Engineers Week 2026 - What did you want to be when you were growing up?

This year's Engineers Week theme is Transform Your Future, "a powerful reminder that engineering doesn't just shape our world - it shapes our opportunities, our communities, and the futures we can imagine for ourselves and our children," according to DiscoverE.

Here at Apex, we prioritize promoting this profession to the next generation by speaking in classrooms, volunteering with students, and welcoming students of all ages into our offices to learn more about the important work we do as structural engineers. You can read more about our giving back initiatives in our Apex Gives Back blog.

During these experiences, our engineers often reflect on when they knew they wanted to be an engineer. Some knew from a very early age, and some, well, had other plans.

So, we asked our team, "What did you want to be when you were growing up?"

Here are some answers:

Bryce Crady, PE - Principal & CEO

"An architectural engineer - ha! No kidding, by 5th grade I had already decided that. Was ultra-competitive in our toothpick bridge competition in 5th/6th grade, still have a sketch pad with my designs I worked through, and even did some testing of different abutment options on my parents' screen porch using some weights from my dad's old gym equipment in the basement."

Austin Curnutt, PE/SE - Sr. Project Engineer

"An astronaut. I have always thought space was fascinating. At one point in college, before deciding to get my master's in engineering, I even seriously considered changing courses and doing a graduate program in astrophysics."

Jessica Geran, PE - Sr. Project Engineer

"When I was asked this question at my preschool graduation, my answer was a 'princess.' But then around 1st grade I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian. I wanted to be a vet until high school but realized I would cry too hard all the time."

Daniel Meyer, PE - Associate & Sr. Forensic Engineer

"I wanted to be the guitar player in a metal band."

Alfonso Torres, PE - Project Manager

"I love art; most of my life leading up to college I thought I was going to be an architect. I have always been captured by buildings, the ability to create spaces for people to live, work, make memories in has always been the driving force behind my career choice. During high school, I realized that my brain gravitated more towards math and physics which then lead to structural engineering."

Rodney Miller - Sr. Project Engineer

"I wanted to be a wildlife biologist. Even went to school for it for a short time after high school."

Zach Luchies - Sr. Design Technician

"When I was in early elementary school I wanted to be Batman, but mainly because I had a Batman hood/cape that I liked wearing around my parent's house. Otherwise, growing up I always liked building things and taking stuff apart, so I figured I would do something engineering related, which ended up being drafting. Although, there is a BATTMAN command in AutoCAD, so I guess it's come full circle."

Michael Brunin, PE - Principal

"A Major League Baseball player, artist, or some type of Lego builder."

Aaron Kilgore, PE - Sr. Associate & Project Manager

"I wanted to be a mechanic working on restoring and building older cars."

Clayton Hess, PE - Principal

"I had no idea as a kid, but in hindsight I really enjoyed activities that involved engineering skills. I have always loved building creations with Legos and constructing mud dams in a ditch by our house."

Although some of our team's path to becoming an engineer was more clear-cut than others, each of them can point to moments - big or small - that shaped their interests and ultimately led them here.

We hope to help create these moments for the next generation by sharing what we do and why it matters. We're proud to play a role in not only shaping the built environment, but the future engineers who will carry this work forward.

Make sure to head over to our LinkedIn and Instagram pages to continue the Engineers Week celebration!