Hello readers!
After being in my position at the mill for a little over 3 months, today I wanted to share some of the reasons I love going to work in the morning and why summer internships are so important for students. As I’ve mentioned, I am working as a chemical engineering student at the Thunder Bay Kraft Mill, formerly Resolute but now Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper. In my position, I assist the process engineers and the department superintendents in a variety of ways to continuously maintain and improve the pulping process. This has been my first job not only in the forestry industry but also in the engineering sector. Although my time here isn't quite finished, I can confidently say it's been an incredible experience.
After 2 years of school, having the opportunity to see what kind of work I might be doing in the future is something that’s pretty important to me. It has allowed me to affirm that this is a path I would like to continue to pursue. In no particular order, here are three of my favorite aspects of my summer position:
The Work Experience
I’ve always loved school and I’ve enjoyed almost every minute of my program at university but despite all the learning I never really had much a concept on what exactly I could be doing after university. Working in an office with other engineers has provided me with a much clearer understanding of what my career could look like. Honestly, one of the coolest parts for me is being able to use the knowledge I’ve gained in my classes in my day-to-day work. Whether its data analysis, coding, yield calculations or mass balance, it’s rewarding to see that all the long hours studying are definitely not being wasted.
The Field Experience
Another difference from school is here at the mill, you aren’t just looking at numbers and drawings on paper but actually going into the field and seeing all of the equipment right in front of you. While this sounds like a pretty obvious observation, the significance of physically witnessing how all the mill's equipment works together to create pulp cannot be overstated. Despite spending months walking around the mill, the size of the equipment never fails to amaze me. There’s a big difference from seeing 100 ft on paper and standing 10 stories above the ground on the top of the digester, overlooking the entire mill. As a student, I’ve had the opportunity to see all of the equipment across the mill in operation as well as the insides of one of the power boilers and the precipitators. Both of these pieces of equipment normally operate at crazy high temperatures. Even after cooling down for hours, the precipitators were still over 100 degrees Fahrenheit upon entry – basically the equivalent of a dusty sauna, but in full PPE.
The People Experience
Last but not least, one of my favourite things about working at the mill this summer has been the people I work with and the kind of environment we work in. Students are welcomed with open arms and our supervisors have made sure we get the most out of this experience as possible. Safety comes first, quite literally, as making sure all employees are working safely is not only on the top of every list but the top of the agenda in every meeting. The commitment to sustainability is evident in the mill's operations, making the workspace a positive and engaging place to be—even when water was dripping from the ceiling. All in all, the only complaint that I have about the place I spent the majority of my summer is the lack of air conditioning.
In under three weeks, I will be returning to university. While I will undoubtedly miss the mill, I hope to return next summer to continue learning about the processes and gain even more valuable experience. In conclusion, working in the forest industry has truly been a rewarding experience. Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, thanks for having me.
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