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O P I N I O N
Beyond college
M ost of us in the AEC industry have some degree of higher education. It was there that we learned problem solving, developed key technical skills, and became more independent (at least some of us). Statics, dynamics, and mechanics of materials are essential, but for long-term success, you need to educate yourself outside, and after, the curriculum.
Education was not one of my goals. I wanted to get A’s and have fun. I succeeded with my two goals, but failed in education. Moreover, education does not stop at graduation. It transforms. I would argue that education beyond the traditional school setting is more critical as individuals learn more about “Design your life for long-term success with off ramps knowing that your priorities will change. They don’t really teach that in college, but it’s something you need to know.”
With hindsight being 20/20, there are many things I wish I knew 10 years ago. Of those, here are three things I wish I would have learned in college: 1)Education is king. Not school, but education. When I say education, I mean learning something new, something which you do not know. Yes, this can be coursework. But this can also be podcasts, non-fiction self/human development books, other people, mentors, and seminars. While studying books on statics and dynamics helped progress my technical knowledge of items in or not in motion, much more could and should have been learned instead of simply chasing the absolute minimum amount of work to get an A.
Adam Zach GUEST SPEAKER
See ADAM ZACH, page 12
THE ZWEIG LETTER October 1, 2018, ISSUE 1266
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