Career Outlook
select that? Aguilar: I studied computer and systems engineering at RPI. My mom encouraged me to go to college for electrical engi- neering [EE] so that was my first major. The EE curriculum had some computer science [CS] requirements and through them I found that I liked CS better than EE. In order to keep the EE credits I had already earned and graduate in four years I split the difference and switched to computer and systems engi- neering. One of RPI’s newer majors at the time was electronic media arts and communication [EMAC], which also interested me. I took enough EMAC classes as electives that I ended up with a minor!
HE&IT: Did you go to graduate school? What helped you choose a grad school? Aguilar: No, I did not. I thought about it for a good while, and even took a class, but subsequently decided against it. Just because graduate school wasn’t for me, that doesn’t mean it’s not for you. Different fields have different require- ments. For example, the Mars robotics team at JPL requires a minimum of a master’s degree and prefers a PhD. If that’s what you want to do and where you want to work, then grad school is the way to go.
HE&IT: What are some of your secrets to success or tips you’d like to pass on?
Aguilar: Do what you love, love what you do. Take care of the basics and everything else will follow. For example, make sure you have food to eat and a place to live before having a really nice car. Don’t live in debt. Be extremely careful with credit cards and borrowing money.
Learn to properly type without looking at the keyboard. My high school offered a keyboarding class and I think it’s one of the most valuable classes I took. And don’t cheat on the number keys! I did and still fumble on them.
Learn to be a good verbal and written communicator. If you are weak in one area, practice. Written communication is vital these days. I spend more time writing in email, forum posts, IRC, and texts than I do talking. Most likely, written communi- cation will be your first point of contact with someone; make a good first impression. Proper capitalization, punctuation, and grammar are critical.
HE&IT: What would you do differently? Aguilar: I would have taken a few more business classes (and paid more attention to the required ones I did take) in col- lege. Being an expert writing software is great, but knowing how to sell it is just as important in a business setting. Even if you’re not interested in starting or running a business, the basics apply to operating a successful home as well.
32 HISPANIC ENGINEER & Information Technology | 2012
www.hispanicengineer.com
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