HIST 100: Engineering The Past

Reflection

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My time thus far at Boise State has not only taught me valuable information about various topics and the fundamentals of being a professional engineer, but has also allowed me to mature and has prepared me for life in the “real world”. I have seen significant improvements in my organizational skills, time management, and even in my ability to interact and work with my peers. I have had the opportunity to have numerous interviews with engineering companies, as well as for part-time jobs to pay my bills. My need to find a balance between work, school, and a social life has made me a stronger and more independent person, while teaching me valuable life lessons about priorities. I have created friendships that will last a lifetime and have overcome obstacles greater than anything I have faced previously.

I definitely think this course would have been better taught face-to-face, but do not regret choosing to take it online. Since most of the course consisted of discussing various topics, it would have been nice to be able to have face-to-face discussions with my peers, instead of just responding to each other with short comments on blog posts. It would have also been nice to be able to discuss the material, as well as grades, with the professor. While I know that there were office hours offered throughout the semester, I personally find it more convenient and less awkward to be able to approach professors before or after class. I especially would have liked to be able to stay updated on my grade in the course, since grade updates on Blackboard were scarce.  This being said, the flexibility that comes with taking an online class far outweighs the drawbacks in my opinion. I find that the most difficult part of college is being able to balance work and school, so being able to complete work throughout the week on my own time is a huge bonus.

Beliefs and Values

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Daniel Burnham- Burnham is a very skilled and prideful man who, while a talented architect himself, has more of the business and people skills when compared with his partner John Root. This makes them a dynamic duo whose strengths and weaknesses balance well with each other. From an early age, Burnham was taught the value of public service, which he transferred into becoming an architect – a very public-driven occupation. In the book, it states that “Daniel Hudson Burnham was born… into a family devoted to… obedience, self-subordination, and public service” (19).

Frederick Olmsted – Olmsted, hired by Burnham and Root to help design the fair, is a distinguished landscape architect who hopes to validate his profession through his work on the fair. Throughout the book, he suffers from melancholy and depression, largely due to the underwhelming response of people towards his work. Olmsted’s greatest value, I believe, is receiving the recognition he believes he is entitled to. In the book, it states that “It irked him that few people seemed to understand the effects he worked so long and hard to create” (50). Olmsted only agrees to work with Burnham and Root because “Ellsworth assured Olmsted that by agreeing to help, he would be joining his name to one of the greatest artistic undertakings of the century” (49).

H.H. Holmes – I believe that Holmes’ greatest value is status. Throughout the novel, Holmes can be seen controlling people’s actions through his charm and good looks, showing his value of power over others. He desires to be seen as wealthy and powerful. As the book says, “He walked with confidence and dressed well, conjuring an impression of wealth and achievement” (35).