Engineering: A career with endless possibilities

Riding horses has been a constant in my life since I was 4 years old. I didn’t know it at the time, but it would lead me to significant turning points in my life.

That’s how I met Ebby. He was my first horse, and it was him and I until he hit the ripe old age of 29. We were best friends for 19 years.

I grew up in a household with a strong emphasis on education: my mom was a teacher, my dad was a mechanical engineer, and my older brother became a nuclear engineer. I decided to major in mechanical engineering after my dad shared that it offered a wide variety of career options. 

That’s what I needed at that point — something with a lot of options. Like many other college students, I needed to figure out where I would work and what my first job would be.

Riding horses once again helped me along my journey and pointed me toward my internship. I was part of a close-knit group that rode horses together. 

That’s where I met a mechanical engineer who worked at Shive-Hattery. He learned I was going to school for mechanical engineering and invited me to a job shadow at Shive-Hattery. I got a feel for the industry and was exposed to mechanical and electrical engineering and architecture.

I enjoyed the job shadow and got a summer internship. That internship was a vital step in solidifying my career as a mechanical engineer at a consulting firm. 

Getting an internship goes beyond building your resume. You learn what career and employer is a good fit. During my internship, I was given real responsibilities and projects with clients. I connected with seasoned professionals who mentored me and helped nurture my development.

When I came back for my second summer internship, one of the projects I helped design had been constructed and was being used in real life. This is where I wanted to be.

Just like with Ebby, I stayed and grew with Shive-Hattery. What began as a summer internship has led to a career that I’m passionate about. I became a licensed engineer in several states, found my path in the commercial sector, and am now the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Group Leader.

In honor of National Engineers Week, I encourage you to explore engineering as a career. Don’t exclude yourself until you’ve really had a chance to discover what it’s all about. With engineering, there’s room for a lot of creativity and creating relationships. Reach out and pursue that job shadow or internship.

You may discover a career you didn’t even know existed!

Callie Griffiths, PE, is a mechanical engineer by trade and the MEP Group Leader at Shive-Hattery, Bettendorf. Reach Ms. Griffiths at cgriffiths@shive-hattery.com.

 

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