Keywords

space industry, engineering, problem solving, internships, teaching, testing, communication skills, legacy, Florida Polytechnic University, career advice

Summary

In this episode of the Legacy Podcast, Seth Spencer interviews Andrew Graham, a recent graduate from Florida Polytechnic University, who shares his journey into the space industry. Andrew discusses his internships at United Launch Alliance and NASA, the importance of diverse experiences, and how teaching has influenced his problem-solving skills. He emphasizes the significance of testing in engineering, learning from failures, and the unexpected skills that have proven critical in his career. Andrew also offers advice to current students on pursuing their passions and navigating their professional paths, concluding with a discussion on the meaning of legacy.

Takeaways

• Andrew's journey into the space industry began with internships at United Launch Alliance and NASA.
• Diverse experiences during college helped Andrew find his passion in the space sector.
• Teaching others solidified Andrew's understanding of complex engineering concepts.
• Technical skills are crucial, but communication skills are equally important in engineering.
• Testing is a vital part of engineering that is often overlooked in education.
• A good test is one that reveals failures before they occur in real-life scenarios.
• Learning from others' mistakes is more valuable than learning from your own.
• Programming skills have become unexpectedly critical in Andrew's engineering work.
• Open-ended problem solving is a key skill developed during Andrew's education.
• Legacy is defined by the impact you have on others, not just by accolades.

Sound bites

"Bad news doesn't age well."

"You might have to do it."

"Time is gonna pass anyway."