Education - Students

Name:

Sylvia Campbell

Position:

Graduate Process Engineer

Degree:

Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering)(Honours), Bachelor of Arts (Latin, History and Philosophy of Science)

Why did you do this degree?

I had no idea what I wanted to do in my career, but I knew that I loved maths, physics and chemistry so Chemical Engineering was a good way to combine these. I also loved art, history, philosophy and languages, so an Arts degree was a way of keeping these going. At the end of my degree, I had a better idea of what I wanted to do, and I had the skills I needed to get a job headed in that direction. (I still don’t know exactly what I want to do, and now I realise it’s not the right question to ask. A better question is: do I enjoy what I do? If the answer becomes no, I’ll do something else).

Favourite subject at school:

Three way tie between art, literature and physics

What was your childhood dream job?

Vet (I had it so wrong – I’d be a terrible vet!)

Describe a typical day and/ or the best part of your job?

In a typical day I work in the office on a computer solving problems, analysing data and writing reports. The best part of my job is knowing that my work, as unglamorous as it may be, contributes to the bigger picture outcomes of providing a social service through safe water and sanitation, and of helping the environment.

What advice do you have for students still at school?

There are so many jobs out there that you don’t even know exist. Keep doing what you love and eventually you will find a way to be paid to do it.

What other challenges would you like to take on in the future?

I would like to apply my skills in a developing country where people have the same needs of fresh water and safe sanitation but not necessarily the means to achieve them.