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Whole Life Concepts Project

Owen Britt ENGR 1201-024 19 October 2013

I have neither given nor received any unauthorized help on this assignment, nor witnessed any violation of the UNC Charlotte Code of Academic Integrity.

October 19th 2013

Introduction Life is a time that should be spent learning and enjoying. People need passion to give their lives meaning and they can learn how to do so by using the Whole Life Concept model. It is a reference on how to take a passion and turn it into an impact. It is simple to follow and it only has four basic components: passion, knowledge, application and impact. Once someone has a passion, they can gain knowledge to apply their passion to their lives and hopefully make an impact in their society. Whether it is small or large, everyone should try to make an impact on the world in their lifetime. Finding a true passion can be difficult because most people care about multiple things in their lives, but they cannot pick one thing to be extremely passionate about. This was true for me, but after spending some time wondering what mine is, I came to a conclusion. Passion My passion is to make the world a safer place by improving water quality and making clean water available to everyone. It will be difficult working to reach the outside ring of the Whole Life Concepts model, but if I can make it there, the payoff will be more than just money. The ultimate payoff will be the satisfaction of knowing that I made a difference in the world. I developed this passion in my Environmental Science class my junior year of high school. Every day we would talk about the environment and how humans affected it. Most of the information did not interest me, but after learning how much water is contaminated on this planet and what the source of the problem is, a light bulb went off in my head that I could make a change. For the most part, I am a caring person, which is why I believe this is the right thing for me to do. In the country I live in, and especially the region, clean water is available almost everywhere so people generally do not have to worry about what they are drinking. This is not the case for millions of others on this planet. In developing countries, people die from drinking polluted water, and unfortunately for most, it is their only water source. The thing that amazes me most is that I can save lives by improving water quality in developing countries. As a child, I never realized that I could save lives as a part of my job. I never thought a job could impact something larger than my community, but when I decided to become an engineer and attend UNC Charlotte, that all changed. This passion for improving water quality was fueled by learning facts and having direct contact with those who have lived with polluted water. In the summer of 2012, I went to a camp called ANYTOWN at which high school students from all different ethnicities and backgrounds attended to fight against bias, bigotry and racism. At the camp, I met a kid named Pip who traveled to the United States all the way from a jungle in Cambodia. It horrified me to hear about the water quality and living conditions he put up with as a child. His story inspired me to pursue my passion and help those who are in the same situation he was in. During my senior year, all students were asked to pick a topic to research and give a presentation on it. One of my friends chose water quality as his topic and not only did he talk about the problems with contaminated water, but also the lack of water in some areas. I could not help but to want to make a difference after hearing his presentation. In addition to the people I have come in contact with, my background and values have affected my passion. The family I was raised in taught me to help those who are less fortunate. In this case, those living in developing countries are less fortunate than me and I have an opportunity to make an impact. As an engineer, one of my strengths is problem solving and there is a specific problem that my passion can lead me to solve. All people are unique in their strengths and personal experiences. These personal experiences have various effects on people. Anybody can listen to facts on the news or read articles on the internet and form an opinion, but having a friend tell you about their firsthand account is completely different. When something as serious as poor quality of life becomes reality, you put yourself in their shoes. My view of the problem is different from those of others as a result of listening to a firsthand account. Skills also make people stand out from the rest and my skill is problem solving. Having this ability has allowed me to fix various components in my car and in my house. In my car, I have replaced many of the components of the sound system and in my house I have done similar projects. In addition to my skills, there are also other things that separate me from others and they are my values. My values are what

