Jennifer Lesher's Blog, page 17
April 2, 2014
Happy Dreamversary, Me
One year and one day ago, I was just over a week out of Microsoft, and sitting in my first day of class in the Aviation Maintenance program at South Seattle Community College. I was thrilled to be there, but apprehensive about the program, my classmates, the quality of the coffee and, though I hate […]
March 26, 2014
Aerospace Maintenance Competition
It’s over for this year. Four classmates and I competed as the only all-woman team at the annual Aerospace Maintenance Competition. It was our first time out. We competed against a roster of student teams from community colleges and private technical schools across the US. We’re still waiting to see how we did, but I […]
March 25, 2014
A Lot Can Happen in a Year
Last year at this time I had just said goodbye to Microsoft and was preparing to start airplane school. Today I’m competing in the Aerospace Maintenance Competition in Las Vegas. It’s kind of blowing my mind that in one year I have made the transition so thoroughly from old world to new. Check back later […]
March 19, 2014
Aerospace Maintenance Competition – Here I Come!
Next week I’m going to Vegas to participate in the Aerospace Maintenance Competition. It’s put on by various manufacturers and airlines as a way for them to do research about their products and methods while giving mechanics an opportunity to show their stuff. Along with my team I’ve been hard at work increasing my skill […]
March 12, 2014
Who Ya Calling Bossy?
Last week I exhorted women to stop worrying about treading in men’s space and just go and claim what they want. Long ago, I wrote about how all of us, men and women, should think of ourselves as equally entitled – not more, not less, but equally. I think it’s all of a piece – […]
March 5, 2014
Why You Should Wear Pink To Work on Airplanes (If That’s What You Want to Do)
In a few weeks I will be competing in the annual Aerospace Maintenance Competition. A year ago I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I’m nervous – I need to improve my skills in a number of areas before the big event, and it’s especially important that we make a good showing because we’ll […]
February 26, 2014
You Go to War With the Army You Have
Back in the early aughts, Donald Rumsfeld, defending the troops’ shortage of armor and supplies in Iraq, was quoted as saying “you go to war with the army you have.” When we’re talking about sending people into battle, I disagree. That’s a topic for a different kind of post, but his phrase stuck with me, […]
February 19, 2014
As the Hangar Turns
Believe it or not, I’m nearing the halfway point of my airplane mechanic schooling. So far it has been an interesting ride. Here are some highlights from the past year. First quarter was almost all classroom work. It’s my first time in a classroom in many years. We learned a whole 1-year high school physics […]
February 12, 2014
Five 100-Word Thoughts For a Wednesday
I think my brain/mouth filter went a little haywire when I turned 40. And I never bothered to have it repaired. There’s something to be said for just telling it like it is, although not everyone appreciates it. Especially in Seattle where it’s more common to cloak your point in about a thousand layers of […]
February 5, 2014
Ten Small Habits to a Bigger Life
I often get asked how I have time to do the things I do – write, go to school, mountain bike, maintain a reasonably orderly home and life … yeah, I am pretty productive, but the secret is that there is no secret. I’m a big believe in the power of the small. Small changes, […]
