Session 4

I’ve been working as a LEGO spot checker on an assembly line.  There is sculpting involved, but not quite what I imagined.  A machine sculpts the LEGO, and then I watch all the pieces go down a conveyor belt, and doing continuous spot checks to make sure the pieces are up to standard. 

I’ve been working here for two years now, living in my parent’s house saving my modest salary to start up my own business.  I am starting up a neighbourhood sculpting workshop.  I will be doing small jobs upon request, but my main focus will be teaching other people how to sculpt.  If I had not done the volunteering in university, I would never have thought of doing this.

I was able to secure a loan to start my business.  This, plus the money I had saved up for the past two years made me able to turn a profit within 10 months.  The average time it takes for a small business to turn a profit is 1 year, so I seem to be on the right track.  Who knows what lays in store for me in the future?

Session 3

Through my travels, I discovered there are no jobs in sculpting.  I’ve searched on the occupation index, and there are almost I regret my impulsive decision to change from marketing.  All my friends I had in first year have jobs in marketing lined up.  Changing degrees again is out of the question, I’ve put too much time in effort into sculpting now.  I can’t justify wasting so much of my parent’s money going through most of University, just to see it waste away. 

If I tough it out, I’m sure I can eventually find a job.  I was also lucky enough to win a $1000 competition in third year toward my tuition.  My sculpture won second place in the Winterlude ice sculpting competition in Ottawa. 

Additionally, I was able to volunteer at a sculptor’s small workshop in the summer, where they made custom sculptures for neighbourhood customers.  Although I couldn’t find a job, I found the volunteering surprisingly satisfying.  I like following the specs that customers give to me, instead of making my own design.  I may consider something similar to this as a future career path.

Session 2

I decided to go with what I love, and now I’m taking a marketing degree at UofT.  It is nothing like I thought it would be!  I pictured public speaking and designing product displays.  I didn’t foresee designing posters and writing essays!  I’m not happy at all in my program, and I really don’t want to do an academic program.  The reason I wanted to be an engineer was because I liked designing things.  I was always good at drawing my designs.  I even took a few art courses in high school.  I took them to boost my average, but I found my passion in sculpting.

The best thing is that most of the courses I’m currently enrolled in can be used towards a degree in sculpting, so I wouldn’t loose an entire year in tuition.  My parents never really approved of marketing, so they were delighted when I told them I was considering changing. 

My friends old friends are scattered all over the country, living their own lives, so I’ve lost touch with them.  My new friends in University are too consumed in their own schooling to think about me.  After great thought and deliberation, I will be going into sculpting.  Due to my lack of advice from loved ones, this may be an irrational and premature decision.

Session 1

Ever since I was I little boy, I always knew I wanted to be an engineer.  I was always fascinated by the concept of building things, creating things with my hands.  Walking in one day and making something that didn’t exist before, that was my life-or so I thought.  This got to the point that I was totally distracted Now I’m in grade 12, and I’m having my doubts.  Since engineering requires Chemistry, Physics, Advanced Functions, and Calculus, I’m struggling with the course load. 

My grades have started to slip, because I just can’t keep up.  My guidance counsellor suggested dropping some of my courses, and going into a less labour intensive University course.  That is starting to sound like a good idea.  Most programs don’t have such stringent entry requirements. 

For example, an arts major only requires English.  This opens up other courses that I can take to boost my average, like drama.  This could help me get into a higher university.  Now that I think about it, I’ve always enjoyed marketing and public speaking.  A degree in marketing wouldn’t be a bad idea, because it is something that I really enjoy, I just had never considered it before.

My careers teacher always told me to do something that I loved.  Spending my career on something I love means I wouldn’t have to work a day in my life.

Business Emails

Dear Mr. Huffington,

I am writing to you today to arrange a meeting regarding our new product.  I am available weekday mornings  from nine to twelve thirty.  I look forward to meeting with you in person.

Regards,

Lesco Veski
Technical Representative
DEKA Research and Development





Dear Mr. Huffington,

I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me today.  As discussed, I will review your proposal for purchase, and reply within two weeks.  Thank you for showing interest in our product, and I look forward to working with you in the future.

Regards,

Lesco Veski

Technical Representative 

DEKA Research and Development

Hi John,

This is unacceptable.  Due to your delay, we will miss the deadline for our brand new product.  This mistake could cost us up to $3 million.  I will be visiting your office tomorrow at 9am to discuss the consequences of this delay in finer detail.  I expect a proposal for a solution by then.

LV.

The Great Networking Game V1

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8o1kn9Wb2QOWExOeGFjWnF6cFk

Network Map

1. My network map is bigger than I first believed.  I had never thought about how big my reach was.  I already knew that my largest amount of contacts would be through school, but I wasn't aware how many robotics contacts I had until I really thought about it.  When doing this exercise  it made me realize how many people I can call upon for assistance, which is more than I believed before doing this.
   
2. Even though I was surprised at the amount of robotics contacts I had, I am sure that I can gain many more.  Every day I am contacting new people from across North America, and they are always happy to help me.  It is a reciprocal relationship, because I help these people in return when they ask for it.
   
   I also believe I can gain more contacts in the business world.  As I have only had one job, my business network is fairly small.  As I put myself out there more, more contacts will come.