Real Story: Jason Szklany

Jason Szklany

Last night I was a student, this morning an intern, and this afternoon back into my roles of husband and father.    

I have a goal now – and I feel powerfully motivated to complete this degree. I waited so long to get into this that I have something to prove to myself or anyone that’s watching.   

I tried college after high school, for a whole semester. I skipped more classes than I showed up for. The real problem was that I had no idea what I wanted to do. I spent a few years doing automotive work before I realized I needed something more.  

Massage school was just about the furthest thing from automotive work. I went from grease under my fingernails to ylang-ylang and lavender-infused oil in a holster on my hip. This was my first crack at education that felt exciting.  I absolutely loved the classroom experience. And I was finally starting to get a better idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up.  

I initially settled in a pretty safe direction for my education, but in my first semester my Algebra II teacher gave me the gentle nudge I needed to keep myself from the easy road.  A 2-minute conversation before class and a few casual suggestions of different career paths was all it took. I started my journey into electrical engineering. I don’t know if I’m 100% certain what I want to be when I grow up – but I know that I wake up excited to think about it.   

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Last updated: 6-29-22