I came into the class late and got swept up in the Laika work pretty quickly, but I figure this is better late than never…

I’m Alex Lehmann, a sophomore mechanical engineering major originally from a tiny town in New Hampshire called Warner.  Warner is known for its small farms and its thriving arts scene, as it is home to many nationally-renowned artists and writers including Pulitzer Prize winner Maxine Kumin.  Legend even has it that Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken was written following a walk in the rural areas around Warner.

Outside of studies, I am a member of the Lafayette Ski Team.  I began alpine ski racing when I was six and haven’t stopped to this day.  I have raced every one of the last 13 winters and have also dipped my toes into the coaching world, working with high school varsity and club teams in New Hampshire.  Since it’s such a big part of my life, it seems fitting to include a picture of my racing here.

1782092_10202857806476918_1041903623_n

 

Animals have always been in my life as both pets and work partners.  Throught my life my family has had five cats and a dog, and I have worked with a Marine Corps MWD (military working dog) named Mushi.  I think this gives me an interesting view of both sides of the intrinsic/instrumental value argument as I have experience with both sides of the debate.  The Marine Corps Times put together a good report about a working dog handler that illustrates the relationship between MWDs and their handlers very well.

I look forward to continuing to improve my writing skills and also gaining some insight into a topic that I wouldn’t have thought much about before.  Here’s to a great rest of the semester!