Putting My Education To Good Use
May 26, 2014 8:25 pm Leave your thoughts
To open this series of blog posts I would like to thank Daishowa-Marubeni (DMI) and the green dream work force for this excellent learning opportunity in the forestry sector. Just last semester I completed my third year of chemical engineering and I am now working at DMI in the technical department of their pulp mill from May to the end of August. Because this is my first job rooted in an industrial process, I was a little nervous on my first day, but those misgivings were groundless, as I was greeted with smiles and an informative orientation program. I quickly became comfortable with my new surroundings. It is also reassuring to know that everyone has been through the same orientation program because it does an excellent job at demonstrating the importance of safety. The orientation was over quickly and I found myself taking the first steps towards helping DMI and my fellow employees.
After 3 years of university I am certainly not the only engineering student who has asked, “When will I ever use this”. This question, which has been the crux of my academic existence, is now starting to find practical answers. The tour of the mill was a real eye-opener. It started with ten flights of stairs to witness raw wood chips falling into a processing unit named “The Digester,” and finished with the warehouse where pulp sheets are produced and packaged by the tons. Seeing the immense power of the processing units instilled a newfound respect and wonder for the combination of science and art that chemical engineers as well as countless other employees are trying to perfect. I am looking forward to more learning experiences that will help put what I have been learning at university these past three years into perspective.