Joshua Carter

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Mentor Interview

At an early age, Christopher Sims had already found his passion. Since his first balsa

bridge building competition, my mentor knew that Civil Engineering would provide a creative

outlet. Although ambitious, his journey did not come without sacrifices. From having to opt-out

of social outings with friends in order to study, to passing a Professional Engineering exam, his

path to success was not for the faint of heart.

Growing up in a rural area, Mr. Sims had developed his own approach to dealing with

modern inconveniences due to his experiences throughout childhood. Going to school in

Mississippi also gave Mr. Sims a unique perspective that set him apart from his colleagues. This

one-of-a-kind upbringing definitely gave him the upper hand at work, as he recently got

promoted to the Director of Engineering for League City. As a Director, a majority of his time is

spent in meetings and long-term projects rather than actual Engineering work. Mr. Sims has

stated that this promotion has proven itself as more of a challenge than he had anticipated. From

understaffed departments, impending deadlines, and seventy-hour work weeks, Mr. Sims still

faces just as many hurdles as he did throughout his postsecondary education.

Mr. Sims’ road to success did not come without regrets. After getting hired as an

Engineer in Training, Mr. Sims wished he had known that Civil Engineering had the lowest

salary within the realm of Engineering. Also, the extensive number of meetings Mr. Sims’ would

administrate had taken him by surprise. Even though these factors had little impact on his career

decision, further research would have directed him towards a path better suited to his aspirations.

While his current job differed from what he originally expected, Mr. Sims thoroughly

enjoys his career. Mr. Sim’s fulfillment with his job can be attributed to his ability to overcome
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any obstacle that stands between him and his goals. His story goes to show that you can achieve

anything through hard work and determination.

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Sources:

Sims, Christopher. Personal interview. 17 September 2018.