My Major Change

It's not often that I get on here and post an update, but one day that might change. Until it does, you all will have to be happy with the fact that once or twice a month (or year, ha ha), I (Chris) will post a line or two. This particular moment is to formally announce that I have changed my major. I won't ask you to guess what it is, because I have experience that tells me there are not many who guess it! I have had people say anything from art, to history, even to psychology! My new major, however, is not any of these; though some would say it is some twisted combination of all of them (if you count secret combinations as an art ;).

My new major is...drum-roll please...Government and Politics!

I know, pretty far away from Mechanical Engineering, but allow me to explain if you are still in your seat. I realized that while I love to build, design and fix things, especially cars, there is really only one job in engineering that would make me happy: project manager over an electric vehicle at Tesla Motors. Pretty specific, right? Well, along with that title comes the idea that to get to a position like that would take at least 20 years in the industry (I'm gifted, it's true, but some things can't be avoided when moving up). During those 20 years or so I would be checking out stress tests on parts that someone else designed, or checking to see if there was 1% more efficiency that could be squeezed from a moving part or battery. Don't get me wrong, I find all of this fascinating, and it's neat to see what people come up with the solve such problems...but I wouldn't want to be the one that bangs his head against a wall to figure it out. I realized that I love engineering and especially automobile engineering, but to make a career out of it would ultimately doom my passion to become the mundane or duty. So I decided, after much prayer and thought, that I would do international relations. I love people, and I love cultures, and I love new languages. Sure there are quite possibly many boring jobs in international relations, but the odds of me being able to live my loves of this field are much higher and come much sooner than 20 years in!

I'm sure there are some who think I'm crazy, others who already know I am, and otheres still that were undecided...until this point! lol. I changed my courses, and traded calculus III and physics III for government and political theory and microeconomics. So far I haven't looked back! I am happy, and that's what matters most. Graduation is not pushed back, but moved up by at least a year and a half, if not more. I don't know exactly where this new direction will take me, but I know it's moving in the right direction. I am so grateful for prayer, and also for the love and support of my dear wife, who has spent the last three years listening to my talk about becoming an engineer, and so lovingly supported me with patience and wisdom as we worked through this decision. I love you Sweetheart

PS. - vote for me...2020! lol