Extracurricular Activities
- Men's Basketball - American Society Civil Engineers - Steel Bridge Team - Work for Paul Engineering and Surveying
A Little Bit About Me
My name is Josiah Palumbo, and I am a junior in the Civil Engineering program at OIT. I have had two internships, and I just started a new one that will extend through September. This time I chose to stay in Klamath Falls for work, to see how work differs here from back at home. Outside of school, I enjoy swimming, walking, cooking, and cross-stitching. Recently, I have been inviting friends over and cooking on the barbeque. An interesting fact about me is that I have family in Russia, so I have dual citizenship, and I visit them every other year. Before I came to Oregon Tech, I spent three years at Shasta College playing basketball and taking pre-requisites. A goal of mine this summer is to read more nonfiction books so I expand my retention and memory.
Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major
I chose Oregon Tech because it’s Civil Engineering Program has a good reputation. As I did more research, I learned that the student to faculty ratio was low which would help me learn better. Klamath Falls is only two and a half hours from home, so it makes trips home on the weekends easy when my homework load is not heavy.
My Influential Professors
All my teachers have some sort of influence on my life, but Dr. Ashton Greer is the most influential professor I have had. She teaches the water resources series for the juniors. Prior to the series, I had an internship working in the water resources department and I enjoyed it. I started to think water would be the division I would work in. After taking a class with her, my decision was confirmed. She did a great job of relaying the information and her lecture style, as well as note taking style, make learning enjoyable and not as stressful. She has opened her door to help search for internships and to discuss employment opportunities.
My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech
My greatest learning experience was how to be resilient. I remember my first test in Strengths of Materials I got a 69% which was above the average, and I started to panic. From that day forward I got better at studying and got the high score on my next exam with a 98%. That class was difficult, but I stayed studious, did my homework, asked questions, and attended office hours. I learned how to be confident and how to be a better student. This class's difficulty prepared me for many of the classes that came after.
My Plans After Graduation
After graduating with a bachelor's degree, I hope to stay one more year at Oregon Tech and earn a master's degree. I would like to work at a firm back home in Redding or relocate somewhere in Oregon. Having a master's would benefit if I chose to teach engineering classes at the high school level. I would like to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering test within this upcoming summer if I have time. Then I would like to obtain my professional licensure within the next couple of years after graduating.