Andrew Waguespack

Class: PCT 350 (4 Virtues)

Practicum Reflection #1

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Prompt: What strengths do you bring to your emphasis work and what strengths do you want to develop in this job?

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One of the personality strengths I have is adaptability. Whether or not something goes perfectly to plan is rarely an issue. In machining, things can (and will) go wrong, and being adaptable and able to change is vital to continuing work. On some level, I actually enjoy figuring out how to solve a new problem on the fly. If I’m not actively solving a problem, there’s always the opportunity to look for different ways to produce the same result, possibly with a more efficient or effective method. Adaptability is not only applicable to the work though. It also applies to my relationships with people. Communication is arguably the most important skill across any workplace, and being able to change how you communicate with someone based on what you know about who they are and what information you are trying to convey is an essential skill. One strength I would like to develop in this job is the practical application of mathematical (geometry and trigonometry) principles in a tangible form. In the past, I’ve said I hate math. That may have been true at the time, but since then I’ve realized that it’s only computational math I hate. Luckily, most machinists use calculators anyways, so I can get by avoiding computational math entirely. Being able to have a mathematical formula with a set of numbers and actually see it represented in a tangible way is something incredibly fascinating to me. So far, I’ve already had a little taste in sketching blueprints, but I’m already itching for more. Seeing a physical, 3D representation of something I made would be pretty cool. Developing this skill further is something I look forward to as I continue in my Emphasis, especially as it’s something I feel I disregarded in the past, and something I believe I truly enjoy.