Eden Keilty
September 21, 2020
Week 1: Meet Eden Keilty
A Bit About Me:
My name is Eden Keilty and I am currently in my third year of Chemical Engineering, studying at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton Campus. Growing up, I wasn’t familiar with the engineering field but when it came time to choose a post-secondary program after high school I chose engineering as the best fit for my interests like Science and Math and, honestly, I really didn’t want to memorize any more biology. At school, I am involved with the Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Society, and since returning to the Saint John area for my work term, local youth groups. Although challenging, I have really enjoyed my time at UNB, and know that getting experience in the industry through this co-op term will benefit me and my career, even if it delays my original graduation date.
My Co-op Term:
I began my term with JDI in January 2020 as the Associate Quality Engineer in the Technical Department at Lake Utopia Paper. As I had never worked in the pulp and paper industry, and wasn’t very familiar with the processes involved, I was quite nervous when first starting my placement. However, as I was welcomed into the mill alongside the other students it became evident to me that the time I was going to spend with JDI would be the best opportunity I’d have to learn about the company as well as my personal career goals, skills and weaknesses (yes, they are important too).
After 8 months of my term and adjusting from working on-site, to remote working then back to site, I realize how much I have learned and grown, not only in process knowledge but in how I approach my daily tasks. The projects I’ve worked on are challenging and push me outside of my comfort zone, but every time I learn more, I continue to improve the way I work and I see that what I do is practical and beneficial for the entire site.
I feel extremely fortunate to have had this co-op opportunity and to have seen firsthand that the environment at JDI is about learning, improving, and growing in everything you do, which is perfect for a student exploring “real world” work opportunities.
Stay tuned for my posts over the next few months for all the details on essential tips I’ve learned, the experiences I’ve had as a co-op student and why I have found so much benefit from my time with JDI.
Blog 2: 4 Tips to Optimize Your Co-op Work Term
October 6th, 2020
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intimated when starting my work term with JDI. Sure, I’ve had other jobs but never in an industry setting like at Lake Utopia Paper, so it felt like a lot of pressure that I had to have a certain level of knowledge right away. Reflecting back to the beginning of my term (almost 10 months ago… crazy!) has shown me that there were a few key things that helped me transition to my role and forget about my concerns. Now, I’m sharing the details with you so that, hopefully, you can set yourself up for a valuable work experience.
1. Seek Guidance from Full-time Employees
The full-time employees know the process and have likely worked in the area every day for many years, making their level of knowledge more valuable than anything you could ever read online or in a textbook. Getting comfortable talking to Operators in the proper areas was and still is key for me in understanding what happens in different parts of the process.
2. Ask Questions... To Anyone and Everyone!
One of the pieces of advice I’ve heard countless co-op students give is that you should ask questions, and I completely agree. Obviously when confused it is important that you speak up to clarify things, but asking any question will benefit you in progressing your tasks – sometimes voicing my confusion has gotten me further than any of the research I’ve done. As an added benefit, I can guarantee that if you are taking the time to learn about something you’re interested in, you will be able to find someone who will talk to you.
3. Take Advantage of Training Opportunities
Seeking training opportunities from the beginning ensures you will be able to apply what you’ve learned and see improvements in those areas throughout your term. Taking advantage of the opportunities you have to learn professionally (process-wise and personal skills) will only prepare you further for the work environment after graduation. Personally, I’d rather take the training now and work on developing those skills before you realize that you have some things to work on (#growth).
[I participated in the first-ever virtual Yellow Belt training course held by JDI and this was our attempt at a group photo! Technology makes virtual training easily accessible, so do a bit of research and you’ll see that there are tons of options available for your participation.]
4. Independent Work and Teams are Both Valuable
Finally, in the professional work environment there is a mix of independent tasks and team projects, so being able to work well in both is very important. Luckily, in the Chemical Engineering program at UNB there are various courses that helped to prepare me for both of those situations. The upper-year lab courses gave me the skills needed to work independently to complete tasks and to find appropriate resources from mentors or research when needed – working independently doesn’t always mean you’re a one-person band. As well, yearly design projects prepared me to work well as a member of project teams. Working with one team for an entire semester can be difficult given the stresses of university (let’s give it up for the coffee-fueled all-nighters), however, experiencing the high and low emotions as you progress toward project completion was one of the first opportunities I had to figure out my how I affect the group dynamic positively and negatively, as well as how to get the team to work as one unit when stresses are high. Both of which are beneficial to know now.
So, there you have it! I hope you can remember these tips and use at least one to set your term on the path of a lot of learning and tons of fun.
