Whole Life Concept Paper Timothy Dold ETGR 1201-032 10/19/13

I have neither given nor received any unauthorized help on this assignment, nor witnessed any violation of the UNC Charlotte Code of Academic Integrity. Timothy Dold 10/19/13

Introduction The Whole Life Concept Model is illustrated as three concentric tiers all centered on the core in the center known as Passion. Passion is what you as an individual enjoy doing in your everyday life and what you could possibly want to turn into an occupation. The next tier out is known as Knowledge. Knowledge is all the information that an individual learns while in school or in some cases learns by experience. After the knowledge stage comes the Application circle, which is where you apply what you have learn in the previous stages and working together with others to make a project happen. And finally the last circle is the Impact stage, which is what your passion and applications is going to affect. It could be on a local scale, such as your community, or be on the global scale, such as the environment or the economy. Right now in my life I am in the Knowledge circle because I am in college learning about subjects that I find interesting and may relate to my passion. After college I plan to apply what I have learned in school to help others in my community or perhaps those around the world. Before I could decide a major to pursue in college I had to first have to find my passion and what I found interesting which dates back to when I was younger. Passion When I was around 13 years old my family moved from my home in the city to the country so we could have horses and more land for our animals. I didnt think much of it then, but moving to the country probably was a leading factor in discovering my passion. As a chore, I had to mow the lawn, which for that amount of land it took about a whole afternoon; this was one of the worst chores I had so I procrastinated on it for as long as I could. But eventually once I put in the effort and time and mowed the lawn I had this strange feeling. Every time I finished I could see the improvement in appearance and had this sense of pride and self-satisfaction because I was the one who made that happen. Not only did I get this feeling because I made it happen, but also because I knew I was helping my parents with the yard work. I got the same feeling when I would have to repaint the fence which took the whole summer. From these chores I later concluded that my passion was working with my hands and being able to see my projects grow and form. Throughout my life different experiences and people helped my passion grow and become something I wanted to pursue. I received hands on experiences from Boy Scouts in Eagle Projects where I had to do quick problem solving if something went wrong or messed up while under a time limit which helped me learned time management skills. Besides Boy Scouts, in high school I took a drafting and carpentry elective to learn more about them and ended up becoming very interested in these subjects. The teachers of these classes were both in the construction job field and after talking with them gave me an inside look about the construction field and the job environment which sparked my interest in the engineering and construction field. One value that I have learned from mowing the lawn and working is to never cut corners. I apply this value in everything I do and is a good value to have in the construction field because if you cut corners in construction you could cause the whole building or home to fall down and injure the people living there. I believe that my experiences are different from others experiences because everyone is different and learned in many ways. Some others may have not had teachers like I did to help guide them and become a source to ask question about their field of interest. Also growing up in the country like I did gave me a way to figure out what my passion was and know that if I put hard work in like mowing and painting in the heat of summer will need a lot of determination just like managing a construction crew in the summer time. Also I was able to use engineering skills to construct the best way to stack hay on the back of the trailer when my parents and I went to get hay for the hors es so it wont fall apart as it drives

