I finally persevered! 'Cept for the paperwork...
It's been a while since I was on the forums... So to catch up, here's a little glimpse into the past 6 - 8 months.
Most of you know I'm just an ol' crotchety engineering guy that has labored to gain professional licensure for years...
And that seems to be par for the course.
It took me 23 years to graduate with my BSME degree. Marriage, Children, Work, ... just seemed that "LIFE" got in the way at every opportunity. Then 1999 and with my degree in hand, I set out to get that 'pearl' that every die-hard engineer seeks. Professional Licensure as a P.E.
I took the FE fresh out of college in April 1999 and finally, 15 years later, took the PE for the first time in October 2015. Waited my obligatory 6 - 8 weeks and received the infamous "FAIL" response accompanied with a diagnostic report explaining all the reasons of the failure. I chalked this up to just not being fully prepared. Totally on me.
Then in April 2016 I repeated the previous experience with the added self-punishment of hours/daily of study... and again, "FAIL". Well not being one to readily seek out self-inflicted punishment, I labored over the decision to retake the exam. Ultimately, I signed up for a third exam in April 2017. As it got closer it become painfully obvious that I wasn't ready. ... AND that not passing the exam for a third time in a row required taking/passing a mandatory review course before taking the exam a fourth time, I decided to skip the exam. Missing a scheduled exam doesn't count in the "three times you're out" quandary...
So... I put taking the exam on the "never completed list" and resolved that it was to never be reality for me...
Fast forward until this past February. A younger colleague of mine told me he was preparing for the exam in April. A second new hire colleague also announced that he was preparing for the exam. Additionally, I found that the October exam would be the last bubble sheet paper exam administered. Starting in April of 2020, the Mechanical exam would be a CBT exam with limited personal resources available during the exam...
Well they studied and both 'passed' the exam. This event of being passed by younger less experienced engineers along with the fact that the form of exam I was familiar with was being phased out after October, challenged me. I could not sit and fall behind, so I investigated available study courses and settled on one that seemed to be the best for the least. BTW study courses typically cost hundreds of dollars. With a few being a couple thousand...
I started studying in June and finished the study the week before the October exam, feeling well prepared. During the summer I twisted my left knee that put me on crutches. An ultra-sound revealed late stage arthritis had set in with about 20% of cartilage remaining in that knee. I've been using a cane since. On the day of the exam, I arrived to find that there was zero parking available. I was directed to the overflow parking. Walking with a cane AND towing a milk jug crate of reference books behind me, I got to the check in table late. The exam rooms had been filled and the doors closed. They were not going to let me in to take the exam. WHAT!? Not allowed to take the exam? WTH!!!
I pleaded my case with the head exam "guard" and she finally spoke to the head proctor for the exam room I was assigned to. The proctor decided she would allow me in... now fifteen minutes late.
Got in, pulled all my personal resources out, and reached for my glasses... NO GLASSES... dammit.
Luckily, I still can't see fine print with my glasses, so I took my trusty magnifier out and took the morning session of the exam using only a magnifier... What a pain that was.
At lunch, I knew there would be a small few that would leave the parking lot for either lunch or not to return because they knew they were doomed... I hobbled to the overflow parking and moved my truck as near to the entrance as I could get. Grabbed my eye glasses and hobbled back into the waiting area. At 12:50 they opened the exam room and everybody went back in. I started the second session, now with glasses, finishing 4 hours later exhausted.
Fast forward 5 weeks... I started checking my email looking for the results of the exam. On Thursday, one day short of 7 weeks, the results came in. I couldn't look at them in fear that I again had a "FAIL" result. So I waited until I got home and had a couple of stiff double-bourbons in me. Opened up the email and... It's a damn link... The same as twice before... just links. No announcement. No attachment. Nothing... just a damn link. Time for another double...
Finally... I had three double-bourbons in me and I was ready for bear. I ripped the proverbial band-aid off and clicked the damn link. After a few looong seconds, the screen popped up.
PASS
What!??? I passed!? No way!!! This must be a cruel "pre-Friday the Thirteenth" joke... WTH would someone do that to me? This has got to be an error... I didn't pass. The exam results are wrong.
The wife came over and she looked at the screen... Yep. You passed.
So now, 20 years after graduation, after taking the FE exam, after prevailing and persevering through thick and thin, after growing older past the age that most PE's have retired, after everything that has blocked my path, after what seemed to be LIFE it self, I passed the exam!
All that's left is the paperwork... the hard part is now just HISTORY. Halle-Damn-Lujah!!!
Most of you know I'm just an ol' crotchety engineering guy that has labored to gain professional licensure for years...
And that seems to be par for the course.
