Well summer is now over and school is back in session. I spent my summer working as an intern at Advanced Chemical Technologies Inc. in OKC. They mainly manufacture water-proofing products for concrete along with a variety of other products. I worked there doing R&D for new products and had a pretty good time but I really don't have any exciting stories of my summer to share. I also got my Lean/Six Sigma Green belt during this summer. It's a certification in a optimized process mentality mainly used in manufacturing. Dr. Pulat teaches it here at OU and it's worth doing if you're in the college of engineering as it looks pretty good on your resume.
I'm a chemical engineering student at OU in the college of engineering and I'm minoring in English writing (I've always followed the mantra "Major in where you can find work. Minor in something you enjoy"). Chemical Engineering has been a very difficult major but I feel that ultimately it's been worth the extra work required to succeed. This will be my fourth and final year here at OU as I will be graduating this upcoming spring semester. By graduation, I hope to have a job lined up so I can move directly into the workforce. I don't really have any specific career goals as to what company I want to work for, but I'd like to get into the chemical or energy industries. If I can get a company to pay for it, I'd love to pursue an MBA and move into chemical engineering management. My overarching career mentality right now is basically "Get a job" as I'm in my last year of school.
Well now that I've gotten the boring stuff out of the way, I guess I'll give some slightly (and I mean very slightly) less boring tidbits about myself. I absolutely love to make things and it can be anything - food, furniture, massive spreadsheets used for modeling complex reaction systems for. I do really love to cook though and I'm not bad at it. I smoked quite a bit of meat in my smoker this summer as well. I just smoked a pork shoulder a few weeks back for pulled pork and a few weeks before that I smoked two twenty pound briskets about a week apart. Outside of cooking, I'm a pretty normal college-aged guy. I play video games and watch Netflix in my free time. I love to read though I really haven't been able to read for fun as much as I would like. Most of what I read nowadays is formal reports or instructions about running certain ASTM tests or about the performance of a certain reactor - you know, super fun and exciting stuff like that. I keep sliding back to the boring, technical stuff here, don't I? Engineering can be kind of boring that way. Well here's some pictures of some of the food I made this summer to sum this mostly boring introduction up on a more enjoyable note. Enjoy!
(Personal photo of split smoked brisket, July 2016)
(Personal Photo of Caprese salad, June 2016)
(Personal photo of homemade blueberry jam, June 2016 - Will gladly give away some. I'm getting a little sick of it at this point,)
(Personal Photo of Rum Cake, June 2016)
Oooooh, pulled pork! Smoker! This is dangerous stuff to read about and see when I am getting hungry for supper! I actually live in North Carolina (my husband and I had to move here for family reasons... but thanks to the flexibility of online, I kept my OU job; if I were in Norman I would take you up on the blueberry jam: I love blueberries!) — and they take their pulled pork very seriously in this state. My husband has a smoker, and I like his smoked salmon the best, but he likes brisket and is on a lifelong quest for the best brisket. I am glad to participate in any and all such experiments that he conducts! (And I don't use the word experiment lightly; he was a chemistry major and keeps a laboratory notebook for his cooking concoctions.)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like this class will be a fun change from your engineering classes, and writing skills are powerful for any career path you follow, even more so if you go into management. And did you know there is a god of engineering in India? He is Vishvakarman, the All-Maker, and if you are curious you can learn more here: Vishvakarman. Perhaps you will find a way to make him part of your work for the class! :-)
It sounds like you had a good experiece with your internship this summer. I also interned in engineering, and spent most of my time in a cubicle. Was yours similar? It's great that you're following your passion for writing. I can't wait to read your stories for Epics since you already have some experience. The Caprese salad looks delicious, as does the cake. Too bad this class doesn't meet in a classroom, I'm sure the class would want you to cook!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Beth says bring blueberry jam to M206. Leave it by the third computer from the printer.
ReplyDeleteOops I missed your comment originally. I guess I'll have to see if she's still interested.
DeleteHi Jeff! Yes, I am the same Kimber that you met through Beth!(: Sounds like you have some good things to put on your resume after the summer you had! I am the same way about life after college, just trying to find a job and go from there! The food looks delicious! I absolutely love brisket, and your Caprese salad looks to die for! I'm excited to read some of your stories throughout this semester, especially since you have a lot of experience in writing!
ReplyDeleteHi, Jeff! Ooooooohhhh, blueberry jam! To die for! Impressive skill, knowing how to cook, smoke meats and jam. You're just about ready for a wagon ride across the Midwest. Ha, just kidding. But, great looking food though! I'm looking forward to reading your stories since you are minoring in English! And congratulations on your last year at OU -- goodluck finding a job, sounds like you're a nicely rounded out person with lots of interests, so you should be able to fit in well wherever you go!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff! Just checking in to say hello again, since we are in blog groups together this week! While I'm not as interested in seeing the spreadsheets that you're capable of making, could you add some photos of some of the furniture pieces that you have made? I inherited a wood lathe from my father, and so my husband and I like to tinker in this realm as well. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff! You seem like you are quite the cook! Do you have any more pictures of things you have made? I would love to get some recipes! It all looks so delicious! I think that it is great that you are minoring in something you love! My cousin majored in Chemical Engineering as well, and he seems to be pretty well off so I am pretty sure it is a lucrative major! I hope you have a wonderful semester! I wish you all the best for this class!
ReplyDeleteThat brisket looks fantastic! You seem to have a wide variety of interests. As nice as it is to have an exceptionally deep understanding of one subject, it's really useful to have a grasp of several. That way, you can draw on your knowledge in one subject while working on another. I bet there are ways you could combine your chemistry background with your cooking skills.
