Opportunities

In life, we’re often faced with opportunities disguised as choices. Sometimes these opportunities have the potential to change our entire lives without us having any idea of the impact it could have on our life. I was an 18-year-old who was convinced that I was going to work in the aerospace industry. If you had asked me as a freshman what I was going to do, I would have told you that I was going to help colonize Mars. As I now understand, things happen and your plans don’t generally work out the way you want them to, but it took many unexpected turns for me to realize this.

At Engineering Expo during the fall of my sophomore year, I met someone who would change the entire trajectory of my career path. At that moment in my life, I was struggling with a concept that many students face at one point or another: I strongly disliked the major I was in and I wanted out. I was beyond terrified that if I were to change my major, no one would give me a chance.

When I was a freshman, I sat through a class during fall break to get my Six Sigma Green Belt, a process improvement methodology popular in industry. Originally, I attended the class with the intent of getting ahead in the professional world, however, as I sat through that class, I found that I truly enjoyed what I was learning. I was more interested in this content than I had ever been in any class before. This was where my passion for process/continuous improvement and the Lean Six Sigma methodologies began.

During the conversation I had with this person at Engineering Expo, I was honest and explained what I had been doing over the past two years and where I intend to be when I graduate. To my surprise, I was offered an interview. Ironically enough, I had interviewed with this same company less than eight months before unsuccessfully. To my surprise again, I was offered a co-op position. At the time I was terrified of trading my aerospace dreams in for the paper industry, but I took the chance and I am beyond grateful for the incredible opportunity.

Today, I am working for this company and I could not be happier. I think I’ve learned more in the last few short weeks than I have through two years of college. I have a variety of tasks including everything from managing my own Lean Six Sigma projects to assisting others with theirs. Outside of my own projects and keeping up with everyone else’s, I do a lot of data analysis and occasionally sample testing. As someone who thrives in project management and leadership positions, this is truly an ideal job for me. No two days are the same and there is normally an exciting task that takes place out in the mill which keeps it interesting. This internship/co-op has solidified what I want to do with my career and I am certain I will have learned an immense amount by the time I leave.

Going into this co-op, I had no prior knowledge about any aspect of a paper mill. I had no expectations for what the job would entail. My only agenda was to gain as much experience as I could because I knew that regardless of what happened, I would be able to take something positive away from the experience. As it turns out, I love the paper and packaging industry. It’s a fast paced, exciting environment. Ultimately, this is why I chose to go into packaging systems and design. Although I never intend to directly use this major, my hope is that is continues to give me the background necessary to pursue a process improvement related career in the paper and packaging industry. Thinking back, if I hadn’t taken a chance at Engineering Expo and then accepted the co-op knowing that it would delay my graduation date, I would have never found the opportunities that I had. Sometimes taking chances is terrifying, but don’t think for one second that you shouldn’t do it. It could be the best decision you ever make.