As I look back over the last four years, I try to
come up with a list of things that I have learned and
what skills I have gained. Before putting together this
portfolio it was hard to make this list, but after doing
so and going back over all of the projects and work that
I have done in the time that I have been here. I have
come to realize that I have learned much more than I had
thought. I have come to realize that my time here has
been well spent, and that I have gained the skills and
knowledge needed to enter into a position as a
professional computer engineer.
After taking part in projects like Senior Design and
several of my other design projects I believe that I am
now prepared to design a wide range of systems and
processes. I will also be able to apply the knowledge
and skills that I have gained to formulate and solve
engineering problems.
While here at Iowa State I have been given the
opportunity to work on a number of group and team
projects such as the 3-D Trivia Maze in Computer Science
309 and the 16-bit Pipeline Processor during Computer
Engineering 305. The work that I have done on these
teams and in these groups has been invaluable. The
communication and teamwork skills that I have gained
will serve me well in the workforce as part of a team.
I also believe that one of the most important things
that I have gained from my time here at Iowa State is my
drive to continue to learn as much as I can and to never
stop. In such a dynamic field as computer engineering is
and one that is changing as fast as it is, it is
imperative to always continue to learn new things and
stay on top of what is new.
Through the advice of several of my former instructors
and classes like Computer Engineering 491 Senior Design
Project I and Professionalism I have gained respect for
what it means to be professional in the workplace and
the understanding of the ethical responsibilities that
an engineer has to the people that will be affected by
the things that they create.
If I were to redo my undergraduate studies again I do
not believe that I would do any thing different than
what I have already done. Hindsight is always 20/20 but
in the case of my time here at Iowa State I regret
nothing that I have done. As I said before I believe
that my time here has been very well spent.