Christine
Like many students, I spent my college years concentrating on
schoolwork and enjoying myself without much serious thought as to
what I would actually do with my degree upon graduation. As a
civil engineering major, I did well in all my required classes -
statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, project management - but
had very little knowledge of what a civil engineer actually does in
the real world. That all changed when I began my internship
with JMT. I came in with no prior work experience, but off
the bat I was taught the basics of what an engineering design firm
does: preparation of project plans, specifications and estimates,
CAD drafting, construction administration, and data collection in
the field. It was interesting to see how the principles
I was learning in school were actually put to use to construct
projects.
Upon graduation I accepted a full-time position with JMT, and
now, five years later, I can see I have come a long way in my
engineering experience. Through the many differing projects I
have had the privilege to work on, I discovered a true interest for
sustainability and the environmental aspects of engineering.
I think the future of our industry will rely heavily on low-impact
development, employing creative, innovative, and sustainable
strategies to build projects with less of an impact on our
environment. With the support of JMT, I was able to further
my interest in this field and go back to school to obtain a
Master's Degree from Johns Hopkins University in Environmental
Planning and Management. Additionally, I have also gotten
involved with the company's Sustainable Operations Committee.
I enjoy working with the committee to search for ways to make the
daily operations of our office less wasteful and to educate our
co-workers on the true impact our daily lives have on our
environment. JMT has offered me fantastic opportunities that
have provided valuable hands-on experience and the motivation to
strive toward my career goals. I can't think of a better way
to gain success both personally and professionally.