I am from Madison, New Jersey, a town that is about 25 miles west of New York City. All the stereotypes you have heard about New Jersey are false: it is a really great place. There are smokestacks, but they are all right outside New York City, so they get to look at them.
Engineering is not a common career choice among my high shool friends. Half of them have BA's, and those that do have BS's all want to be doctors. God help us all when they graduate from med-school.
When I am not working or hanging out, I enjoy mountain biking and playing racquetball.