Name: George Abrahamson

Age: 56

Occupation: Engineer

Where did you receive your education?

Tascosa High School; Amarillo College; Texas Tech University; and 36 years of diversified engineering and surveying education.

How has your education played a role in your life today?

It helped me develop skills in my chosen fields whereby I enjoy helping others pursue their own project goals and succeed through my performance of activities that have become my livelihood. Education is the foundation of any success I have enjoyed and has substantially improved the quality of my life.

What was your greatest educational challenge and how did you overcome it?

Starting college after 10 years of working on projects for various construction contractors. I observed others doing what I knew I could do and was encouraged by family, friends, professors and instructors. I worked part time in the engineering and surveying field while attending college. I never gave up working to achieve my goals and to better myself so I could help others better themselves.

What is the value of your education?

The value of my education is the satisfaction I realize through success in my work with others. Education has made an otherwise toilsome existence fun and exciting. Living by the famous quotation "Learn to love your work and you'll never work again" is my rule.

What would you say to someone who's undecided about continuing their education?

Do not hesitate! Believe in yourself! Do it now! Go for it all and never look back until you have achieved your goals, and then only to review and take stock of your work and accomplishments.

When did you make education a priority?

Ten years after graduating from high school and working in the building construction field as a laborer, foreman and superintendent. I realized I wanted to design site improvements such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, and related structures by way of project construction plans.

What made you realize the importance of education in your life?

Beginning in my youth, I observed what I believed to be the typical result of absence of education and knew I wanted a better life than that which I had often witnessed. My family urged me to pursue goals of a better quality lifestyle. I knew that in helping others, I would realize my own reward of satisfaction in life.

Did you ever think about quitting? What made you keep going?

I realized what I wanted and never thought about quitting. I was track team and football team manager at Tascosa High School and still remember looking at a small white sign with black letters on the boy's locker room wall near the back door to the athletic fields we used everyday day of practice, meets and games: "Winners never Quit, Quitters never Win." I never wanted to be a quitter or a loser.