Third Year
There is a Japanese saying that is inscribed on a stone in my grandmother’s garden that goes, “Ware tada taru shiru.” It roughly translates to “At this moment, I know only contentment.” I think about this saying often and, in principle, strive for this optimistic outlook, but there have been many times, especially during this past year, when this is easier said than done. When an outcome doesn’t go my way, when goals go unfulfilled, when plans get cancelled, it is easier to forget about these tough times and move on than it is to reflect upon the impact they had on me. But closing your eyes won’t make something go away. Truthfully acknowledging that “this is where I am” is much more useful than wistfully thinking “this is where I could be.” This discovery and the reflection that followed made me realize that where I am isn’t so bad after all.
One of the most impactful experiences of the past year was my fall co-op at ZetrOZ Systems, a small startup medical device company in Connecticut. The projects on which I worked helped me improve my independent problem-solving skills and gave me insight into how products go from ideas to prototypes to being manufactured. I also learned valuable lessons on leadership from my supervisor, who was the founder and CEO of the company. Many companies say they are “family companies”, but my supervisor demonstrated this firsthand by going out of his way to ensure that all of his employees felt valued and cared for. Just as impactful as the co-op itself was the experience of living in Connecticut. As I lived in very close to Yale University, I had the opportunity to take advantage of many events on campus, such as art exhibits, lectures, plays, and sporting events. My favorite of these activities was volunteering at the Yale Farm every Sunday, where I got to meet other college students and hear their fascinating perspectives while getting my hands dirty and learning about sustainable farming practices. While I was in Connecticut, I used my weekends to explore much of the northeast, including Acadia National Park in Maine, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and New York City. As it was my first time going to New York City, I saw all of the major tourist sights, and was in awe of the size of the buildings and the number and diversity of people. Some of my main takeaways from that semester were that I’d like to experience working at a large company for my next co-op, that access to nature is an important attribute I look for in a place to live, and – as a result of being far away from all my friends and family – that the excitement and fun of living in an unfamiliar place is somewhat lessened when you don’t have anyone with whom to share the experience.
The other experiences that had the biggest effect on me this past year were the books I read and learning I did on my own. Through my self-designed honors experience on Art and Design, I was able to read several books that resonated strongly with me, to the point of altering my career goals. One such book was The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman, which explored the psychology of product design and how we can create effective systems that harmoniously complement human behavior. This book, along with others like it, made me realize that I am fascinated by this field and could see myself working as a human factors engineer or another innovative role that combines design with engineering. After so many years of not knowing what career I want to have, it was an immense relief to finally have some direction and something that I am passionate about, and even if it changes over time, it is a tangible goal that I can work toward. In the coming year, I intend to talk to professionals in this field and figure out how I can gain the skills and background knowledge that make one successful in this field.
While the coronavirus pandemic prevented me from doing an internship at the University of Bordeaux this summer, made me cancel my spring break trip, and confined me to my house for two months (and counting), I am fortunate in that most of the ways it affected me personally are not permanent. I have gotten to spend more time with my parents, gotten a lot of reading and art done, and have had a lot of delicious homecooked meals. I feel for those who are missing the most memorable parts of their senior year of high school or college, those who have lost their jobs or have to put themselves at risk in order to provide for their families, and especially those who have lost loved ones to this virus. The coming year will be one of change and uncertainty for everyone on the planet, but I am hopeful that it will also be one of personal growth and success.
One of the most impactful experiences of the past year was my fall co-op at ZetrOZ Systems, a small startup medical device company in Connecticut. The projects on which I worked helped me improve my independent problem-solving skills and gave me insight into how products go from ideas to prototypes to being manufactured. I also learned valuable lessons on leadership from my supervisor, who was the founder and CEO of the company. Many companies say they are “family companies”, but my supervisor demonstrated this firsthand by going out of his way to ensure that all of his employees felt valued and cared for. Just as impactful as the co-op itself was the experience of living in Connecticut. As I lived in very close to Yale University, I had the opportunity to take advantage of many events on campus, such as art exhibits, lectures, plays, and sporting events. My favorite of these activities was volunteering at the Yale Farm every Sunday, where I got to meet other college students and hear their fascinating perspectives while getting my hands dirty and learning about sustainable farming practices. While I was in Connecticut, I used my weekends to explore much of the northeast, including Acadia National Park in Maine, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and New York City. As it was my first time going to New York City, I saw all of the major tourist sights, and was in awe of the size of the buildings and the number and diversity of people. Some of my main takeaways from that semester were that I’d like to experience working at a large company for my next co-op, that access to nature is an important attribute I look for in a place to live, and – as a result of being far away from all my friends and family – that the excitement and fun of living in an unfamiliar place is somewhat lessened when you don’t have anyone with whom to share the experience.
The other experiences that had the biggest effect on me this past year were the books I read and learning I did on my own. Through my self-designed honors experience on Art and Design, I was able to read several books that resonated strongly with me, to the point of altering my career goals. One such book was The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman, which explored the psychology of product design and how we can create effective systems that harmoniously complement human behavior. This book, along with others like it, made me realize that I am fascinated by this field and could see myself working as a human factors engineer or another innovative role that combines design with engineering. After so many years of not knowing what career I want to have, it was an immense relief to finally have some direction and something that I am passionate about, and even if it changes over time, it is a tangible goal that I can work toward. In the coming year, I intend to talk to professionals in this field and figure out how I can gain the skills and background knowledge that make one successful in this field.
While the coronavirus pandemic prevented me from doing an internship at the University of Bordeaux this summer, made me cancel my spring break trip, and confined me to my house for two months (and counting), I am fortunate in that most of the ways it affected me personally are not permanent. I have gotten to spend more time with my parents, gotten a lot of reading and art done, and have had a lot of delicious homecooked meals. I feel for those who are missing the most memorable parts of their senior year of high school or college, those who have lost their jobs or have to put themselves at risk in order to provide for their families, and especially those who have lost loved ones to this virus. The coming year will be one of change and uncertainty for everyone on the planet, but I am hopeful that it will also be one of personal growth and success.
