I’m back! Hope you all enjoyed the series on ethics. Well, today, June 14, is a special day-my 50th birthday! Over the years, I was always around my colleagues, clients and peers when they made the big halfway point in their lives and always told myself-how would it feel to know you were half way through life’s journey and what would you reflect upon? Now that I have reached that milestone, I wonder whether my thoughts reflect others' and if I should share them with younger engineers trying to solve the problems of the 21st century.

The first thing that occurred to me as I look back is that I am proud to be an engineer and never regret that path I chose over 30 years ago. I indeed enjoy what I do and that goes a long way toward feeling like I am 21 again.

The second thing I think about is what is it that I have accomplished over the first half of my life. Have I accomplished the goals and dreams that I once wrote down? How have those dreams and desires changed? Yes, I have indeed accomplished many of the goals and dreams. I had help from people I respected and admired -- my mother, my husband and some great names of the past, such as Henry Michel. However, there are also some goals and dreams that have changed, have not yet been realized or probably will not happen in the next 50 years. We must adapt to the changes we experience, or be left in a decade or century in which our abilities are no longer needed or wanted. I see so many of the most talented individuals fall off the radar screen or be forgotten by the new generation. Many of those talents came about from basic principles that are still true today and from which all of us could benefit. It scares me to think of retirement and thus I don’t. It saddens me to see many of those respected in the profession retire and be let out to pasture when we could learn so much. In this regard, I have reflected much of where I would like to see the next 50 years may take me.

Of course many of you say,“Halfway through life! Ha! You’re on deep slope downwards." Those types of thoughts will age someone faster than one could ever imagine. My goal is to live 100 years. I want to look back and see not only what I may have done to contribute, but what engineers have done to make this a better place for our future generations.

During my next 50 years, I anticipate being billable and contributing to the engineering career I simply love. But the focus of how I go about my work will change. In the first fifty years, it was important for me to credential myself, to build upon the experience of my mentors. My admiration and respect for them will never cease; I continue to be amazed at what individuals can do and accomplish in a lifetime. My two broad goals for the next 50 years are these: to inspire young girls to enter the profession and to raise the image of the profession with the public. I also plan to continue to push for engineering education reform, ethics and professionalism. It's important to give back to the profession in volunteer work with professional organizations. Licensure of all engineers is also key. I continue to be concerned as to where engineering is going as a profession and what our role will be. We must act now if we are to remain the leaders of the mega-projects, as well as sustainable infrastructure. Actually, turning 50 isn’t so bad after all. I have another long list of goals. I am looking to working on them and to advancing the engineering profession.