In high school I studied algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, but I was surprised to find myself needing these skills frequently when using drafting tools on computers. If you don't know geometry and trigonometry, you cannot really draw with the computer drafting tools. In fact, I often use a piece of scratch paper to figure out how to draw what I need on the computer, which was also not what I expected.

At my 9th grade science fair, I won a gift certificate from a drafting supply company. This started my interest in drafting, and resulted in several more scholarships. One was from a science fair, and another was the four-year General Electric National Scholarship from the Society of Women Engineers. I chose to attend an engineering college, the Colorado School of Mines.

After two years, I was getting a bit tired of school, so I accepted a cooperative education work assignment with the U.S. Forest Service. It was so much fun that I continued for three more years. I worked with older people, completed assignments, grew up, and gained experience towards a career, without knowing how it would work out. During my junior year, I also took one semester off to work fulltime with the U.S. Forest Service.

When I graduated with a BS in Mining Engineering, I went to work for the U.S. Forest Service, and have stayed with them ever since. I was an inspector of road and bridge projects and a road designer of low-volume roads in Colorado and Idaho.