Ace Wisdom

Changing Course

May 19, 2009

Congratulations to Granddaughter Keely for graduating from FVTC on Sunday. Her business career is well on it's way. Next on her agenda is two more years of school after which she will take the business world by storm.

I was recently talking to Grandson Grant about school and what kind of a job he might want in the future. He is good at math. It is obviously too early to be definitive but careers in electronics and engineering interest him a lot.

Many years ago, I was attending UW-Oshkosh (it was known at the time as Oshkosh State Teachers College). I was intending to major in mathematics with minor emphasis on chemistry and physics. The goal was to be a teacher because I am so patient with kids. Yeah, right!

I kind of knew that teaching was not my "thing" but I wasn't sure about alternatives. Then came the decision to get married as I ended my second year at Oshkosh. My future father-in-law (Grandpa George) inquired whether I had ever considered a career in engineering. Having worked at his shop in the summer for several years, he knew my math skills. It turns out he and Nana were willing to help me to pursue engineering at Marquette. Suddenly in a matter of several days my teaching aspirations were "in the rear view mirror" and Marquette was bracing to accept the best engineering talent they had ever had. This "change of course" was George's (and Nana's) idea. All I remember is that the decision felt right. Engineers were in high demand and earned a pretty good starting salary (my first job was $570 per MONTH). Best of all I didn't have to endure the bureaucracy of the school system and all the germ infested little darlings.

You never know when something is going to change your life path. In my case is was Grandpa George suggesting a different career option. I still wonder how my life would have turned out if I had stayed with the teaching curriculum at Oshkosh or if I had left school after two years to support my new family.

The lesson Grasshopper is that your world keeps changing and you never know when a life altering event is going to occur. Grab every opportunity you can.

Love,

Dad

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