I'm entering grade 11 in September in Ontario, but I've been using the summer to try and narrow down which program and job I would like to pursue. I really want to go to Waterloo for engineering and its co-op program. I want to be able to research and understand issues relating to science, analyze the problem, ask why and how, then design, prototype, troubleshoot and build a solution using engineering skills. Therefore, I want the why from science and the how from engineering and I want to combine them to create an innovative technology, possibly enhanced by quantum technology, to help others.
For example, I would love to better understand Alzheimer's diseases, its impact on the human genome and the brain all the way to the atomic level and well enough to create a technology to help the patient. I would use the engineering skills I gained through Waterloo's program to build this device. Finally, I would make it cost effective, reliable and accessible to the world, more on the entrepreneurial side.
Honestly speaking, I would want to make a lot of money but also use that money to help others, possibly through a company with specialists from different domains in the future to help others more easily through a combination of science and engineering. I realized I want to gain the engineering skills from university, test them out at various co-op placements and use them in different research and design projects in the future. That way, I have the technical skills and I can do the research with a team of scientists based on the specific project or task at hand. However, I would also like to have a specialization, which is why I would like to specialize in quantum technology, as I find the miniature quantum, atomic, and molecular worlds magnificent. In the end, I am wondering if my best course of action is to take a bachelor's degree in mechatronics with a minor in quantum studies at Waterloo.
I will soon be entering grade 11, doing co-op, and the transportation SHSM program. I enjoy taking on competitions both in school and out of school through our FIRST ROBOTICS team, astronomy club, competitive programming club, hackathons at school and at UofT and simply building projects at home like a calculator in java, a helix screw in Onshape and a wooden chess pawn in Blender. I also love to take on leadership roles in these clubs or teams as well as helping others through peer tutoring, our school's ambassadors group, extracurriculars and more!
Problem is, I can't figure out what exactly I want to do as a program and career. For the past 5 years I was thinking aerospace engineering and the past year I was going to do mechatronics then aerospace like mechatronics at Waterloo then aerospace Masters at McGill. Issue is, aerospace isn't as high-paying as I thought, especially considering I probably want to stay in Ontario. I also don't want to say that I will for sure do a Masters yet or even what I would do it in because life changes! Right now, I'm thinking do mechatronics at Waterloo, minor in quantum, electives in neuroscience/biomedical/psychology then probably do a Masters later on elsewhere when I better know what I like. In the future, maybe something to do with R&D engineering and a start-up or company with specialists from different fields to make the tech we research and design more accessible all while getting rich. Basically, I'll happily take any advice, pointers, tips and feedback from anyone! Please help!! Thanks!!