I Want To Be An Engineer When I Grow Up!
When I was a little boy, I wanted to be an engineer when I grew up.
That’s right, I wanted to be a locomotive engineer! Like all little boys, I absolutely loved trains. I watched all the episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine. I wore a striped blue-and-white railroad cap everywhere. And I wanted to grow up to be the guy in charge of the trains.
More than once, my parents took me to see the Chattanooga Choo Choo in Chattanooga, Tennessee. To me, the vibrantly-painted steam engine was just the coolest thing ever. I’d climb into the engine bay (which was allowed) and imagine how much fun it would be to drive it. I don’t remember much of anything from that young age, but I vividly remember pictures in my mind of the Choo Choo.
I actually did grow up to become an “engineer” – just not the kind of engineer my four-year-old self would have expected. This week, my software engineering journey brought me back to Chattanooga on a customer visit. My hotel was located right next to the old train station housing the famous Choo Choo, so, of course, I paid it a visit. It was just as I had remembered it: charming, nostalgic, and iconic. Oh, how I yearn to build things that become as cherished and enduring as the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
Our dreams may not always manifest as we expect, but I am grateful for all the opportunities I have been given and for all the incredible experiences they have brought. Even though my current job title is “Product Management,” I still identify as an engineer at heart: building solutions to tough problems. Never let go of the things that inspire you.
