Seyara W.

What drew you to U of T Engineering, and how did you decide on Chemical Engineering?

When researching universities, I found that U of T’s Chemical Engineering program was one of the few that allows students to gain background knowledge in Applied Chemistry in second year. Many of the other programs I looked into did not include as many chemistry courses within the curriculum. This is extremely useful for anyone who is unsure whether they want to pursue a career in research or industry, and it was what initially drew me to U of T Chemical Engineering.

How have you tailored your degree through minors, certificates, or areas of focus to reflect your interests?

After taking an engineering consulting course in second year, I became curious about working in industry. As a result, I decided to enrol in the Engineering Business minor to supplement my technical education. Since I had also completed a short summer internship in a textile manufacturing organization, I opted into the Advanced Manufacturing minor to learn more about the field.

I found the Engineering Business minor to be particularly useful in developing my leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

Was there a club, design team, or student group that became an important part of your experience?

In my second year, I joined Skule Mental Wellness as an Events Co-Lead. This was an incredible experience for me, as I gained a lot of knowledge about the resources available within the university to support students. I also learned more about the importance of mental wellness and how to support peers who are going through challenging times. This has helped me guide incoming students toward relevant resources, especially during F!rosh Week.

Tell us about your PEY Co-op experience. What stood out most about working in Canada compared to what you expected?

I completed my PEY co-op placement at Compass Renewable Energy Inc., a renewable energy consulting firm that provides bid management and labour compliance monitoring services. It was an incredible experience that gave me the opportunity to network with professionals across the energy sector in Canada.

Two aspects of working in the industry in Canada really surprised me. First, there is often significant community pushback when proposing renewable energy development projects. This is mainly due to misconceptions about clean technology and its impacts. Second, regulatory compliance is far more complex to achieve in Canada compared to many other parts of the world. However, these regulations help ensure that communities and ecosystems are protected during development.

What advice would you share with a future U of T Engineering student or their family?

One major challenge many students face is independent learning, which is a core part of the learning process at U of T Engineering. First year involves a lot of trial and error as you figure out what works best for you. My advice would be to try different learning and study techniques and not get discouraged if they don’t work out. Collaborating with peers to solve difficult problems is also a great way to manage the first-year course load.