What do you wish you knew at my age? What would help me achieve what you couldn't achieve?

Great question!

For one thing, I wish I had asked more questions so you're off to a great start. One of my professors in college told us that we should "always run with a crowd that's a little better than yourself". In other words, we have to surround ourselves with the right kind of people - positive people, those that can help us learn & grow. I would encourage you to look around with the people you have surrounded yourself with. Are they they kind of people that are going to lift you up or, if you're being honest with yourself, are they holding you back? I made the mistake of being around the wrong kind of people and it wasn't until those people were out of my life that I really began to see how much they were holding me back.

I also wish I'd spent more time around those who were actually working in the fields I was considering. I made a lot of false starts because I had an idealized version of the job but the reality was very different. If you are interesting in civil engineering, I would encourage you to reach out to your city or county governments to see if they offer any type of volunteer or shadowing programs (and if they don't, ask if you can still come out). Spending time talking to people doing the job, and even seeing it done, will really help you decide if if's what you want.

Fantastic question. I suppose for me, I would have liked to be told that: You can achieve anything you want to, once you put your mind to it. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. And then you can reach the sky.

But also, be good to people. Even when you have been treated wrongly by an employer, keep being good to people and forgive them (even if only in your mind) if they have wronged you. Be strong and carry on. If you are good to people, you will gain mutual respect and people will want to do things for you in return.

I left school/art college and really didn't know what to do with my life. But I made a choice to become an engineer and I can honestly say it was the best decision I have made. And I now know that it doesn't matter if you don't manage to get a great career job straight after you leave college or university, you have plenty of time in your working life, to become a civil engineer.
In engineering, whichever industry you choose, don't stay in a job if you do not enjoy it. I have loved every aspect of being an engineer. The only downside in the industry that I have witnessed, is budget constraints within a company which could affect your job and the most important thing, people. If you are not getting on with certain people in your job, it can really affect your love for that job. But there are so many different departments within a large engineering business, you will enjoy moving through them to gain experience and this will prove beneficial to you in the long run if you want to move further up the career ladder.

Good Luck

Sally Barnett

That is a great question but what I wish I knew in the 90s is probably different than what you need to know.
For example, when I graduated, knowledge did not change fast so once someone finished college, they were set for life. In today's world, you must continue to learn daily. There is no finish line. It does not end with graduation. But I bet you know that, right?
Another very important thing I wish I knew is to not burn bridges. We think the worlds is big but the circles in each industries are not that big and everyone kind of knows each other. And it doesn't matter if you are right: once you burn a bridge, the word spreads. When I was young I was fats at saying exactly what I was thinking but a lot of people are not prepare to hear it.
I hope this helps and good luck!!