make me an individual and morally different from everyone else. These values have led me to offer help to those who are unfortunate and are willing to accept it. There is no purpose in trying to help those who have no desire to be helped, but with my passion, I feel as if all people will accept my help if it will improve their quality of life. Impact Having a passion is great, but it is just an emotion until you put it into action and apply it to the Whole Life Concept model. I have set three personal impact goals that I hope my passion will allow me to reach. First, I want to make clean drinking water available to everyone within reach of a water source. I believe that it should be everyone's right to have access to clean drinking water. Some people only have one source of water and they should not have to suffer because of the wrongful actions of someone else. These actions include the addition of any harmful substances into a water source. Secondly, I would like to end pollution into waterways. Humans are the ones contaminating the water, which causes problems for those who rely on the water. We as humans are the problem and I want to be the solution. Lastly, I want to increase awareness about the dangers of water pollution. If I could impact how people think about water pollution, I could start a chain reaction of awareness. The more aware people are about the topic, the less likely they would be to contribute to the pollution themselves. There are many global issues related to water quality that are ignored. Whether people choose to believe it or not, fracking is polluting water. Fracking is the process of penetrating the ground with either a drill or water in order to fracture shale and release natural gas. Each fracturing job requires millions of gallons of water and they add 40,000 gallons of chemicals to the water to create fracking fluid. These added chemicals that are shot into the ground contaminate the nearby groundwater. Local residents with 1 wells end up using this water. Another global issue is that many people get diseases or even die from drinking contaminated water. Lack of clean water kills more people than war. One out of every six people does not have access to a clean water source. Surprisingly, water is also naturally contaminated by 2 arsenic which humans cannot control. Unfortunately, children around the globe are affected by dehydration. It is a major cause of infant illness and it accounts for two million deaths of children under five in developing countries. Children who have severe cases of dehydration can be very lethargic and 3 sometimes go into a coma. Fulfilling my passion could save the lives of millions of children. Knowledge, Application, Skills and Abilities In order to make an impact, I will first have to gain knowledge and start a career. To obtain this knowledge, I will need to experience poor water quality firsthand and get a feeling of what it is like for people in developing countries. As I mentioned earlier, those who have firsthand experiences are the only ones who have a real life understanding of the problem. I need to experience the problem to help form a solution. One thing I have learned in this introduction class is that no one can be a professional without knowledge or experience. I will also need to learn about water and environmental rules and regulations. Currently, my knowledge of the topic is limited to what I learned in my Environmental Science class in high school, and without this knowledge, I might as well sit back and watch the problem get worse. Lastly, I will need to learn to stand up and do something about it. I need more leadership and communication skills before I can start to make an impact. Nobody will listen to me and take me seriously without proper
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"Dangers of Fracking." Dangers of Fracking. http://www.dangersoffracking.com (accessed September 19, 2013)


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"Provide access to clean water - Engineering Challenges." Grand Challenges for Engineering. http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9142.aspx (accessed September 19, 2013).
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"Dehydration - baby, symptoms, stages, Definition, Description, Demographics, Causes and symptoms." Encyclopedia of Children's Health: Infancy Through Adolescence. http://www.healthofchildren.com/D/Dehydration.html (accessed September 19, 2013).

communication skills. Most of the problem is awareness and ignorance. I believe that I can make a difference if I can get my point across to the public. Much time was spent comparing majors to see which one would help me achieve my goal of improving water quality. I have decided that a major in Civil and Environmental Engineering will be my best option. My choice of major will help me gain the knowledge I need to apply my passion to my life, according to the Whole Life Concept Model. Although I have chosen a major, I have some concerns about it. I am concerned that I will not be able to work globally and my work will be limited to jobs in the United States. If I can only work in the United States, I will not be able to reach my goal of helping out developing countries. To learn more about this, I can talk with other engineers and firms. They can provide me with practical information and tell me if my goal is realistic. Another concern I have is if I should choose a concentration within my major to find a career closely or directly related to my goal. I do not know much about concentrations and how they are beneficial, so in order to find out, I can talk with my advisor to see what they recommend for me. Water quality is a problem that requires a lot of experience and preparation. I believe that a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering will prepare me not only to do work on paper, but also to work in the field. Field work is where engineering is important and from what I have heard and experienced so far, UNC Charlotte is successful in their ability to prepare engineers to solve problems in the field. In order to take the all of the classes I will need for a concentration, I will need to do graduate work and receive a Master's degree. The College of Engineering, especially the Civil Engineering graduate program, offers courses specific to my passion which is why I believe is the best fit for me. My coursework will start with Chemistry and Chemistry Lab which will teach me how to test what is in water. This will help me identify what the source of contamination is. During my junior year, I will take an Introduction to Environmental Engineering class which I hope will teach me the basics of treating water. Most of the water-related courses will be taken after receiving my Bachelor's degree. Once I start my graduate program, I will be able to take Wastewater Engineering and Groundwater Resource Engineering courses. In these classes, I will learn how to treat contaminated water specific to the type of pollution, which will be very useful working the field. Lastly, I can take Water Quality Modeling which will teach me to model the process of how the water gets contaminated. Being well-rounded is beneficial in engineering and with these classes and a degree on paper, I will be able to start working in the field and improving water quality upon graduating. According to the Whole Life Concept Model, once I have all of the knowledge from my major, I can begin to apply it to a professional career. All of the classes taken during graduate school will be used to help me achieve my desired impact. Knowledge obtained from my Wastewater Engineering class can be used when I am identifying the source of pollution into a water source. I hope to learn how to treat all types of water pollution because in my career I will encounter all of them. Developing countries can have extremely low water quality, and this class will teach me how to make it consumable. The knowledge from my Groundwater Resource Engineering course will be applied differently depending on where I am working at the time. If I am in a location where wells are used to obtain drinking water, I will have to approach the problem in a different manner. Lastly, I can use what I learn from my Water Quality Modeling class to develop models for a how the water got contaminated and how I will solve the problem. All of my engineering classes will help me with my problem solving skills, but these three specifically will be used most when it is time to apply my knowledge to my career. Fortunately, there are many job opportunities that are very closely related to my passion. There is a position for a Wastewater Treatment Engineer in Alabama which pays $85,000 a year. They are looking for a B.S. in Civil or Environmental Engineering and eight to ten years of experience. In addition,

