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Matthew Mulloy

Cumulative Reflection
As I near the end of my undergraduate career at Iowa State University, It has
become necessary to reflect on my academic career so that I may better
understand my future. To accomplish this, I will analyze all six years of my
education in both the mathematics and electrical engineering field. I will discuss
how my acquired knowledge will benefit me in industry, my personal life, and my
interactions with the world in general.
Firstly, I need to discuss how I can to become a senior at ISU. I enrolled at
Scott community College for the second time in 2007. After two years, I graduated
with an Associates of Science, having exhausted the college of their mathematics
courses. I came to ISU in the spring semester of 2010 sure that I would earn a
Bachelors in mathematics and either apply to graduate school or become an
educator. That didnt work so well. After two years of steady but non-exemplary
improvement in mathematical proofs, I decided that my talents would be better
suited to the field of engineering. The majority of my skills discussed came from
the College of Engineering.
The main goal of my engineering degree is to teach me to become an
engineer; and that means becoming a problem solver. As such, I needed to learn
how to design systems from the ground up. Digital Logic helped me do this. The
class begins with basic true/false logic and progresses to a computer processor. The
labs reflect this incremental building by requiring prelabs which relate directly to the
work of the lab. The prelab is the thinking portion of the lab. The final project is an
accumulation of all class information and cannot be completed without full
knowledge of the course.
I needed to formulate and solve engineering problems. Senior Design helped
me do this. For my project, I was required to design a device that would create a
uniform magnetic field of 400 Gauss through a fabricated material designed by
another with properties required by their section of the project. I personally
designed the geometry of the problem, the magnetic and shielding materials, and
the scope of success. Then I began simulating. And simulating. And simulating.
Two hundred and fifty simulations, two thousand linear characteristics, and two
dozen redesigns of geometric tolerance later, I had my answers. The ability to start

from nothing, formulate an idea, refine, simulate, refine again, discuss, and adapt
are all paramount to engineering.
I needed to know how my engineering solutions impact in a global and
societal context. Power System Economics helped me do this. In this class, we
discussed how energy is priced, distributed, and sold. We discussed how energy on
transmission lines is rented. We discussed how power generation economics is
broken down; the cost of fuel, cost of waste management, cost of start-up, cost of
continuous running, cost of pollution, cost of development, cost of efficiency, and
cost of retirement. Every decision has ramifications that permeate throughout the
local and nationwide community. And as a power engineer, it is important to
consider far reaching consequences.
I needed teamwork. Electronic Circuits and Systems helped me acquire this.
The labs for this class were particularly comprehensive. As such, it required a team
of three to complete in a meaningful and rigorous way. We would regularly meet
outside of class to work on each lab. We would then review each others lab reports
for individual and group clarity. When the classes final project was due, each of us
needed to work together to finish within the time constraints of the class. The
ability to work with sincere people doing sincere work regardless of personal
opinions is required at all times in engineering.
I needed to understand contemporary issues. Program Exploration helped
me do this. In this class, we discussed modern ethical concerns. It was required to
explore with a professor topics of ethical behavior. Then, it was required to write an
essay of my individual thoughts on the topic. For this, I discussed with Dr. Ian
Dobson the topics of the Challenger space shuttle disaster and the controversy of
the Ford Pinto failures. When ethical topics were discussed between faculty
members a year later, he used my arguments and attitude to assist him. He then
later thanked me for my participation in our class discussion. Recognizing and then
acting on ethical issues is necessary for any good person, regardless of profession.
I needed to understand responsibility. Being a teaching assistant for digital
Logic helped me do this. It was required to run four labs and recitations
professionally. I needed to effectively and fairly grade one hundred labs a week. I
was required to plan grading criteria for the entire class. I was required to know
material so that I may assist other students. But more than that, I needed to enable
students to learn for themselves. And I was responsible for class lectures in the

professors absence. In all these tasks, it was required to behave in a fair and
ethical manner.
In my time attending Iowa State University, I found myself needing assistance
with my work. My two greatest resources were fellow students and faculty. My
fellow students would often struggle with the same questions I had. Together, we
would bounce ideas off each other. We would collectively reach a conclusion.
Students who were working as teaching assistants would also be a resource. They
knew class material well and aided in my learning. But most importantly, professors
would offer their experience and knowledge just for the asking. I found this to be
both generous and admirable.
I was also a member of several different organizations while attending ISU. I
learned from IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) the importance of
large community organizations of education and industry. I found the access to
possible future employers to be insightful. I learned from WESO (Wind Energy
Student Organization) the importance of the generosity of time. I also learned how
simple solutions can impact large groups of people through outreach in poorer
regions of the world. And I was shown the future of the industry from a renewable
perspective.
One of the most crucial lessons taught by each professor at ISU is the need to
be a lifelong learner. As such, I am constantly delving into my own interests. I am
always perusing my interest in mathematics, regardless of my career choices. I
purposely read on random topics every day for at least an hour. I do not limit
myself on my studies. I wish to know as much as possible so that I might be a
better engineer.
Lastly, I am faced with the most clichd question a reflection asks. If I had to
do it all over again, what would I change? The benefit of hindsight is overrated.
Every action and decision I made was either exactly what I wanted at the time or
was the best of limited choices. It is unfair to compare my knowledge know with my
knowledge the. So, I would do nothing from my academic career differently. Here
at the end, I am grateful for the experiences I have had. And I am ready for the
next step. In my reflection of the past, all I see is the future.

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