Learn to code. This is probably so obvious to someone your age that it's a
bit like saying "learn to breathe." I'm not a software engineer, only took
intro courses and never really enjoyed coding all that much, but not a day
goes by where I need to read, write, or review code in my job. You don't
have to be great at it but you will need to be able to at least use Python
and SQL in almost any engineering job in 10 years.
Do team projects. I started engineering in FIRST robotics, it was a great
experience and I recommend it to any high school student. Group engineering
projects are 100% better than solo projects. When reviewing resumes I'm
almost always much more impressed by group projects than I am by solo
projects. There are a hundred reasons for this, but trust me: building
something with other people who are as passionate as you are is invaluable.
Craig
On Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 9:30 PM JAMES ROSSON <jmrosson@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Charlie:
As someone who has mentored a few students, here is my advice:
Stop worrying about your career as 14 year old.
If you like rockets, go build them, fly them, and have fun. You learn
more when you have fun doing it!
Hang out the rocket groups and make friends. Be a sponge, but don't be
annoying about it. Unless you parents are wealthy, your financial
limitations as teenager hold you back from most serious amateur projects
costing thousands of dollars. The financial challenges can make the hobby
very frustrating early one, so relax and have fun. Get too frustrated
early on and you lose interest.
Once you reach 16+, have a job, a car; then you can get more serious. If
you are honors level student, there are often science clubs in HS that get
federal and private grants to build cool rocket projects. Some even have
us ARocket members as mentors. ;)
If your high school doesn't have enough science geeks for aerospace
sciences; then find a decent college that does. Many colleges will allow
top level HS 17-18 year old students to take an intro class that makes you
eligible for the college science clubs. Most aerospace teachers have some
of us ARocket folks on speed dial for consultation, launch site access, and
you get more mentor support.
Along the way, read the books mentioned by others. Work on gaining
excellent math/science grades.
Depending on where you live, once you reach 18; look for local aerospace
mfg company. Look for part time job sweeping floor, or as mail room
clerk. Have to start at bottom, but you will learn more about how
Aerospace business works. In college, look for the internship programs, as
they are free education, and sometimes even pay you some money. This is
not required, but can help if haven't had enough hands one FUN
building/flying rockets.
If you have been 'playing' with rockets all during HS and college; by time
you graduate with Aerospace degree, you will have enough 'hobby' experience
that companies will be fighting for the privilege to hire you. We LOVE to
hire passionate new graduates into the Industry with hands on experience.
Know person at China Lake working on rockets and is always looking for
qualified mentored graduates, just he was 20 years ago. :) When you
graduate college, come back and post your resume in Arocket. Can expect
several interviews almost immediately. :)
PS - Stop worrying about management.
Every engineer in training learns how to manage. We have to manage
budgets, fabrication, assembly, transportation to site, site setup, launch
equipment, safety and crowd control, plus recovery and clean up. While
doing all of the above, you been managing the maze of local, state, and
federal regulations designed to keep you and others safe. This is why you
should first go out and have FUN with rockets. When you are young, you
will have more fun with rockets per week/month than is allowed as an
adult. Adult fun is also much more expensive, with longer periods between
the times you feel like a kid flying rockets on friends farmland again. :)
Managers are great people IMHO. They off load the boring paperwork, budget
meetings, and time wasting crap that sucks the passion from being an
engineer and building rockets. TBH - Management is hard work and not much
fun, especially managing other people. You will be there soon enough, and
learn first hand. Best managers are those with years of experience, and
have learned the knowledge to help others succeed and minimize failures.
IMHO - The folks that make good managers at young age are those with more
people skills than hands on technology skills. So if you suddenly are
having less fun with rockets in college; get an MBA and and join ranks of
managers who spend their day not having fun with rockets, but gain pride in
helping others have fun with rockets.
Bottom line: It's all about having FUN!
Keep the pointy end up. :)
Good Luck on your adventure.
Jim
On Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 2:27 PM Charlie Jackson <
charliejackson8629@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello everyone,
As I am aware, a multitude of people here have extensive experience in
working with rocket propulsion, both on amateur and professional
applications. Rockets have become a large passion of mine to learn about
and I want to get a career in the topic, so if you don’t mind, could I ask
a few questions?
-what can I start doing now, at age 14, that will benefit me in the long
run
-what does a typical workday consist of when managing/designing rockets?
-what recourses (books, websites, etc) do you recommend to expand my
knowledge on the topic?
-What company’s are doing interesting work in the field?
-What technology have you worked on and what was it like to see it perform
the way it did?
Kind regards, Charlie