Some of you may be reading my blog posts and thinking “Okay what you’re telling us is great but is what you’re learning really something you’ll use forever?”. My answer to that question is the same as what your high school teachers said when you used to ask them if you’d ever really use what they’re teaching you in the real world: YES!
To reassure you, here are 4 things I think everyone will learn when they do a co-op term with JDI:
How you work
Working in a professional environment is a lot different than managing coursework at school. During a work term you’ll learn a lot about yourself, especially what it takes for you to be motivated and excited about your work. You’ll also be able to learn how best to prioritize your work and what helps you stay organized to get things done.
It’s good to take risks
To clarify, I’m not saying you should run wild and try to do everything yourself. What I mean is that after you’re comfortable with your role, sometimes it’s good to take a chance with something or make an independent decision. You might end up being wrong or making a mistake, but that’s just another chance for you to learn.
The work culture you want
School is way different than a professional work environment because most of the people around you are the same age and dealing with the same problems. Working in a “real” work environment for a co-op term can help you figure out the culture you’ll be looking for when you start your career. Luckily for me, the culture at Lake Utopia is a definite example of what I’d like to be a part of. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable – which is great for a student who has a lot of questions.
What your future career will be
My supervisor told me that there are three “L’s” that will help you decide what your full-time job will look like: Love, Location and Lifestyle. One of the things your co-op term will help you figure out is if you love that industry, job, or company. You can adjust your future job searches accordingly when you know what you love from an actual experience. Location and lifestyle might not be as easy to figure out as a student, but you have to wake up every day and do your job, so loving what you do is really important.
November 30th, 2020
Blog 7: My Final Thoughts
Blog 3: You’re not “Just a Student”
October 19th, 2020
I’m a big fan of the TV show “Friends”; yes, I’ve watched every episode multiple times. Because of this, I somehow find a way to link a lot of my life experiences back to the show and reference it regularly. It seems only fitting that I do the same with my Coop experience. If you’ve never seen the show, you’re missing out, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make.
In one episode, one of the main characters starts an internship at a well-known fashion company. When she gets there, she is eager to start work and hopeful for a positive experience. Unfortunately, her responsibilities include getting coffee and organizing coat-hangers. I’ve noticed that most shows depict internship experiences in a similar way, and I am so thankful that what I see on TV does not reflect reality in any way.
As a Coop student with JDI I have been able to participate in multiple projects, both as a leader and part of a team, that effect all parts of the mill and main process. My experience has shown me that the work of students is valued and can truly change and improve the way things work on site. In fact, I once introduced myself at a training session and said, “I’m just a student” and was very quickly reminded that although I am a student that doesn’t make what I do any less valuable to the company.
One of the coolest experiences I’ve had so far in my term was being able to lead a trial for the production of a new product. Of course, I had support from my supervisor, but I was given the opportunity to decide on exactly what needed to be done for the trial. I was able to learn through hands-on experience about what to plan and communicate to ensure we created quality product and achieved customer satisfaction.
I hadn’t really reflected on the implications this trial would have until our customer sent me samples of the box they made from this product. When I was able to hold the finished product and realize how big a part I had in making it, I realized that this internship has given me so many opportunities to work on meaningful projects that I know will positively impact our processes and products.
In the below pictures, on the left is a large roll of the trial product in the warehouse at Lake Utopia. On the right is the finished product from our customer!
Let me tell you, knowing that what you do as an intern can have such a positive effect on the process or customer is so much better than filling coffee orders for coworkers all day. My Co-op term has been so much more than doing mindless tasks to get through the day. Student work is critical for getting projects done and it benefits the students just as much since it is the perfect opportunity to experience what working for JDI is really like. As Monica from “Friends” once said “I want you to love your job” and it’s easy to do that when you know your work is valuable to everyone else.
I’m a big fan of the TV show “Friends”; yes, I’ve watched every episode multiple times. Because of this, I somehow find a way to link a lot of my life experiences back to the show and reference it regularly. It seems only fitting that I do the same with my Coop experience. If you’ve never seen the show, you’re missing out, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make.
In one episode, one of the main characters starts an internship at a well-known fashion company. When she gets there, she is eager to start work and hopeful for a positive experience. Unfortunately, her responsibilities include getting coffee and organizing coat-hangers. I’ve noticed that most shows depict internship experiences in a similar way, and I am so thankful that what I see on TV does not reflect reality in any way.
