Tristyn Haghgoo (ChemE 2T3) chose to study chemical engineering at the University of Toronto because of the wide variety of potential careers the degree will open up, including aerospace, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and food just to name a few.
Now in his third year, Tristyn is the third-year ChemE representative for EngSoc, an active member of the U of T Aerospace Team (UTAT), F!rosh Week Leedur and a mentor for the Chem Club Mentorship Program. He is eager to apply his leadership skills to his future Professional Experience Year (PEY) Co-op placement.
Tristyn recently met up with Jennifer Hsu, ChemE’s Manager of External Relations, to share his hopes regarding PEY Co-op.
Why did you choose to enroll in PEY Co-op? What were your expectations from PEY Co-op?
I chose to enroll in PEY Co-op because I’m excited to gain hands-on engineering experience and discover new interests and passions. I’ve never had a co-op placement before, so I have no idea what to expect. My only expectation is that I gain a better idea about what I want to do post-graduation!
In what industry are you hoping to be placed and why?
I would love to get a placement in the aerospace industry. I’ve always had a passion for learning about space, and I even debated studying astrophysics before choosing chemical engineering. Finding a placement in aerospace would allow me to combine this passion with engineering and technical knowledge!
What industry would you like to work in after graduation?
After graduation, I would love to work in aerospace. Learning about space was my introduction to the scientific world. It helped me realize my interests in math and science, especially physics. It doesn’t matter how much time I spend learning about the universe, I can always find new and amazing things I didn’t already know! I’d never get tired of working in aerospace because of how passionate I am about it.
Where would you like to be in five years after graduation?
In five years after graduation, I want to be working in an industry that I love, in a position that I find fulfilling and rewarding. As I mentioned, aerospace is one potential industry, but it isn’t the only thing I’m considering. This is precisely why I’m excited for PEY Co-op because it will give me the opportunity to see what it’s actually like working in industry, even if it isn’t in aerospace! I also want to push myself to continue learning new things because it keeps me curious. Whether it’s through textbooks, courses, or projects, I want to keep this habit up, even after graduation!
What are you great at?
I’m great at pushing myself to work hard. I’ll spend a few extra hours researching course concepts and equations to ensure that I understand them, as opposed to just memorizing them. I definitely bite off more than I can chew from time-to-time, but I always see things through to completion. Whether I’m working on projects, clubs, hobbies, or studying, I always give it my best, regardless of the amount of work and time it takes. I often come back to one of my favourite quotes, “Be naive enough to start and stubborn enough to finish.”
What’s something you’re working to get better at?
I want to continue pushing myself beyond academics. I want to try joining a few other clubs this year, and I want to begin working on some independent projects!
Interested in hiring a PEY Co-op student? Click the link to learn more about U of T’s PEY Co-op program.
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