Completely regret EVER choosing this career! I chose Naval Architecture thinking that I'd be able to unite my creative talents and passions with my mathematical and scientific skills, learned and innate. Also envisioned being on or near the water most of my life. What a disappointment! Dingy, city offices, employers that did not believe in advancing the education or career path of its employees. Sadly, this seems to be the case nationally, and is one reason the US is behind Europe and the Middle East in the maritime industry. Laid off after more than ten years with an employer that couldn't expand its market, remain competitive or draw in new work, I've been alternately unemployed, under-employed or miserably employed for years since. I've been grossly mistreated by both employers and prospective employers alike. Very, very few jobs, only in a few select regions of the country. Indeed, there seem to be far more third-party "technical recruiters" vying to fill jobs in this area than there are employers or jobs themselves - and the recruiters have no compunction about pressuring candidates to commit to a position if placed - even before an initial interview with their client. Not the distinguished field that it may have been at one time in U.S. history.
In the 18th and 19th century, hatmakers used poisionous chemicals including mercury in their work. As result, many developed pathological symptons -- an estimated 10% went insane. Hence the term "mad as a hatter" and Lewis Carroll's character, the Mad Hatter.
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