My classes are slowly getting into the Mechanical Engineering courses. I have not mentioned why I decided to do Mechanical Engineering, honestly because I did not fully figure out why until this summer. I knew I did not want to do Petroleum Engineering anymore because I wanted a cleaner alternative to fuel and I did not see myself staying in that profession because I truly believe there is a better fuel out there. With my degree, I plan to work within the renewable energy field, rather that be solar, wind, miscanthus, biofuel, or even wave energy. I believe there is a better cleaner way to energy and fuels in the United States. The challenges of cost efficiency and its institutional barriers and much more; and I have a passion to take part of all its challenges to push forward renewable energy in this country.
I still have that feeling of distress about graduating late and I tell myself over and over again that it does not matter how long it takes to graduate and that's why I hate celebrating my birthday because I should be graduating by now. The reason I feel this way because I know my parents are aging as well and I honestly hate being away from them and to keep going back to UTD semester after a semester when I should be graduating this year, which disappoints me. I want to be able to get a stable job and support them. I want my parents to be there to experience my life as much as they can, and that's why I unmeaningly put pressure on myself to graduate soon. I want to be able to financially support them ASAP, have them attend my wedding, enjoy their grandkids, etc. I'm not saying I do not believe in their health, but I guess I just worry too much.
And I hope this pressure I put on myself goes away, but at the same time, it pushes me to do better in school.
It's been a whole year being at UTD now and I am training to be a lifeguard at UTD through American Red Cross as a part-time job. Oh boy, the pre-requisites to be a lifeguard are swim 300 m continuously, tread water without your hands/ arms for two minutes, and finally starting at the 20m swim to the other side of the pool and dive 10 ft under to retrieve a 10 lb and swim back with both hands on the object. My first attempt I failed miserably thinking to retrieve that 10 lb would be easy. At first, my lifeguarding instructor threw the 10 lb brick (which is equivalent to 100 lb from when I am underwater holding it up) in 17ft deep water because the SMU students were using the other pool, so we had to use the diving pool!! I barely went under 10 ft before I lost my breath, nevertheless swim down the whole 17 ft. and bring up the 10 lb brick!! I was about to need a lifeguard of my own that day! Even if I did pass the pre-requisites, I had to successfully bring out an almost 200 lb man out on a backboard from the deep water by myself.
And with Avery, that adorable cuddly grey fella? He just turned one and my parents have really grown to like him a lot. I actually have not brought him up to Dallas except once this school year because I decided he would make my parents happier at home. Something for my mom to look forward to coming home from work and someone to cutely annoy my dad during the day. He entertains both my mom and dad with his silly self. Tripping on the carpet because he runs so fast or bouncing around the house trying to catch a fly or when he sleeps in his weird cat positions.
Fall 2017
Theresa Tran
Stay Tuned for more updates this semester :]
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