It’s All About What You Say And How You Say It

By Michael McPeake, NASA Ames Research Center

Engineering is about doing great things in a group setting. It’s a group effort and it’s the group that succeeds. Hello, my name is Michael McPeake and I graduated from Purdue University in May with a BS in Aerospace Engineering. My senior design team tied for second place in NASA’s 2009 Fundamental Aeronautics Program design competition; as a result, I received an internship at NASA’s Ames Research Center. The work I did over the summer led to a part time position with a NASA subcontractor which is where I am currently working.

It seems rather surreal to be working at NASA. But looking back I can identify several things in my education that I found to be most useful. Team work and brainstorming experience during high school prepared me to take a more leadership position in group work at Purdue. I went to a project based learning high school, where science topics were taught through group projects instead of book assignments. Many high school physics courses use this teaching method to demonstrate fundamental physical principles. Communication courses are also very important in high school and college. Public speaking will force you to get familiar with public criticism, the same type of criticism that you may receive when pitching an idea to an engineering group.

Regardless of whatever field you do get into, it is important to get as much experience as possible during college. Recruiters’ look for industry experience and then at academic performance. The easiest way of doing this is to volunteer for an undergraduate research position for one of your professors. Then when summer comes around apply for internships at a company you’re interested in working at. Keep in mind that whatever industry you get into, you will have to deal with being the odd person out for awhile. People are very careful about allowing newcomers into their industry, and as such some of the biggest obstacles that you will encounter are those created by people who are threatened by your presence. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are, where you are going or how you are going to get there. The STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) fields are growing and there many wonderful opportunities on the horizon.