I’m uncomfortable and I love it!This phrase probably doesn’t resonate with most engineers, but let me explain. I grew up in a household of 9; I am the oldest of 7 boys. Growing up, the atmosphere in our home was, as you might imagine it being with that many boys, competitive, loud, a mess, and zero routine. My mother couldn’t keep up no matter how much she tried. My father was the overworked dad trying to make ends meet. With this lifestyle I moved out at 18, beginning life on my own. The first thing I had to come to terms with was how quiet, independent, different, and uncomfortable my life had become, but I knew this meant growth and because of that I was happy!From that point on in my life I was focused on growth, being open to change, and willing to be uncomfortable to make my goals a reality. I worked full time while in college, spending several years working at Waffle House. I watched many of my friends get good paying blue collar jobs or living a college life that I was honestly envious of. Many people questioned the sacrifice that I was making, but I was tunnel visioned on getting my engineering degree and doing something I loved. 4 years later I was approaching graduation, and was spending every waking moment outside of work trying to educate myself and perform in my classes, but I needed to take a risk to differentiate myself from other graduates. I approached one of my professors, who specialized in advanced manufacturing, and asked to perform research under him. I offered to perform research and pay for the course time simply for the experience. I didn’t need a grade or fulfill course hours. It was an uncomfortable ask, but he was delighted to take me on. I performed the best I could and at the end of our time together he approached me about an internship opportunity at Lockheed Martin. My efforts and willingness to be uncomfortable were paying off! I put every ounce of my experience into the interview, and while my experience in advanced manufacturing helped make me a great candidate, it was actually the communication and teamwork skills that I developed working at that sacrificial job at Waffle House that truly set me apart from the others, can you believe it?This lesson of being uncomfortable, taking educated risks, and being open to change that have allowed me to continue making impacts in the industry. I have been able to have the tough conversations and also come up with innovative solutions that change the way we operate to bring about success. Accept the challenge, embrace change and be uncomfortable!