down the road no matter how rough the road is, just like construction managers and engineers have to find way to build the safest building possible and also incorporate the demands of the client. Impact As a Construction Manager I would have goals that I hope in the future I could incorporate my passion into make myself a better person and help others worldwide. My three examples of how I could help others would be helping in habitat for humanity, use recycled materials, and even join the military. In my free time I would take the skill set I learned in school and on the job and dedicate time to Habitat for Humanity, which is non-profit organization that helps many people by building and donating housing to these individuals. Families who have lost everything from nature disasters or from economic struggles and living on the streets could be helped from my volunteering and skills. This could help clean up my community by rebuilding once beautiful homes that were left to decompose or help families that need help a warm place to stay to get out of the harsh climates. Another goal I would try to use on the work site is Green materials and equipment. Green Energy is the new wave of technology that helps cut CO 2 emissions and helps the environment worldwide. In construction most of any old building can be salvaged and reused in newer buildings today, such as; metals, wood, glass, plastics, masonry products, and even roofing shingles. If we would use recycled metals in building projects we could reduce between 50-70% of the energy and pollution to create steel or metals in the first place (California Energy Commission). Not only materials, but if on the job site I could you vehicles that ran on cleaner fuels we help down many pollutants in the atmosphere. I know that one construction site that uses cleaner energy wont affect the environment, but it would be a start in right direction and hopefully other construction sites would follow suit until we all sites are using cleaner materials and equipment. Ive always had pride in my country and wanted to serve in some way and with my passion joining the military is a major way in which I can contribute this passion to others. Now many dont realize all the impact that construct ion could have on the military. Construction managers are needed in military to help build quick portable bases to permanent buildings and command posts. Not only buildings, but roads are also needed to help transport machinery and vehicles from base to base quick and efficiently. Building these buildings and roads could be the difference between life and death and time management and good teamwork is needed in the process in these situations. Although these are all ways that I could impact others by using my passion, outside forces could also impact how I reach these goals, such as the economy, government regulations, and legal issues. The economy is a huge factor in the construction field because when the economy is in a recession many citizens and company refuse to build bringing construction to a halt. This crash in the market could lead to many construction companies to go out of business and many out the job. From 2008 to 2011 leading into the recession the total construction spending in 2008 was 1068 billion dollars and slowly decreased until 2011 when spending averaged around 787 billion dollars (Associated General Contractors of America). The cut in spending and construction left many workers leaving the construction field, retiring, or even being laid off. From 2008 to 2010 the employment rate in construction quickly decreases from having roughly 7,500 thousand workers to around 5500 thousand workers (Associated General Contractors of America). Even with the recession the construction industry is starting to turn around and recover with jobs projected to grow by 17% between 2010 to 2020 by which is a good sign for the future (Bureau of Labor Statistics). With government regulations coming out almost every day it is tough to stay up to date and know the safest methods to building and the best ways to prevent injuries. To help enforce and inspect job sites to make sure these regulations are in use during the building process the Occupation Safety and Health Association (OSHA) was created. OSHA is made up of certified professionals that inspect job sites to make sure that safety regulations are in use and that no unsafe activity is going on. In construction the number one source of injury is usually from falling and in 2011, 259 out of 738 deaths

(about 30%) that occurred were from workers falling (Occupational Health & Safety Association). Improper safety processes can result in steep fines issued by OSHA that can easily increase the budget and could report in being fired from the job. Along with unsafe practices and regulations come legal issues. Legal issues can really slow doing production and in some cases stop the project, resulting in a loss of money and time. Most common reasons for being sued in construction are from failures in the project; such as, a leaky roof, unlevel concrete, and cracking in the walls. These failures come from lack of following specification, trying to save money by buying the wrong materials, quickly trying to speed through a task, or laziness. The best way to prevent being sued is by staying organized and make sure everything is being done to code, which includes not cutting corners. Knowledge and Application Before I can make my passion impact others I must first acquire the knowledge needed to educate myself on the passion I want to pursue. As a part of the construction field I must have a strong knowledge of construction materials and mathematics, so I know the best type of material is needed to build a house or building. Not only do I need to know these subjects, but I also have to learn to gain leadership skills to be able to manage and direct workers on what needs to be done. As I have hinted at in the past two sections I am leaning towards the construction field and plan on majoring and getting a bachelors degree in Construction Management under the engineering technology at UNC Charlotte. I believe this is a good fit for my passion because it incorporates my love to work hands on and be active while also being able to watch my project grow and become something that helps other; such as a skyscraper or a house. This occupation would allow me to see the land before a project, watch it be constructed, and then finally seeing the final project will fill me with sense of pride and I allow me to say that I built that. This feeling would make a job as a construction manager worth it and each project would be different and come with new problems that I would have to solve and overcome. Even though I plan to get a degree in construction management I still have questions about what I should do and if this is the best major that includes my passion and interests. One question I have about my major is What will the job market look like in four to five years when Im graduating from college? This is a major concern for me because the success of the construction industry relies heavily on the economy. When the economy is doing well; construction is doing well, but when the economy is down the construction industry becomes stagnate. This stagnate in construction will lead to layoffs and even drive some companies out of business which could mean that many construction managers like myself end up unemployed. To find the answer to this question I would have to search the internet and see the expected growth in the years to come and I would also talk with managers in the construction field and see if they are seeing any improvement in the field. Another concern is Should I double major in construction management and civil engineering technology or should I go to graduates school and get a master in construction and facilities management? The reason I have this concern is with the economy coming out of a recession is it better to have knowledge in more of a broad sense or is it better to be specialized in one subject. Not only with double majoring would I have a wide range of knowledge, but to complete a double major between construction management and civil engineering technology would only be an extra semester whereas graduate school are years, but with a masters in construction it would may allow me to climb the corporate ladder quicker and qualify me to be selected for more demanding and higher paying projects. This dilemma is something I need to resolve by talking to my advisors and professors because they could point out the pros and cons of each that I didnt even realize and help me choose the best choice for me. Also once I have chosen what I path I want to take they would guide me on what I need to do and help me complete the prerequisites to graduates school or choosing classes that will go towards my double major.

