Seth Schneider
Hello, my name is Seth Schneider. I graduated in 2001 with my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Binghamton University at the Watson School of Engineering. In 2003 I graduated with my master's degree in mechanical engineering. Currently, I'm a senior mechanical engineer with DRS Power Technology located at an office in Fitchburg, Mass.
The education at Binghamton University did lot for me. The first thing is the technical background; I thought the education was really fantastic. I learned a lot of solid foundations, the textbook knowledge, what I need in order to grow and build forward. The fact is what you learn in school is really just the foundation. It's just the roots from where you learn to grow. And what Binghamton taught me is how to continue that knowledge and continue to grow. The other is Binghamton is a small university and so gave me opportunity to interact and talk with people and help develop my social skills in the technical area, which you certainly need in order to be successful and in order to move forward. I certainly attribute the opportunity that I have received so far in my life to the education that I have gained at Binghamton.
I'd say that the single most important thing that I have learned is that you can always turn back around and reach back to the faculty because they want to help you. I was in the situation in 2001 when I had graduated with my undergraduate degree and my job offer was rescinded. I had the rug pulled out from under my feet, and the first place I turned back to was the university. I went back to my professors that I developed relationships with. I went over to some of the folks in dean's office that I developed relationships with and because at Binghamton I had the ability to develop those relationships, I found myself with ease being able to slide back in and obtain a master's degree. And it was also those relationships that introduced me to CEO of my corporation, which helped me obtain my first job in a very difficult job market.
My fondest memory I am going to have to say is meeting my wife, who is actually with me today. Her name is Xiaolin Tang (MS '03). My fondest memory and certainly the best thing that has happened to me in my life is meeting her, and had I not come back for my master's degree and had I not made some friends in the Chinese community who introduced me to her, I never would have met my wife.
