John Misa and Giovanni Rogers: Why choose Engineering?

Tell us a bit about Chemical and Materials Engineering.

John: As Chemical Engineers, we are not only responsible for chemicals, but we also deal with materials and processing engineering as well, alongside a lot of health and safety; we are the all-rounders.

Giovanni: The thing I really like about Chemical Engineering is the practical nature of the job. You're not just in an office scribbling away or typing on a computer; you're often on-site and solving problems. You're interacting with operators or other engineers.
 

What was your perception of Engineering prior to studying vs. now as a student in the field?

John: In high school, I had a passion for Chemistry, Physics and Maths, so doing engineering was the obvious choice. The University of Auckland is the best Engineering school in New Zealand considering the amount of resources the school has, alongside the talented staff and researchers, there's really no reason why I shouldn't have come. 

Giovanni: I've come to realise that it's a lot more practical, especially when you pick your specialisation; you really understand what engineers do on a day-to-day basis.
 

What would you say to high school students who might be considering studying Engineering?

John: If you enjoy problem-solving and being a critical thinker, then I say go for it. There will be tough times, but you'll persevere because not everything that you do, you'll naturally be the best at. But if you keep going and see it through, I can guarantee it will be a great experience for you.