It took me 23 years to graduate with my BSME degree. Marriage, Children, Work, ... just seemed that "LIFE" got in the way at every opportunity. Then 1999 and with my degree in hand, I set out to get that 'pearl' that every die-hard engineer seeks. Professional Licensure as a P.E.
I took the FE fresh out of college in April 1999 and finally, 15 years later, took the PE for the first time in October 2015. Waited my obligatory 6 - 8 weeks and received the infamous "FAIL" response accompanied with a diagnostic report explaining all the reasons of the failure. I chalked this up to just not being fully prepared. Totally on me.
Then in April 2016 I repeated the previous experience with the added self-punishment of hours/daily of study... and again, "FAIL". Well not being one to readily seek out self-inflicted punishment, I labored over the decision to retake the exam. Ultimately, I signed up for a third exam in April 2017. As it got closer it become painfully obvious that I wasn't ready. ... AND that not passing the exam for a third time in a row required taking/passing a mandatory review course before taking the exam a fourth time, I decided to skip the exam. Missing a scheduled exam doesn't count in the "three times you're out" quandary...
So... I put taking the exam on the "never completed list" and resolved that it was to never be reality for me...
Fast forward until this past February. A younger colleague of mine told me he was preparing for the exam in April. A second new hire colleague also announced that he was preparing for the exam. Additionally, I found that the October exam would be the last bubble sheet paper exam administered. Starting in April of 2020, the Mechanical exam would be a CBT exam with limited personal resources available during the exam...
Well they studied and both 'passed' the exam. This event of being passed by younger less experienced engineers along with the fact that the form of exam I was familiar with was being phased out after October, challenged me. I could not sit and fall behind, so I investigated available study courses and settled on one that seemed to be the best for the least. BTW study courses typically cost hundreds of dollars. With a few being a couple thousand...
I started studying in June and finished the study the week before the October exam, feeling well prepared. During the summer I twisted my left knee that put me on crutches. An ultra-sound revealed late stage arthritis had set in with about 20% of cartilage remaining in that knee. I've been using a cane since. On the day of the exam, I arrived to find that there was zero parking available. I was directed to the overflow parking. Walking with a cane AND towing a milk jug crate of reference books behind me, I got to the check in table late. The exam rooms had been filled and the doors closed. They were not going to let me in to take the exam. WHAT!? Not allowed to take the exam? WTH!!!
I pleaded my case with the head exam "guard" and she finally spoke to the head proctor for the exam room I was assigned to. The proctor decided she would allow me in... now fifteen minutes late.
Got in, pulled all my personal resources out, and reached for my glasses... NO GLASSES... dammit.
Luckily, I still can't see fine print with my glasses, so I took my trusty magnifier out and took the morning session of the exam using only a magnifier... What a pain that was.
At lunch, I knew there would be a small few that would leave the parking lot for either lunch or not to return because they knew they were doomed... I hobbled to the overflow parking and moved my truck as near to the entrance as I could get. Grabbed my eye glasses and hobbled back into the waiting area. At 12:50 they opened the exam room and everybody went back in. I started the second session, now with glasses, finishing 4 hours later exhausted.
Fast forward 5 weeks... I started checking my email looking for the results of the exam. On Thursday, one day short of 7 weeks, the results came in. I couldn't look at them in fear that I again had a "FAIL" result. So I waited until I got home and had a couple of stiff double-bourbons in me. Opened up the email and... It's a damn link... The same as twice before... just links. No announcement. No attachment. Nothing... just a damn link. Time for another double...
Finally... I had three double-bourbons in me and I was ready for bear. I ripped the proverbial band-aid off and clicked the damn link. After a few looong seconds, the screen popped up.
PASS
What!??? I passed!? No way!!! This must be a cruel "pre-Friday the Thirteenth" joke... WTH would someone do that to me? This has got to be an error... I didn't pass. The exam results are wrong.
The wife came over and she looked at the screen... Yep. You passed.
So now, 20 years after graduation, after taking the FE exam, after prevailing and persevering through thick and thin, after growing older past the age that most PE's have retired, after everything that has blocked my path, after what seemed to be LIFE it self, I passed the exam!
All that's left is the paperwork... the hard part is now just HISTORY. Halle-Damn-Lujah!!!
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congrats... an adventure to be proud of..... 0 -
WELL CONGRATS TO YOU!!!!!!! Sounds like it was quite an ordeal. Been wondering what happened to you, stick around. 0 -
Congratulations! The Professional Engineer exam is no small feat at any age. Where I worked there were about 50 engineers. Only a handful of PE?s. 0 -
That my friends is determination and perseverance. Congratulations on a job well done! 0 -
It has been a ride for sure...
I've got a couple new grandsons and a "grand-newbie" on the way due in April 2020.
