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Spending 12 days climbing up the face of Yosemite's El Capitan monolith alone was nothing compared to Dan Goudeau's first day of college. He was nervous and apprehensive. But he found the courage to pursue a dream he has had since childhood - to become an engineer. At Western Nevada College, Goudeau found something he really liked, worked hard at it, and conquered his fears just like he had done so many times while rock climbing. "After solo roping El Cap, I asked myself how I was ever going to top that," Goudeau said. "I found a career in mining engineering that creates the building blocks of our society. I can make a difference and actually save lives by being a good engineer." Goudeau, who now attends the University of Nevada, Reno, did not want to go to college after high school because he was not a great student and often found himself getting frustrated with academics. So he opened a business making furniture, but still felt that his life was unfulfilled. He moved to Yosemite and worked, climbed and lived in a tent cabin. "I was basically a climbing bum," he said. Eventually, "I felt like it was time to get a haircut and a real job." He enrolled in college and Goudeau found that he could use many of the skills he already knew. In fact, with his carpentry and plumbing talents, he built a model stream for gold mining that re-circulated water for an honors project. "When I was 17-years-old, I felt school wasn't the place for me," he said. "WNC was a completely different experience for me. The college staff and instructors helped me to put my fears aside and I went from a poor high school student to almost straight A's." Last summer, Goudeau climbed Mexico's El Pico de Orizaba, the third highest peak in North America. "I was actually snowed on in Mexico in July," he said. "I was the only one in my climbing party to reach the summit. Proper planning made that possible." Planning also had a lot to do with his academic success. "I would love to tell somebody to head up to a college campus and talk with an advisor," he said. "You might be really surprised and find a field that really inspires you. My love of the mountains encouraged an interest in engineering. Find out what interests you and don't be afraid."
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