Not Afraid

I’m back at it after a long overdue (and well-earned) mid-semester break. The strangest part is that I actually kind of missed it. Delving deep into the complicated problems arising in the health sector is, at times, a daunting grind but when you step back you realise that you actually love that grind. Anyway, I guess we’ll launch into what the bulk of my following weeks with the biomedical crew is going to entail; BME/Engsci sport tournament, the hunt for the elusive summer job and a little spiel on the culture in biomedical engineering.

The Sport Arena

If you have spent the majority of the first year of Uni with a book, not a ball, in your hand then it sounds like you might be engineer; it also sounds like you need a change of pace. That’s why our department runs a small weekly tournament every semester. First semester tournament was Netball, where the year groups fiercely battled for top rank. The level of passion for the game was immense with every team fielding not only a team with plenty of subs, but also supporters too. It provides a great opportunity to meet people from different years. It also makes that bond within your year that much stronger. Everyone loves a little friendly competition. And with Soccer to come this semester, and Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball in the cards for next year, it looks like this tradition is going to continue going strong.

Summer job hunt

As you will come to learn, half the struggle of engineering is just trying to find a job to get you 800 hours of work experience. The university has tonnes of programmes designed to help you find a good job but being a second year it is very nearly impossible. Luckily for Biomedical engineering students, the bioengineering institute offers a summer internship where you work on a project for about 10 weeks. These projects are funded by the University and you can even get a $5000 untaxed stipend for your troubles. This allows you to meet some amazing people, get a taste of what real research would be like and hopefully be funded for another year of scraping by.

BME love

Once again I thought I would just quickly mention the great culture in BME. Sharing a building with your lecturers and tutors makes them so much more accessible. They are always happy to see us and chat not only about the course but just about whatever is going on. The friendliness of the situation seems to be a lot more conducive to a successful learning environment. I have been told I am not allowed to mention names but if you ever talk to anyone around BME or Engsci, you will quickly learn of some people that go above and beyond what is required of them.

Wrapping up

In conclusion, I am in a bit of a duality at the moment; part of me is shaking with the anticipation of leaving Uni and starting the exciting path that BME offers but on the other side I can’t even imagine leaving Uni when it is such an amazing place to be. Either way BME is great place to be, and I couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone reading this blog. Peace.

-Lachie

Still Not Afraid

This morning I woke up with one thousand-and-one things to do. With so many pressing projects, I decided to take some time to step back and reflect on my experience as a biomedical engineering student. As I sit in my room overlooking a rain stricken Auckland and ponder the trials and tribulations that led me to this point, I have to decide that I would do it all again. The hard work, and outstanding internship applications, are now more daunting then ever but I can’t help but think about what we are devoting our life to, something greater then ourselves. When I face the oblivion of the years to come with these thoughts flickering in my mind, it is an easy decision.

The Industry

Biomedical engineering is one of the biggest growth industries internationally at the moment. People are beginning to realize the benefits that specialized healthcare can provide them. The outdated model of only a few doctors working on each case is long past overdue for modernisation. With any industry, growth brings forth novel problems and niches that have never before even been considered. This a fantastic opportunity for anyone who believes themselves to be entrepreneurial, or even just have a passion for the frontier of technology. The area is also expanding so fast that it is opening new avenues of research that were previously unavailable. Around the world, many countries have begun to tap into the new era of healthcare. Even though New Zealand has a few companies directed towards this industry there is still a lot more room for growth. I believe that, with the level of innovation and perseverance in the New Zealand population, we too can become on the forefront of medical engineering.

The Outsider

I’ve spent my time in this blog shamelessly plugging my degree with no ifs, buts or remorse. Now, however, is time for a different tact. I love my degree but I also know that not everyone will share this opinion. Whether you have a natural affinity for electronics (can’t say I share this disposition), or maybe you have always loved how mechanical contraptions work, the industry still needs you. This means that the actual specialisation matters much less than you think. Follow your strengths and your passion, and you will end up where you deserve to be.  People from almost every specialization will be needed in the new industry so it is more important to put yourself in a position where you will excel then it is to align your degree with exactly where you want to be. If it is truly your passion, you will get there in the end.

The ‘In’ Crowd

Now to shift the focus back to my degree. We put in long hours, learn diverse material from a plethora of lecturers and then struggle to put it all together into one coherent skillset. The thing about being in a newly developed field is that you will have to define your own job. This can be really good for the opportunistic type that is willing to put in the extra work required to create your own niche. Unfortunately, it also means that cruising is not as much of an option as some other degrees. To be appreciated in this degree you need to work, hard. The hard work is worth it though. You will end up with what you deserve.

The Summer

The seasons are changing and the glorious time is nearly upon us. Here are just a few quick tips to get you through the Summers to come:

• Apply early. Jobs a few and far between for such a specialised degree. If you plan to get your sub professional hours ticked off in second year, then you should probably think about polishing that CV of yours past the point of recognition.
• Keep doing your own research and self-directed learning. You can never know too much about your chosen field.
• Take time off. You are in for a big year, avoid burning out early by truly living it up while you’re back to having no responsibilities or due dates.