Gaining independence and work experience in Ireland
From designing cutting-edge biomedical devices to navigating life in a new country, Jordyn Maywood’s co-op adventures in Ireland pushed her engineering skills and personal growth to new heights.
Jordyn Maywood (she/her), a fourth-year Biomedical Engineering student, spent four co-op terms in Ireland. Through these experiences, she learned more about her industry and how to travel and live independently abroad. Although there were challenges, her work terms abroad helped her grow and gain confidence.
Jordyn's co-op journey
Research and development engineering assistant, Nicoya
Jordyn contributed to design projects and worked on validating the quality steps that the company had implemented.
Research and development engineering assistant, Latch Medical
Jordyn's journey working in Ireland began in Dublin at Latch Medical. She got to do a variety of product building and testing.
Research and development engineering intern, West Pharmaceuticals
Returning to Dublin, Ireland, Jordyn worked on developing cassettes for an injection welding machine.
Research and development engineering intern, Stryker
Jordyn recently wrapped up her eight-month term in Cork, Ireland. She spent her time there designing fixtures and instructions for a new device the company was making.
Q&A with Jordyn
Why did you choose to study biomedical engineering?
“I wanted to go into engineering primarily because of my interest in math and problem solving. When I was first looking into typical engineering jobs, they didn’t seem that interesting to me. When I came across biomedical engineering, I thought that would be a good opportunity to combine science, engineering and design”
“Within the medical field, I initially wanted to go into prosthetics. That was before I learned how much physics is involved with the design of them, so I ended up veering away from that.”
What was it like working in Ireland compared to Canada?
“All three of my experiences working in Ireland were quite different from each other. The first time I went, looking back at it, I am shocked at how positive I was during that time. It was very hard to find housing in Ireland, so I ended up living in a one-bedroom apartment with four other people. I travelled for an hour and a half on the bus to and from work every day. It was more hectic than my life working in Canada, but it was so new and exciting that I didn’t really care.”
“It was a bit of a culture shock in terms of how hard I would find it to understand people. We were all speaking English, but the Irish accent can be quite strong, so I wasn’t fully prepared for that.”
“They also use a lot of different words and slang in general, like in any new place. It’s already a bit intimidating to go into a new engineering company because they have their own acronyms and terms you don’t know. On top of that, I was now adjusting to speaking with Irish people for the first time. It was a bit of a shock, but once I adjusted, I really enjoyed it.”
“When you go abroad, you really have to put yourself out there. It's already hard to meet people when you are out of school and working, but now you may not know anyone in the entire country. You have to take it upon yourself to go out and go to places where you might meet people that you have common interests with.”
What is the most interesting thing you’ve done during a work term?
“At my most recent co-op, I got to design the fixtures that are going to be used to manufacture a new neurovascular brain device. It’s cool seeing things I made actually being used.”
“I did a lot of solo travelling over my trips to Ireland. Each time I went I was a bit more confident in my ability to travel alone. My farthest travel was when I went to Greece for a week. It was probably my favourite trip and where I made the most friends.”
What skills have you developed through co-op?
“I've gained a variety of technical skills such as prototyping and computer-aided design skills. My report writing and statistical analysis skills have definitely improved as well.”
Because of all my travelling, I've learned to be a lot more independent. I've gained a lot of confidence over my co-ops, and I feel better being able to do things on my own.
As an Indigenous student, what resources have you used from the University of Waterloo?
“I found out I had a little bit of Indigenous heritage a few years ago. I’m from British Columbia, so I’ve been able to join the Métis community in BC. At the University of Waterloo, I have been able to attend events and further educate myself on important history. My family history contains a large variety of different backgrounds, and it’s been really exciting to have another culture to celebrate and learn about”
“I advise the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Indigeneity (DEII) club at United College. We recently ran an event for Truth and Reconciliation Day. The DEII club has been a nice way to support and highlight important events in the community.”
What’s next for you?
“I’m a Don at United College right now, it’s something I would encourage other students to do. Especially if you are in a busy program, it’s a great way to cover your rent and food while still being involved. It can still be a lot to manage, but I prefer it to a regular job. Even when I’m on call, I still have time to study.”
“I’m graduating next year, so I have some big decisions to make between now and then. I’m considering either going straight into the workforce, maybe going back to Europe or potentially doing a master's first.”
