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PM Challenge 2008: Regaining Momentum
- Reflection
By: Enzo Cristobal Ramirez
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
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On February 26th and 27th, I had the opportunity to attend the annual Project Management Challenge 2008 conference hosted by NASA at the Hilton Oceanfront Hotel in Daytona Beach, FL. As an undergraduate senior from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), pursuing to be an Aerospace Engineer, this became one of my favorite events that I have attended during my college years. The main reason why I enjoyed it so much was because of the outstanding speakers and their interesting topics, the friendliness of the individuals representing their companies in their respective booths, and the wonderful environment after the presentation hours to socialize.
As I arrived on the morning of the 26th and began to meet with a few friends from ERAU, we naturally walked through the 30+ booths to orient ourselves. It caught my attention how the majority of the personnel at the booths asked us questions and tried to get to know us better. I clearly remember spending over 20 minutes talking to a man from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, where Embry-Riddle Future Space Explorer and Developer Society (ERFSEDS) launched its first sounding rocket, about the many opportunities that college students in our field of study have. What really impressed me was their willingness to help us, not by simply exchanging business cards, but by directly taking our names and information for future co-op or inter opportunities. This became an assurance that the many years of hard work at college are finally paying-off and the fact that I am still heading in the right direction to pursue my career goals.
As the morning continued, it was time to head towards our selected speaker’s presentation. As we walked through the crowd, I began to realize that we were the youngest, but that everyone treated us, and each other, with the utmost respect. It was almost like the feeling that is present in a tense situation, with the difference that the room was full of professionalism. Our speaker was Christian L. Hardcastle, Director, Systems Engineering and Integration Office from NASA at Johnson Space Center. His presentation was based on the Constellation program and their respective goals for the future. I really enjoyed Mr. Hardcastele’s presentation because it was very well prepared, with plenty of visual aids and short computer generated videos of Ares I and Ares V rockets launches. It was also interesting to note that this presentation was well suited for both managers and engineers since Mr. Hardcastle was able to incorporate both views effectively. Even after the presentation, as we were asking him questions, Mr. Hardcastle was very helpful and extremely knowledgeable.
One of my favorite events during the entire two-day conference was the “dinner,” where everyone had the chance to enjoy great conversation while relaxing at the same time.
I do not wish to focus on the fact that there was a lot of “free-food” in the eyes of a broke college student, but rather focus on the people that I was able to meet. Most of the conversations at this point were elaborate and personal. This is mainly because I was able to explain why I attended college in the USA and not back home in South America, Chile, and what were my plans for the future. Amongst them, I had the privilege to talk to Dr. Toshifumi Mukai, a Senior Chief Engineer for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This opportunity arose out of the blue as I was searching for chocolate covered strawberries, and while doing so I recognized Dr. Mukai from a distance. I have been investigating JAXA for a period of time and to meet Dr. Mukai was just amazing. Having lived in Japan for eight years, and knowing Japanese, I tried to speak the best Japanese possible, even though I hadn’t spoken it in a while.
Yet, as we talked and got to know each other, my insecurities about speaking Japanese slowly began to fade away and it wasn’t so hard to communicate anymore. Dr. Mukai’s patience definitely showed his desire to help me as I asked the many questions that I couldn’t find answers to through online research.
The PM Challenge conference was definitely helpful to me as I managed to meet people, ask questions, and establish contacts that otherwise I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do. It is through these types of conferences that college students, like me, are able to learn many valuable and key lessons that are not always taught in classrooms. I believe that many students start off their college experience with a high optimistic momentum. This momentum is lost through the many years of hard work and students begin to inevitably lose sight of their career goals. Sometimes simply meeting and talking to a professional in one’s field of study will bring back that ambition and help one regain that momentum. In my case, the PM Challenge conference did exactly that.
I would like to thank all of those that took part in organizing and supporting the PM Challenge 2008 conference and for giving me this unforgettable opportunity and experience.
Thank you!
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Curator:
NASA Official:
Last Updated: April 16, 2008 |
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