Chapter One
When I first arrived at the University of Maryland in 1998, I was more than a little intimidated. The campus seemed huge and since I was from out of state, I didn’t have any friends attending with me.
I had initially been drawn there by the excellent reputation of Maryland’s engineering program. And, once classes got underway, it became apparent that the reputation was well deserved. The curriculum was challenging and most of my teachers kept me on my toes. I thoroughly enjoyed being made to think in new ways.
After class, though, was another matter. I had always been shy and this was the first time I’d ever been away from family and friends for an extended period. A month into my first semester and I was acutely homesick and second guessing my decision to attend a college s