As a Coop student with JDI I have been able to participate in multiple projects, both as a leader and part of a team, that effect all parts of the mill and main process. My experience has shown me that the work of students is valued and can truly change and improve the way things work on site. In fact, I once introduced myself at a training session and said, “I’m just a student” and was very quickly reminded that although I am a student that doesn’t make what I do any less valuable to the company.
One of the coolest experiences I’ve had so far in my term was being able to lead a trial for the production of a new product. Of course, I had support from my supervisor, but I was given the opportunity to decide on exactly what needed to be done for the trial. I was able to learn through hands-on experience about what to plan and communicate to ensure we created quality product and achieved customer satisfaction.
I hadn’t really reflected on the implications this trial would have until our customer sent me samples of the box they made from this product. When I was able to hold the finished product and realize how big a part I had in making it, I realized that this internship has given me so many opportunities to work on meaningful projects that I know will positively impact our processes and products.
In the below pictures, on the top is a large roll of the trial product in the warehouse at Lake Utopia. On the bottom is the finished product from our customer!
Let me tell you, knowing that what you do as an intern can have such a positive effect on the process or customer is so much better than filling coffee orders for coworkers all day. My Co-op term has been so much more than doing mindless tasks to get through the day. Student work is critical for getting projects done and it benefits the students just as much since it is the perfect opportunity to experience what working for JDI is really like. As Monica from “Friends” once said “I want you to love your job” and it’s easy to do that when you know your work is valuable to everyone else.
Blog 4: My Top Problem-Solving Tips
November 2nd, 2020
I grew up as the youngest of three energetic kids and, like most siblings, we didn’t always get along. There were countless fights over what to watch on TV and you could guarantee that there would be three different stories told when something got broken. Most of the time, these things resulted in one of us getting too frustrated to keep arguing and we’d storm off to our bedroom to pout until our parents decided it was time to talk it out. Of course, we all know that talking about something is key in resolving things and making sure everyone is on the same page moving forward, but until I started at JDI, I didn’t realize how useful this simple idea would be in the workplace.
During my term, I’ve been able to see the benefit of this collaboration tactic while working on many different projects. A big part of this has been developing relationships with employees in different departments that I can rely on when I’m unsure of how to proceed with a task. Asking others for their opinion has been a huge contributor to ensuring I don’t end up following a dead-end lead if I hit a road-block. Whether I’m talking through my cubicle walls to my “neighbors” or meeting with a process expert, voicing my plan of action has often led me to redefine what’s important and examine other details that I wouldn’t otherwise have considered. Even when I have no idea where to start, I’ve been able to explain the project to someone else and leave that conversation with an idea for a plan of approach.
My site is filled with people who have been in the industry for years and have worked on similar problems, so I try to take the opportunity to get their input when needed. I’ve found that it’s important to be wrong sometimes because that’s how you learn, but that you can’t always see it yourself. Being able to discuss things with the people around you is great for making sure that you don’t get so fixated on the little details that you miss the big picture of the problem you are trying to solve. Although this skill is obviously used differently in the workplace compared to dealing with sibling disagreements, the basic idea has still proven to be beneficial during my Coop term!
Blog 5: What I’ve been up to
November 16th, 2020
One of my favorite parts about my term has been that I am not restricted to one small area of focus or one piece of equipment. In terms of mill-wide work, I recently attended a meeting that provided detailed updates on the progress of a large project on site. We learned about the new technologies they are going to use, and we were also able to go on a tour of the area to see some of the equipment that will be installed. I love going on tours with different people because there is always a new area of the mill they can show me and teach me about. The below picture is an example of this as on our tour we were able to see the chip piles for the different wood species used to make our paper.
For my specific role as Associate Quality Engineer some days there will be quality issue troubleshooting that takes most of my focus and completely changes my plan for the day. Other days, I’m able to spend time working on continuous improvement projects. I’ve recently been working on projects targeted at improving processes and increasing customer satisfaction and I’ve been developing several new procedures and guidelines that will be used throughout the mill. An extra benefit is that they are all individual tasks, but I can take what I learn from one and apply it to improve the outcome of the next.
When I was ready to start my co-op, I wanted to see examples of what I would possibly be doing so I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect. I can guarantee that there will always be something new to get involved with and you won’t be limited to doing one repetitive task during your time with JDI. You’ll never be bored!
One of my favorite parts about my term has been that I am not restricted to one small area of focus or one piece of equipment. In terms of mill-wide work, I recently attended a meeting that provided detailed updates on the progress of a large project on site. We learned about the new technologies they are going to use, and we were also able to go on a tour of the area to see some of the equipment that will be installed. I love going on tours with different people because there is always a new area of the mill they can show me and teach me about. The below picture is an example of this as on our tour we were able to see the chip piles for the different wood species used to make our paper.