Really doesn't matter if it's a boy or girl... I'll be happy as I now my daughter will be.
But secretly, it would be cool to have three grandsons and three granddaughters!
Last I checked in, I had started teaching engineering courses at the local tech college.
That's become a really nice side-gig.
I look forward to getting to the classroom and interacting with the students.
The students that take my evening classes are non-traditional for the most part and I can relate with them. Non-traditional students have a more challenging path to follow and tend to be more attentive in class.
I've put a count-down to retirement clock on my computer at work and write the year-month-day on my white board every Monday morning... I now have less than three years minimum and just under five years maximum. I can't retire before the wife hits medicare age and full retirement for me is just over a year longer.
Had a new pup come up on the door step last CHRISTmas eve afternoon. After exhausting all available sources to find an owner, the wife decided he belonged with us. This little guy is a Rat Terrier. He's like an Energizer Bunny on steroids! It took several weeks to worm him and finally found out he has liver decease. This has stunted his growth, so he's not much bigger than our miniature Dachshund but ever so much more active. We have to keep them separated unless supervised in fear that the Dachshund would get injured.
Tore down the rear yard and reworked it for a new lawn. Finally got green grass!!! Everywhere! Now just to keep that way and put up a fence for the new pup and the grandkids. Next front yard...
I mentioned the cane issue... that sucks BTW.
Family is doing okay otherwise. Just getting older.0 -
Awesome story and shows a lot of gumption to stick it out, sounds like you got the PE just in time to retire LOL 0 -
determination
perseverance
drive
dedication
self discipline
Congrats to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!0 -
Congrats!! Now, what are you going to be when you grow up? 0 -
Congratulations Sir. 0 -
Congrats! 0 -
congratulation 0 -
Congratulations! 0 -
Congrats!! I was getting close to being able to take it and then no longer reported to a PE. Pretty soon after I moved to Management instead and never looked back. Awesome achievement for you. I remember Dad had to take it 3 times as well. 0 -
mogley98 wrote:Awesome story and shows a lot of gumption to stick it out, sounds like you got the PE just in time to retire LOL Green is good Brown ain't so good... retirement... AWESOME!0
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Thanks Cap'n!CaptFun wrote:Congrats!! I was getting close to being able to take it and then no longer reported to a PE. Pretty soon after I moved to Management instead and never looked back. Awesome achievement for you. I remember Dad had to take it 3 times as well.0 -
He Dog wrote:Congrats!! Now, what are you going to be when you grow up?
PLAY! Of course!0 -
montanajoe wrote:determination
perseverance
drive
dedication
self discipline
Congrats to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope that those are all qualities that I have shown.
As a few know... I've also been teaching engineering courses at the local tech college.
I try very hard to impersonate a professional in that environment.
So, those are qualities that I do try very hard to show I have.0 -
And Thanks! To everyone else that's posted. Your comments are much appreciated!!! 0 -
Sound like a heck of an accomplishment! Atta boy! 0 -
Congratulations Sir.
Much Respect.0 -
the older I get the harder I find it to read and comprehend something first time through. My retirement/insurance paperwork nearly drove me crazy. For someone to go back to school later in life and accomplish what you did I find amazing, and as Ken said I have the utmost respect for, Job well done sir....... 0 -
Put on that Smug Smile and walk proud.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/smug0 -
Maybe after you get your IT degree you can fix GB's double-tap problem.
Braaaahaha.0 -
Perseverance and hard work are worthy traits, a real credit to you for possessing them and in using them to reach a personal goal. Congratulations! 0 -
bustedknee wrote:Maybe after you get your IT degree you can fix GB's double-tap problem.
Braaaahaha.
That got me rollin' on the floor... LOL LMAO [tap]
That got me rollin' on the floor... LOL LMAO [tap]0 -
Congrats Rob. Something to be very proud of.... 0 -
retroxler58 wrote:
Thanks Cap'n!CaptFun wrote:Congrats!! I was getting close to being able to take it and then no longer reported to a PE. Pretty soon after I moved to Management instead and never looked back. Awesome achievement for you. I remember Dad had to take it 3 times as well.
Cap'n... I have a long time buddy I've known for close to 40 years now. His theory is that the number Three is the "Magical Number of Life". All good things come with the number Three.-
* The bible says the number Three represents divine holiness, The Trinity.
* Three legged stools are more stable than a four legged stool.
* Typically Three in a list indicates consistency.
* Three Acts in a Good Play.
* Three votes break a tie.
* Counting to Three to indicate a synchronous start; "One", "Two", "Three"/[start].
* and the list goes on...
And your Dad's taking it three times as well.0 -
That is amazing!!!! Congratulations! 0 -
Congrats. 0 -
Congrats! 0
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