I think I finally chose the graduate degree in engineering primarily because it only took one year and law school took three years, and I felt the pressure of being a little behind - although I was just 22.

Evans reflects on a pragmatic, time-conscious decision early in adulthood: choosing a one-year engineering graduate program over three years of law school. The remark highlights how perceived timelines—rather than pure vocation—can shape major life choices, especially for ambitious young people who feel they must “catch up” even when objectively young. The self-aware aside (“although I was just 22”) underscores the irony of youthful anxiety about being “behind,” and hints at the broader theme of how social expectations and personal impatience can influence educational and career paths. It also suggests Evans’s inclination toward practical problem-solving, a trait often associated with engineering and public administration alike.