proficiency in AutoCad and communication skills are a must. URS has a position is available for a Water Resources Project Manager in Germantown, Maryland. In order to get the job, one must have a B.S. in Civil Engineering and at least seven years of experience. The company is looking for a leader who can 5 work well with the community. There is also an opening for a Wastewater Design Engineer in Ohio which pays $65,000 a year. The company is called MRI Network and they are looking for a professional 6 engineer with a Civil Engineering degree and five or more years of experience. All three jobs are looking for a professional with exceptional communication skills. These are a few of the non-academic skills I will have to work on in order to be ready to enter the workforce. Developing the non-academic skills I will need to begin a career will be a challenge. A perfect way for me to get some experience in developing countries is to join Engineers Without Borders. I can start making an impact while I am still in college. Being in another country will give me the skills I need to communicate with those in need in the future. Also, it is an added bonus that they do many Civil Engineering projects. Personally, I think the most important skill is communication and I can obtain some skill by being a campus tour guide. It could help me with speaking publicly and informatively. Many days of the week I see tour guides walking through campus and I can see how their confidence and enthusiasm develops from week to week. How greatly I can make an impact relies on my communication skills and this is a great opportunity. Another way I can gain some non-academic skill is by visiting a water treatment plant to see what kind of work the engineers do. I will be more prepared to start working if I have a general idea of the type of work I will be doing in the future. Overall, the more non-academic skills I have when I graduate, the better prepared I will be. Reflection and Conclusion My passion is to improve water quality for people in developing countries and highly populated areas. After getting a Civil Engineering Degree, I can start a career and begin working in the field. Hopefully, one day I will make clean water available to everyone and no one will have to worry about getting sick or dying from drinking a contaminated glass of water. The Whole Life Concept model has helped me plan out my ideal career and lifestyle. It has made me think hard about what I am truly passionate about and what I will need to do to gain knowledge about my passion. I now know that in order to reach my goal, I will have to get a Master's degree to achieve my goal. With this project I have discovered what classes I will be taking in a couple of years as well as what concentrations or minors I should study. I know that once I graduate I will be able to apply my knowledge to the world. Before this project, I was not positive about becoming a Civil Engineer, but I have made up my mind and I believe it is the best option for me. This project has helped me realize that my dreams and goals are possible to reach, it has also helped me realize the amount of work I will have to put into my education to reach them. By researching for this project, I learned what people are doing to help with the problem of poor water quality and that there are many organizations trying to start a movement to bring awareness to the public. One of the most informative aspects of this project was the discovery of the numerous job opportunities and salaries for water treatment jobs. I never thought I would be able to do what I wanted for a living and make good money. I am most definitely more committed to succeeding in engineering and getting my degree after completing this project. The reason for this is the amount of impact I can have on the world by saving lives. I would be extremely satisfied if my career led to the
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"Water/Wastewater Treatment Engineer." Jobs & Job Search Advice. http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=JHQWY6L91 6DK4K9VZF&IPath=QHKV0Y (accessed September 19, 2013).
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"Water Resource Project Manage." Jobs & Job Search Advice. http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J3F3FF6Y8LZDKXL9 X6C&IPath=QHKV1X (accessed September 19, 2013).
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"Design Engineer Water Wastewater." Jobs & Job Search Advice. http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J3F6FN755WD5X3MS V40&showNewJDP=yes&IPath=QHKV3I (accessed September 19, 2013).

saving of lives of children in developing countries because that feeling would be indescribable. All engineers can be heroes, they just have to make an impact to do so. With the help of the Whole Life Concept model, I can be a hero.

Bibliography "Dangers of Fracking." Dangers of Fracking. http://www.dangersoffracking.com (accessed September 19, 2013). "Dehydration - baby, symptoms, stages, Definition, Description, Demographics, Causes and symptoms." Encyclopedia of Children's Health: Infancy Through Adolescence. http://www.healthofchildren.com/D/Dehydration.html (accessed September 19, 2013). "Design Engineer Water Wastewater." Jobs & Job Search Advice. http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J3F6 FN755WD5X3MSV40&showNewJDP=yes&IPath=QHKV3I (accessed September 19, 2013). "Provide access to clean water - Engineering Challenges." Grand Challenges for Engineering. http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9142.aspx (accessed September 19, 2013). "Water Resource Project Manage." Jobs & Job Search Advice. http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J3F3 FF6Y8LZDKXL9X6C&IPath=QHKV1X (accessed September 19, 2013). "Water/Wastewater Treatment Engineer." Jobs & Job Search Advice. http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=JHQ1 WY6L916DK4K9VZF&IPath=QHKV0Y (accessed September 19, 2013).

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