There is a 21 year gap between my current job and my previous career. It is in that gap where I feel I gained some of my best experience and valuable skills. I learned how to handle crisis situations, manage and organize multiple schedules, generate creative fixes in sparse conditions, and actively work in groups with a host of personalities and dynamics. I have used all these skills in the workforce and am thankful for the years I had to develop them. I have also been able to pass on my love of engineering to others through example, teaching, and fun activities. Expanding personal knowledge is always an adventure and planning adventures is one of my favorite pastimes. I have organized science and sports camps, arranged for scuba diving certification and application, and taken cross country road trips. I also enjoy reading and seeing the influence one science or person can have on another, opening my mind to more possibilities. “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” ~ John Muir“The world is but a canvas to the imagination.” ~ Henry David Thoreau