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OCTOBER 2026 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 13 Your Preparation for Life Prepare for college, but even more importantly, prepare for life. A college education can provide knowledge, skills, credentials, and opportunities; however, character, judgment, discipline, integrity, and compassion ultimately determine how far those opportunities will carry a person. The years ahead will undoubtedly bring extraordinary technological advances, new professions, and challenges we may not foresee. Yet the fundamentals of a mean- ingful and successful life are unlikely to change: a sound mind and body, a commitment to learning, wise choices, financial prudence, strong relation- ships, respect for others, a willingness to work hard, and a desire to contribute beyond oneself. We cannot, nor should we, walk the journey for the next generation. Their future will be theirs to shape. We can share the lessons learned through our own triumphs and setbacks, offer guidance without imposing it, and provide encouragement. If, along the way, a few of our experiences help them avoid unnecessary detours, seize worthy opportunities, or navigate life's inevitable cross- roads with greater confidence and wisdom, then we have contributed something of lasting value. Ultimately, every generation inherits a world it did not create and leaves behind a world it has helped shape. My hope is that we pass forward not only knowledge and resources, but also values, perspec- tive, resilience, and a sense of responsibility toward others. If we do that well, then our legacy will not be measured by what we leave behind, but by what those who follow us carry forward. SMT007 Upcoming Appearances Dr. Jennie Hwang will present a lecture on "Artificial Intelligence & AI-Powered Future Manufacturing" on Oct. 27, and on "Mastering Intermetallics for Reli- able Electronics" on Oct. 26, at SMTA International 2026 in Chicago. Dr. Jennie S. Hwang, an interna- tional businesswoman, speaker, and business and technology advisor, is a pioneer and long- standing leader in SMT manu- facturing since its inception, and in developing and implementing lead-free electronics technology and manufacturing. She has served as chair of Artificial Intelligence- Justified Confidence for DoD Command and Control study, chair of AI Committee of the National Acad- emies, and Review Panels of NSF National AI Insti- tutes and Committee of Strategic Thinking for Engi- neering Research. An International Hall of Famer (Women in Technology), she has been inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, named an R&D-Stars-to-Watch, and received the YWCA Achievement Award. She has held senior executive positions with Lockheed Martin Corp., and was CEO of International Electronic Materials Corp. She is currently CEO of H-Technologies Group, providing business, technology, and manufacturing solutions. She has served as chair of the Laboratory Assessment Board, the DoD Army Research Labo- ratory Assessment Board, and the Assessment Board of Army Engineering Centers. She is on the board of Fortune-500 NYSE companies and civic and university boards, Commerce Department's Export Council, National Materials and Manufac- turing Board, NIST Assessment Board, various national panels/committees, and international lead- ership positions. She is the author of 10 books (four as co-author) and 750+ technical/editorial publications. She is a speaker and author on trade, business, and educa- tion issues. Her formal education includes four academic degrees (Ph.D., M.S., M.A., B.S.), as well as Harvard Business School Executive Program and Columbia University Corporate Governance Program. To read previous columns, click here. " The years ahead will undoubtedly bring extraordinary technological advances, new professions, and challenges we may not foresee. " S M T P E RS P ECT I V ES & P RO S P ECTS