Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Robertson.
Hi Brian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Baltimore City. I attended Baltimore City public schools (Thomas Jefferson Elementary, West Baltimore Middle, and Edmondson High School). I was raised by my mother. I grew up in income based housing and we were on welfare for the first 13 years of my life. When I was growing up, my mother and I did not own a car. We did not own a home and at one point we were living off of a $256/month welfare check. Contrary to what many argue in modern times, I believe that adverse circumstance and challenges make a person stronger and smarter. It was in these circumstances that I taught myself how to play the saxophone. It was in these circumstances that I taught myself calculus. It was in these circumstances that I graduated at the top of my high school class and went on to obtain a degree in electrical engineering from Loyola University in Maryland.
After graduating college, I spent a few years in ministry working for a non-profit organization. I then spent 7 years teaching high school math and engineering (5 of those years were spent teaching in Baltimore City Public Schools). After I stopped teaching, I began touring the world as a professional musician on cruise ships for 6 years. I currently work as an Electrical Engineer for a defense contractor where I specialize in digital signal processing and RF communications. Although engineering is my full-time profession, I still perform regularly as a saxophonist in the Baltimore area and I also preach at my church regularly.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life is never convenient and no one should ever expect it to be. As stated previously, adverse circumstance and challenges make a person stronger and smarter. My most recent and possibly most significant struggles started in 2018. I began to lose several people and things that I loved. In September of 2018, my paternal grandmother passed away. In March of 2019, my mother passed away. One week later, my maternal grandmother passed away. In October of 2019, my father passed away. In March of 2020, the entire world shut down. I was touring as a cruise ship musician at the time. So, this shut down meant that I was now home with no job. In December of 2021, my paternal grandfather passed away. At this point, I had lost both of my parents and all of my grandparents. I had also lost my job as a cruise ship musician due to the pandemic.
I remembered being a child and my mother showing me her $256 welfare check. I remember her telling me, ‘this is how much we have and we will make it because we will find a way.’ So, as an adult, I chose to do the same. I chose to rebuild my life piece by piece. It took a lot of hard work. But the end result was that in 2023, I returned to the engineering profession. I purchased my first home. I began to perform music locally again. I have also recently started to preach at my church. I want people to know that restoration is possible. Second chances are possible and no matter what the situation, it is always possible to start over and rebuild.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I graduated college in 2002 with a degree in electrical engineering. Because I chose to work in other professions, I was away from the industry for 20 years. At the end of 2022, I decided that I wanted to return to the engineering industry. Many would consider such a goal to be close to impossible. Given the rate at which technology evolves, it could be argued that it is impossible to catch up after being away from the industry for 20 years. To get back into the industry, I began by reading every single engineering book I owned page by page from front to back. When I had read all of the books I own, I ordered more engineering books to read and I also read those from front to back. In March of 2023, I was able to secure a full time position as an electrical engineer for a defense contractor. I also enrolled in a graduate school program for electrical engineering so that I could continue learning and growing as much as possible. I now specialize in digital signal processing and RF communications. Since I returned to the engineering industry, I have received multiple merit awards, bonuses, and a promotion for outstanding performance. I have started to give presentations and train others in what I do. I also recently submitted an abstract with the hope of presenting my work at a national conference next year. Above all, I want people to know that restoration is possible. Second chances are possible and no matter the situation it is always possible to start over and rebuild.
What makes you happy?
The pursuit of excellence makes me happy. As a child, my mother made me recite a short poem titled ‘Good, Better, Best’ each night before I went to bed. The poem says ‘Good Better Best…never let it rest until my good is my better and my better is my best.’ In honor of my mother and my love for life, I live by these words. Everyday that I wake up, my goal is to seek after ways to better myself intellectually, spiritually, physically, artistically, etc. No matter the circumstance, I always have something to look forward to because I am always growing and reaching new heights. Whether I am reading a new book, practicing my saxophone, giving a sermon at church, or giving a presentation at work, I am growing. And I am constantly seeking to make that which is good even better and that which better into my best. I will never stop growing. I will never stop learning. I will never stop pursuing excellence.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/brian.m.robertson.5/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/k0ZfA-wYvgk
- Other: https://youtu.be/QvY2jv40AUI
