Jacob Swidorsky

I am interested in the Engineering field, mainly Civil or Mechanical Engineering. I am interested

in how to design and create buildings or power-producing machines. Learning about this field
early in my high school years will help guide my opinion on what occupation I want to pursue
when I graduate from high school. I want to make things that help other people and make life
easier for other people.
Mechanical Engineers design power-producing machines such as electric generators, engines,
and steam and gas turbines. They have also made air conditioning systems and refrigeration.
They design machines in buildings as well such as elevators and escalators. Their average salary
in 2014 was around eighty seven thousand dollars.
I am currently preparing for this career by taking the Introduction to Engineering class during my
junior year of high school. I am also going to Pitt during the summer to learn more about
Engineering because my school provided me the opportunity.
A possible academic degree that I would strive to achieve is a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering
(B.E.). My studies would focus on the geometry or designing because of my interest in Civil
Engineering. I know that Pitt offers a good courses for Engineering that I may be interested in. I
am also interested in Computer Engineering which I know RMU has a very good starting salary
for this specific part of this field.
My School List includes:
 The University of Pittsburgh, COA - $32,000, My estimated cost is around $26,000
 Robert Morris University, COA - $45,000, My estimated cost is around $30,000
 Duquesne University, COA - $42,000, My estimated cost is around $32,000
I would like to shadow Westinghouse to get an idea of what an engineering career would be like
and it would be interesting to know basic information on their occupations even if I may not
want to be that specific type of engineer.
I watched a video of an interview with Adam Wilson. He is a co-founder and chief software
architect at Sphero. Since he was born, he has been taking things apart and putting them back
together in a different way they were before. Then he began his occupation at Sphero, and he
created a ball along with others that could be controlled by a smartphone and the ball could be
driven around through the controls on a smartphone. He also has worked with Disney to create
models of the Star Wars character, such as BB-8, which is a small droid with a circular base that
rotates when he moves. Their creation would be perfect to replicate the droids base and they used
magnets to attach the head. This short interview showed me how creative you can be in the
engineering field and I enjoy the creativity this occupation allows. I have always enjoyed playing
with technology and I would really enjoy an occupation in this field.

“My Path” Speaker Series I have attended:

 Women in Nuclear, 10/22/15
Business, 11/5/15
Money 101, 11/19/15
Entrepreneurs, 12/3/15

U.S. Department of Justice: Joseph Brosky, 12/18/15

Engineering, 1/14/16
Medical, 2/25/16
Technology, 3/10/16
Government & Law, 4/7/16
Sports Careers, 5/19/16
Military, 9/15/16
Art & Design, 10/12/16
Music, 11/17/16
Writing & Journalism, 12/1/16
Construction & Trades, 3/9/17
Culinary & Hospitality, 3/23/17
Zoo Careers, 4/6/17
Real Estate & Architecture, 9/14/17
Finance, 10/19/17
Goals & How to Achieve Them: NC Alumni Linda Maloney, 11/3/17
Driving Skills for Life, 12/12/17

Field trips I have attended:

Inventionland

Workshops and other things I have attended:

AFS USA Global & Cultural Presentations (Foreign Languages Classes), 9/19/17
 Practice ACT for Juniors, 11/2/17
Financial Reality Fair for Juniors, 11/14/17
CAP Workshops: Freshmen Career Interests: January 2018
CAP Workshops: Sophomore Majors & Degrees, Job Shadowing Identification, & Career
Interviews: January 2018
CAP Workshops: Junior Cover Letters, Resumes & Researching College Costs, February 2018