ocean fisheries, map the ocean floor, install bouys to monitor all types of data. So, I fix anything from Radars, to Radios, to Ship's networks, to Satellite communications, to Scientific data acquiisition instruments. I get to see things that some don't even dream of. What an amazing job!!!! By the way, I am currently submitting this over a C-band satellite link called VSAT. Perty cool, huh? Hopefully, I find a position in the National Weather Service soon. I think that would be a blast.
One of my motives for joining EE was to get something down on paper to show folks what I can do. I still see the skepticism I use to see when I was 15 years old. Hopefully, EE will help with that. The way I see it is if I can help fix a network, without looking at it, then my skills aren't all bad.
I am also brushing up on my skills. I see I have missed a lot.
A third motive for joining EE is helping people out keeps me in practice when folks call upon me for some knowledge. I just enjoy helping folks. It's how I was raised.
