On Tuesday June 30th, 2017, my cell phone rang and I looked at it and it was my son Doug calling. This was unusual given that it was about 12:15 p.m. and he does not call me unless there's a problem. I answered, "Doug, what's up? He answers with emotion in his voice, "I passed the test!"
My heart leaped for joy and I knew immediately what this meant. Doug had taken the Georgia State Licensing Board's Professional Engineering (PE) exam about 45 days ago and my son is now a registered licensed professional Civil Engineer in the State of Georgia. Chocking back the tears, I congratulated him on his accomplishment and told him i needed to send him a text that I sent his mom earlier this morning. I reminded him to be humble and thankful to God. Words escaped me. I asked him to call his mom and share the news with her. She needed to hear it from him. Our call ended.
As I calmed down and said prayers of thanks, I began thinking of the path that has carried Doug from a young man to where he is today. I remember exposing Doug at a young age to the inner workings of architectural and engineering firms, exposing him to construction sites small and large so he could see the wonders and varieties of construction. We toured a hydro-electric dam; we used survey equipment; and we designed/installed our lawn sprinkler system including "washing in two shallow wells" that still provide the water needed for the sprinkler system to this day. We did a hundred mechanical projects together, most along the line of automotive repairs and modifications. We built computers, computer networks, network servers, game servers and website servers. We painted houses, we installed interior finishes, and we even built a tree house!
All the while we talked about his future and we zeroed in on what Doug wanted to be. From elementary school, he wanted to be an engineer and he wanted to be a Civil Engineer like his dad. Now I did not push him in that direction, he chose that path freely. Once chosen, we started to prepare him for the journey. From the time he graduated from High School until he acquired his Professional Engineering License would take at least 11 years, if he acquired a Bachelor of Civil Engineering Technology from Georgia Southern.
So the journey began in 2006 when Doug graduated from South Effingham High School and began as a freshman at Georgia Southern the following Fall. There were some bumps in the road as Doug settled into college life but he never strayed from the path. In 4 years (Spring of 2010) Doug graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. He immediately went to work for EMC Engineering and worked there for 3 years. In 2014 he then went to work for Coleman and Company and continues to work there today. Having passed the EIT (Engineer In Training) exam back in 2010, Doug applied for the PE exam in 2017 and was accepted. This brings us to the news of today, May 30th.
Now to double back to the text message I sent to my wife and Doug's mom the morning of the good news but prior to Doug's call: "Dear Heavenly Father, I realize the outcome of Doug’s PE exam has already been set and I thank you for your help getting Doug to this point in his life as he waits these final hours for the test results. I ask that you help him to remain humble and thankful to you dear Lord if you see fit for him to pass this exam. I also ask that you give him strength and patience if he did not achieve a passing score at this time. Help him walk the path of a disciple, understanding that without failures we are not able to truly appreciate the successes that you allow us in this life. These things I pray in Jesus name. Amen."
The bible verse that comes to mind after I carry you though Doug's life path to this milestone is: “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.”
Proverbs 21:5 KJV
Thanks be to God!
