FC alumnus shares mechanical engineering journey

This article will be the second in a two-part series. The first part covered Tim Swift’s journey through high school, college and initial career, published March 30, 2016.  The second edition of this series will deal with Tim Swift’s career choices, including his time at Otherlab Orthotics as well as life-long lessons and advice. 

Tim Swift grew up in the Fresno area, graduating from Fresno Christian, then headed off to Fresno State to receive his bachelors. Lastly he graduated from Cal Berkley with a PhD in controls in 2011. This path was far from easy, however along the way he has attained a great amount of knowledge. Feather editor-in-chief Joshua Carter asked him a series of question which involved what advice he would give to college and high school students.

CARTER: What advice would you give someone who is going into college from Fresno Christian?

SWIFT: For someone going into college, I would say find what you want to do, and do it well. I often suggest to students to challenge themselves; to put themselves in challenging positions. I think the fear of Fresno Christian is that you end up being a big fish in a little pond, and that there are a lot of people who get scared that when they put themselves in a big pond they are no longer going to be a big fish. If you want to do something and do something amazing, then you need to believe in yourself . You need to believe in yourself more than anybody else does.

Around my sophomore year of high school, I came up with three words that I wanted to characterize myself with. My words were Passionate, Dynamic and Integrity. I want to be passionate about what I do, I want to be a force for good in what I am doing, and lastly I want to show integrity in all my actions. When I make life decisions I filter them with these and then periodically ask myself if the way I am organizing my life or investing my energy is making me that person. If I cant be passionate about something, or wont have an impact, then it is not for me and I move on.–Tim Swift

CARTER: I asked him if their was a moment where he felt fulfilled with what he had done.

SWIFT: No actually, this is probably the wrong answer, however I feel strongly that the reason I am able to do what I do is that I am never content with what we are doing here at Otherlab Orthotics. Literally my job is to dream about how to make it better. I have a hundred questions in my head at all times. Just yesterday I pulled up a proposal I wrote six years ago which I handed to a program manager, and his response was pure amazement. These are questions and things that I have been thinking about for a while. There are very few things where I get to and I am content with what I have done. I am always in the spot of how can I make it better, there isn’t enough time in a day for me to make it better. No matter what I have built, even if I am extremely proud of it, it only really serves as a jumping off point to better and brighter things.

CARTER: What is the favorite part of your job?

SWIFT: I love what I do. It is literally my job to dream bigger than anyone in the world and then back it up by showing we can do the impossible. Yes I must do things I hate. It is still a job and I must organize HR for my team, write proposals for my projects, or pitch to investors, but if you told a 10 year old me that I would go to work everyday and get to build robots I would be ecstatic and for good reason. Amazingly, I have made a career out of questioning what is accepted as the limits, and reaching beyond.

CARTER: What would you say to any student who is in the midst of college?

SWIFT: The biggest thing I would say is train yourself early to work hard, and then be curious. . I told a friend of mine today asking this same question (mind you after a PhD and five years of work), that you should only do things worth working hard at and then work hard for only two reasons. A) Because you are investing in something that takes you somewhere (School) or B because this is the person you want to be known as.

If it is not one of those things move on because you have been built for more. I have two little boys and the greatest gift I can give to them is the realization that this world is not all figured out. If you think we know everything then you don’t know enough about it. You should always ask questions about what drives an answer not so you better understand the topic at hand but so you know how the answer informs other decisions.

CARTER: What piece of advise you received had a major impact on your life?

SWIFT: One major thing I would like to tell all youth, is to recognize that there are many people out there who will help you, but you are the one that defines your future. I was not always considered smart. Actually in fourth grade I have a vivid memory of sitting at Mountain View Elementary and being told by my teacher in a parent teacher conference that I should give up on the dream of a college degree. They said I should start preparing myself now for a vocational career because it is still a very respectable profession. There are three obvious responses.

SWIFT: 3 tips to a vocational career

The first is to accept that she is right and begin to find my niche. The second, is get mad and assume she and the other adults around you are trying to hold you back. The third, is to recognize that she means well but just does not know enough to understand my potential. I was adamant she would be wrong and at this point I think I have won out.

There are plenty of people in your world who want what is best for you and you should heed their advice but realize, success falls to you. If you believe they are right, they are. If you don’t, they still might be, but you have no chance to push the boundaries if you don’t serve as your greatest champion.

For the previous article on Tim Swift, FC alumnus Tim Swift strives for excellence, seeks wisdom

For more features check out Feather Shares JEA/NSPA seminars, desires collaboration.

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @J0sh_Carter, and via email.