Greg Nguyen, Transportation Engineer and Writer!
Do you have a hobby? Tell us about it.
Multiple. I enjoy creative writing, cooking, swimming, and my bi-weekly Dungeons and Dragons meetup with my friends’ group!
What is your chosen discipline (engineering, planning, surveying, etc)? Why do you love it?
I’m a civil engineer, I got into the field because I wanted my work to do real good in the world for society, and not to feel like I’m simply working for profit at the expense of someone else or at myself. Here, I do good, honest work that benefits society, which is important to my whole life and career.
What’s your superpower?
A pencil and a sheet of paper. My two secret weapons that can become absolutely anything. A list or a schedule to keep you organized, a new recipe to try out and tinker with, a journal to reflect on thoughts and decisions, a reminder for important things, a tool to help solve nearly all problems. There is so much potential and so much power if you just have a pencil and a sheet of paper!
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I’ve traveled a far bit now, and the one place that I would like to go back to would probably be Maine. The forests there are so beautiful, and the mighty Atlantic holds a special sort of charm to me, being a Colorado native and rarely getting to see the ocean. It is a rural land, a fantastic place to settle down, plant gardens, raise animals, and be part of nature. And maybe best of all, you don’t need a passport to visit there!
If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?
I’ve often wanted to be better at drawing. Despite being a drafter for so long before being an engineer, I’m actually awful at drawing things like doodles or sketches. It wouldn’t just be useful to my professional life, but I’ve often longed to be able to draw out my ideas.
If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?
The Conquered Mind Conquers All
What’s one thing you’re learning now, and why is it important?
I’m actively building my repertoire of recipes at home and am always looking for new ideas. Though I love to cook, I’m still very much an amateur!