Becoming a Civil Engineer
Fast forward to my junior year at Drexel with a declared major in civil engineering. When it came time to select my final co-op, I knew I wanted to be back with McCormick Taylor. This time around, I was working in the traffic unit, where I felt like part of the team from day one. I was tasked with revising plans, fieldwork, traffic counts, and a bit of design work. Most importantly, I was able to contribute to a variety of projects with the entire Philly traffic team. My co-op was such a mutual success that I ended up staying on part-time until I completed my degree. After graduation, I transitioned to a full-time employee where I would spend the next 11 years of my career.
Two projects I worked on then still stand out - the signalization of Roosevelt Boulevard and 2nd Street as well as updating PennDOT Publication 111 (Traffic Control – Pavement Markings and Signing Standards) and Publication 236 (Handbook of Approved Signs). Roosevelt Boulevard was a fast-tracked project in response to a tragic accident where a family was struck and killed by a vehicle. I grew up not far from that intersection and drove on the Boulevard daily, so this project meant something to me personally. In my freshman year at Drexel, I worked on a design project to improve intersection safety on the Boulevard, which is what sparked my interest in becoming a Civil Engineer. The second project, the PennDOT publications, might not sound all that exciting on paper, but what made it special was that I was able to design the cover for Publication 236. This allowed me to combine my passion for drawing with my professional career, and it still puts a smile on my face every time I see it.
Once I started working with McCormick Taylor after graduation, life came full circle when I found myself managing and interviewing the traffic co-ops. I was in that same conference room as before when I interviewed but on the opposite side of the table. I spent the next few years mentoring the co-ops and interns, three of whom now have full-time positions with us.
Some of my favorite parts of working at McCormick Taylor are the different events the company organizes that give everyone something to look forward to throughout the workweek. I can still taste all the delicious pies from Pie Day which was our annual contest around Thanksgiving. I’ll never forget the social the traffic group held for the Philly office that was carnival-themed. I even got to display my “athletic ability” on the company's softball and soccer teams. But, the biggest event was, hands down, the Employee Recognition Dinner held at the end of the year. It was the perfect way to celebrate all our hard work and enjoy time with co-workers from all offices.
In addition, my schedule has always been flexible and has allowed me to balance work and life. It wasn’t uncommon to see me putting in extra hours to earn comp time so I could use that time later for my many travel adventures. It was because of this flexibility that my passion for travel was able to flourish. So much so, that my fiancé and I decided that we would take an entire year off to travel and see the world. This is how I would come to leave McCormick Taylor for a second time in November 2019. Little did I know how life-changing the year 2020 would be, and it would have nothing to do with my round-the-world trip.