As I follow my plan of study the courses I will take will help me get a better understanding of construction and help me become successful in what I do. Most courses that I plan to take will relate to construction materials and educate me on the type of materials needed in different environments and situations. These classes will teach me everything that is going on in a job site and how to handle and make everything run safely and efficiently. Construction lab goes along with many of the construction material courses which allow the student to take what they learned in class and apply it by using a hands on approach. In lab you learn how to test the materials, can form your own composition of materials, and even crush the material to see the failure points of them. These two types of courses will help prepare me for my career and open doors to internships and co-ops with construction companies and allow me to step in the site and provide assistance on the project. All of my courses will be useful to me in the future when I am on the job site, but some specific courses that I am taking or plan to take later on that will help me be successful are Basic Construction Materials, Principle of Accounting I & II, and Professional Ethics. Basic construction materials is a freshman level course that teaches you all the basics needed for construction. It teaches you the terminology, processes, materials, equipment, and people you will usually come in contact with while on a construction site. This is one of the first classes where you gain knowledge about your passion and helps you see if this is the right fit for your passion. The next two courses I have to chosen are for juniors and they are Accounting I & II and Professional Ethics. Principle of Accounting I & II will help a construction manager know everything he needs to manage money. This knowledge of money will help you invest it best and know how to spend less and gain more, which is how you make money in the construction field. Finally, professional ethics is a course that too many get covered up as being a key course for success. In the construction field your image is very important and if you are known to cut corners and do not do quality work, clients wont come to your firm or company for projects. This course will help you avoid this by teaching you how to become a better-rounded individual and teach you moral principles that are needed as a construction manager. The courses listed above and the other courses that are in my academic plan of study will help me get co-ops and internships which will lead to jobs after my graduation. Some companies that are looking for construction managers or related fields are Fluor, Turner Construction Company, and Trinity Search Group. Fluor is a global engineering company that is looking for Project Control Specialist in the Greenville, SC area. As a project control specialist you have to have a 4 year bachelor degree in construction management and be familiar with and have knowledge in Microsoft word and other Microsoft office programs. In this position you will manage the budget, costs, planning, and scheduling (Fluor). Turner Construction Company has many office buildings across the United States and in Kansas City, MO there is an opening for a field engineer. For this entry level profession you will review contracts, drawings, and specifications to make sure everything is built to code and is safe. You would also supervise the construction site to make sure building is on-schedule. Before applying for the position there are a few requirements that one must have including: 4 year bachelor degree, good interpersonal skills, and be proficient in computer applications such as Microsoft Office (Turner Construction Company). The Trinity Search Group is an executive firm that is looking for a Warranty Manager. As a warranty manager you will be the head of many small projects and have to set up and implement a warranty system. You need a minimum of two years experience in the commercial and residential construction environment and have good verbal and written communication skills to manage the small team you will be overlooking. The base level pay as a warranty manager is anywhere from 60,000 to 90,000 dollars (Trinity Search Group). Many of the skills and abilities that these jobs require can be gain through many non-technical and non-academic organization and clubs. For example I am a big soccer fan and love to play the sport. At Charlotte I can play on the intramural teams or join the club team, which will help me pick up many skills such as leadership and working with a team. If you are a good team member and get along well with