ReplyDeleteThat Caprese salad looks amazing... feel free to share! I'm really impressed with the variety of your studies. Even though I have 2 majors and 2 minors, they're all considered "humanities; it's inspiring to see someone who is a true "renaissance man". Also, congrats on graduating with such a difficult major and a minor in four years! That's certainly an accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteHey Jeff! Nice to finally read your introduction after discussing our class assignments in real life so many time! (I’m sad I didn’t make the intro though…) I’m excited to read your stories from the class and can’t wait to see what you do with the material. I know with your writing minor you’re going to create great tales and stories of your own!
ReplyDeleteI applaud you for being a Chemical Engineer student. I originally came to OU thinking this would be my major, but I quickly changed to Biochemistry. It is really cool to here that you are a Green Belt. I had received an email earlier this semester from the Lean/Six Sigma group, but I was too shy to join. I am glad to hear that you at least minored in a field that you are passionate about. I hear way too many stories about people who didn’t get a degree in what they loved, and hate their jobs. All the food you made looks so delicious.
ReplyDeleteIs that offer for blueberry jam still standing haha? I used to be a chemical engineer until I took MoHeat :) now I'm biomedical engineering. I'm glad you were able to stick it out though! Also you look like an amazing cook and I am extremely jealous of everyone who gets to eat your food. Good luck on the job hunt!
ReplyDeleteJeff, I think it’s so great that you are able to balance a major in Chemical Engineering and a minor in writing! I strongly believe that you should commit yourself to doing what you love and avoid doing anything that will not help you achieve a personal goal or bring your personal satisfaction. I admit to being a little jealous of all that great looking food you have in your post. Tapingo seems a little sad compared to that.
ReplyDeleteYo, I'll take some of that jam! Jam is my jam, if you know what I'm saying. (Kidding, I don't even know what I'm saying.)
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading your story and you have a very strong style. I can see where the minor comes into play! (Ugh, I wish I would have minored in something when I was a freshman.... since I'm graduating in 2017 I guess it's a little late for me. Rats.)
You clearly have great time management skills, a strong education, cooking skills... do you clean too?
I laughed out loud with that mantra. It's a very smart one! Fortunately my career field is completely set with job security. Can't wait to start my 401k! Did I mention that my major is in acting? I feel you on the whole "get a job" idea. Looking forward to seeing what's to come! (~insert nervous yet optimistic laughter~)
Still thinking about that Jam....
I haven't commented on your blog yet! It's good to meet you. I minor in chemistry and am pre-med so I totally get why your largest focus is on education and getting a job. I also cook in my spare time and find that it is a great way to relieve stress, which I'm sure you've had your fair share of as an OU engineering major. Good luck on your job search and congrats to graduating in four years!
ReplyDeleteHi!! Well I don't think you're boring I think you're BRAVE for choosing that major!! I am not cut out for any type of engineering... so I applaud you. And wow, can you come and cook for me- or at least teach me- sometime? Sadly I'm a terrible cook but it looks like you're kinda on the pro level. Those jams look delicious... if you still need to find a home for one of them I volunteer as tribute! Nice to meet ya!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely mantra to follow! It really brought a bit of light to my eyes since I am in the process of trying to find a minor myself. Good luck in your engineering career! It’s definitely a hard one but worth it in the end!
ReplyDeleteOMG LOOK AT ALL THAT DELICIOUS FOOD! Everything looks absolutely amazing! You go! I love to dabble in a bit of cooking myself when I have the time to.
okay yum! I'm now starving...thanks for that hahaha I'm really impressed with all the food you can make. It's all so different and not necessarily the easiest! Very impressive. I wish I had more time to make elaborate meals. i was really proud of myself because this week I made an indian dish for the first time and didn't resort to making something microwavable.
ReplyDeleteWOW that caprese salad looks delicious!! You could be a chef... my cooking always tastes good but never does it ever look as good as the things you have posted! Do you use homegrown tomatoes (I'm not shaming you if you don't, we are in college haha)? The best caprese I have ever had was from a summer that worked hard in the garden the whole summer and wow those tomatoes were delicious and you could taste the love in them!!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff! Best of luck with your final year and the job search. I love that you're taking the time to pursue a minor in something that you're passionate about. I'm a Letters major with Pre-Med because I also didn't want to miss out on taking classes I'm interested in.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures you posted look great! I was in Italy this summer and really developed a taste for Caprese salad, since more often than not it was the main vegetarian option anywhere.
Hi Jeff! Best of luck with you in the final year with your major...I know I could definitely not hang in there with any type of engineering degree.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't hungry before reading this introduction but now I definitely am. All of the food looks so good and I wish I could cook like that. Unfortunately I am a terrible cook so I'm pretty jealous of all that.
Hey Jeff! Before I read through your introductions, I skimmed to look through your pictures, and I got to say, your introduction is my favorite. Mostly because I read your title and didn't expect the pictures. All of those look delicious! Especially the homemade jam! I think you're outside the realm of "just a normal college guy". You sound really well rounded and I'm so glad I got to meet you!
ReplyDeleteWell Jeff, it seems like you had a pretty busy summer. I like your view on "major where you can get a job, minor in something you enjoy." That rum cake looks delicious, seeing all these pictures of food has made me hungry! you don't seem like a normal college guy, you seems pretty cool and have a lot of awesome qualities!
ReplyDeleteHello Jeff! I’ve never had the opportunity to smoke any kind of meat myself but I love to eat it! It looks as though you are pretty good at smoking based on the picture that you posted for us! I also have a brother in law that graduated with Chemical Engineering at OU so I thought that was pretty cool! Good luck after graduation!
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