Aidan Wrightson ePortfolio

     My name is Aidan Wrightson, and I've fallen in love with engineering. My goal is to pursue mechanical or aerospace engineering, mainly constructing and designing different aspects of military aircraft. My dad was the main reason I became interested in this field because he would take me to Test Pilot School, the school he attended before joining the Navy and show me the aircraft and explain what they were used for. I have and always will look up to my dad as a role model and an influencer because he has shaped me to become who I am today. Because of this, I knew I wanted to pursue this career path even more when I saw the amazing types of engineering and technology involved in every aspect of military aircraft and how all the individual parts worked together to create a functioning plane or helicopter.

     To achieve my goal of becoming an aerospace engineer, I have taken a Pre-Engineering class my freshman year and joined the Engineering program at the James A. Forest Career and Technology Center. At the Tech Center, I have learned and obtained a lot of valuable information that will help me to achieve the goal of becoming an aerospace engineer. One of my favorite things was hand-drafting with different views, and then creating something 3 dimensional using those drawings. I also really enjoyed my experiences with SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and other drafting platforms. I have learned about teamwork and problem solving and also about coding, manufacturing and designing different things. I have worked with a lot of amazing people who share the same engineering interests as me on projects and other hands-on examples that have taught me a lot about engineering.  

     I’ve played soccer since I was 4 years old, starting at kiddy kicks and now playing high school and travel soccer. Soccer has taught me many things about being a team player and having a goal, the goal being to win and improve and make it to the championship. It has taught me to work with teammates and work with others I may not know to achieve a common goal. Being a firefighter for Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department has taught me to work and trust others and to always be there for people, while teaching me different ways to give back to my community. On the other hand, I started a lawn mowing company in my neighborhood when I was 10, and have upgraded equipment and extended to other neighborhoods, cutting grass and making money. It has taught me financial skills, how to manage money, what to spend money on, and how to work with clients when it’s needed.

     After high school graduation, I am looking at joining the Navy, possibly becoming an engineer on Base to work on and help improve military aircraft. I’m not sure whether I want to go to 2-2 year or a 4 year college or the Naval Academy, but I know that I want to study engineering. Before then, I will continue building things and working on engineering skills and tactics.

     Engineers affect the community in many ways, like inventing new things to make life easier. It can also affect society. For example, if engineers were to make it so that planes were able to fly faster and were more advanced, people everywhere could get to their destinations faster. Once I become an engineer, I will try to invent or change things to help many people to accomplish tasks easier and quicker.