the team, your team will work better as a unit and succeed just like in the work force. Besides teams there are organizations to help you gain skills needed. Many frown at Greek life, but a fraternity is a great way to work on communication skills because fraternities hold many events that require you to talk and mix with different people and help you gain confidence in your speaking skills. Fraternities may also introduce you to other brothers and alumni that have similar interest or in the career field you are thinking about and will allow you to talk with them and get advice on what is the best plan to succeed in this field. Other types of organizations that help you gain good communications skills are Future Leaders. Future leaders will give you the upper hand in the work force by molding you into leaders and be able to have good verbal skills by teaching you tricks and applying what you know at public events. Reflection In conclusion my passion is to work with my hands and being able to watch my projects grow and form. This ability will give me a sense of pride that no one could take away from me and keep me interested in my career. I believe construction management is a good major to study because it will incorporate my passion and allow me to impact society. I will impact society by helping others have safe and reliable homes and buildings to live in and work in to impact others. As of now in accordance with the Whole Life Concept Model I am in the knowledge stage because I am in college and learning about my passion. The knowledge stage is very important part of the concept because for some who havent discovered their passion, college is a good place to discover it because you can take broad courses to see if you enjoy a certain subject before specializing in a major. Also those who think that a major is their passion can discover that they were wrong and can change into another major before its too late and you have already graduated and out into the work force. The final reason college is an important stage of knowledge is because it has clubs and organizations that will give you the final skills needed to get good internships and a well-paying job after graduation. Overall, this assignment has made realize the steps I need to take to reach my goals and graduate in the next four years. It has shown me what employers are looking for in workers and how I can achieve those skills. This paper has given me a jump start on my career and future by allowing me to set a pathway that I want to take so I can achieve my goals and become successful. Also this paper has motivated me to study harder and receive good grades so I can participate in co-ops and internship with companies. As of now I am more motivated than before to receive my degree in Construction Management and enter the workforce now that I have a plan to refer to. I have explored more into the construction field because of this paper and have found careers in the field I never knew existed and interest me in perusing the construction field. The main reason why I am more committed now to receive my construction management degree is because I am now even more reassured my conception that this major and my passion will go hand and hand and keep me loving that job I do.

Reference Page Think GREEN!. Consumer Energy Center. California Energy Commission. 2006. http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/construction/gogreen.html. Census Bureau. Construction Spending. Construction Economics. Associated General Contractors of America. 2013. http://www.agc.org/cs/industry_topics/construction_economics. National Construction Employment. Construction Economics. Associated General Contractors of America. 2013. http://www.agc.org/cs/industry_topics/construction_economics/national_construction_employment. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Construction Managers. April 26, 2012. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Management/Construction-managers.htm. Commonly Used Statistics. Constructions Fatal Four. US Department of Labor. Occupational Safety and Health Association. 2011. https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html. Career Opportunities. Project Control Specialist. Fluor. 2013. http://www.fluor.com/careers/professional/Pages/career_opportunities.aspx. Field Engineer- Kansas City. Turner. 2013. https://turner.ats.hrsmart.com/cgibin/a/highlightjob.cgi?jobid=5906. Warranty Manager. Trinity Search Group. Careerbuilder. October 16, 2013. http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=JHQ2F071F8 D1H4HLN4H&showNewJDP=yes&IPath=QHKV2B.