Walking boldly: Andrew Jo
This summer, we are following grads from the Class of 2015 as they continue their journeys around the corner and across the globe. Andrew Jo '15 is in the Edison Engineering and Development Program at GE Aviation.
- Name: Andrew Jo
- Class: 2015
- Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Major(s): engineering
- Next step: GE Aviation
What about Calvin specifically prepared you for this position?
One thing that I think Calvin does a really good job at is teaching its students how to learn. I had several professors who openly acknowledged that some of the material we were learning would most likely not be integral to our future careers. However, they were also careful to explain that the material was conceptually similar to many topics that were integral but too numerous to teach. Calvin taught me how I can learn new things better and faster, which has helped me become more adaptable.
What class at Calvin had the greatest impact on you overall?
Calvin’s engineering senior design class is a year-long, project-based course that had a great impact on me. It taught me how the engineering skills that I had been developing for four years fit into the context of an actual design project. It showed me that teamwork, project management, scheduling, and budgeting are just as important as technical design.
How did your relationships at Calvin form who you’ve become today?
I was impressed by the availability of the engineering professors that I had at Calvin. They knew me by name and were always willing to provide one-on-one help or just to talk for a moment. Having these relationships, rather than simply being lectured by professors, really helped me to learn academic material and develop engineering skills.
What’s one thing you would want to tell someone starting his or her journey at Calvin?
Get involved in a lot of things during your first two years. It might feel a little overwhelming, but it will be worth it. Then in your final two years, identify what you are the most passionate about and become more deeply involved in that, letting some of the other things go.