For my specific role as Associate Quality Engineer some days there will be quality issue troubleshooting that takes most of my focus and completely changes my plan for the day. Other days, I’m able to spend time working on continuous improvement projects. I’ve recently been working on projects targeted at improving processes and increasing customer satisfaction and I’ve been developing several new procedures and guidelines that will be used throughout the mill. An extra benefit is that they are all individual tasks, but I can take what I learn from one and apply it to improve the outcome of the next.
When I was ready to start my co-op, I wanted to see examples of what I would possibly be doing so I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect. I can guarantee that there will always be something new to get involved with and you won’t be limited to doing one repetitive task during your time with JDI. You’ll never be bored!
Some of you may be reading my blog posts and thinking “Okay what you’re telling us is great but is what you’re learning really something you’ll use forever?”. My answer to that question is the same as what your high school teachers said when you used to ask them if you’d ever really use what they’re teaching you in the real world: YES!
To reassure you, here are 4 things I think everyone will learn when they do a co-op term with JDI:
How you work
Working in a professional environment is a lot different than managing coursework at school. During a work term you’ll learn a lot about yourself, especially what it takes for you to be motivated and excited about your work. You’ll also be able to learn how best to prioritize your work and what helps you stay organized to get things done.
It’s good to take risks
To clarify, I’m not saying you should run wild and try to do everything yourself. What I mean is that after you’re comfortable with your role, sometimes it’s good to take a chance with something or make an independent decision. You might end up being wrong or making a mistake, but that’s just another chance for you to learn.
The work culture you want
School is way different than a professional work environment because most of the people around you are the same age and dealing with the same problems. Working in a “real” work environment for a co-op term can help you figure out the culture you’ll be looking for when you start your career. Luckily for me, the culture at Lake Utopia is a definite example of what I’d like to be a part of. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable – which is great for a student who has a lot of questions.
What your future career will be
My supervisor told me that there are three “L’s” that will help you decide what your full-time job will look like: Love, Location and Lifestyle. One of the things your co-op term will help you figure out is if you love that industry, job, or company. You can adjust your future job searches accordingly when you know what you love from an actual experience. Location and lifestyle might not be as easy to figure out as a student, but you have to wake up every day and do your job, so loving what you do is really important.
Blog 6: 4 Things You’ll Learn During Your Co-op Term at JDI
December 14, 2020
I really can’t believe that it’s the end of my term and I’m already writing my final blog post. I’ve already written about how this work term with JDI has been more beneficial than I could have imagined because I have had so many different experiences and I really did learn and see something new every day. Now, I think the best way to end my blogging days is by highlighting what I’ve learned about JDI as a company.
This year I’ve seen first-hand the endless opportunities that JDI gives its employees to further their careers. I know now that the slogan “Join one, grow with many” isn’t just something used for social media marketing; I’ve watched it in action. People I’ve met this year have changed roles and joined new teams or sites and continued to find more opportunities to grow and develop the career they want. It’s pretty amazing to think that you can have a career that adapts with you whether your personal life is changing or you simply want a new challenge. Continuous improvement initiatives create new projects all the time as well because it’s a company-wide value that is implemented every day as a driver of work on site. It was great for me to see that JDI truly lives their values and that all departments and employees are striving to improve, even if things are working well right now.
With all that being said, to end my term I have one last piece of advice: if you have the opportunity to do a work term with JDI, say yes. You’ll be challenged, you’ll succeed, you’ll make mistakes, you’ll make connections and, most importantly, you’ll learn a lot. Being able to experience a “real” work environment and learn how a company operates are valuable opportunities that you won’t regret.
Thank you to everyone at Lake Utopia Paper for making my work term so great and for answering my many questions. I’m so glad I was able to highlight some of my most memorable experiences through these blogs and I hope that future students can find some value in what I’ve shared.
Happy Holidays!
(Holiday Tree decorated at Lake Utopia Paper)
Some of you may be reading my blog posts and thinking “Okay what you’re telling us is great but is what you’re learning really something you’ll use forever?”. My answer to that question is the same as what your high school teachers said when you used to ask them if you’d ever really use what they’re teaching you in the real world: YES!
To reassure you, here are 4 things I think everyone will learn when they do a co-op term with JDI:
How you work
Working in a professional environment is a lot different than managing coursework at school. During a work term you’ll learn a lot about yourself, especially what it takes for you to be motivated and excited about your work. You’ll also be able to learn how best to prioritize your work and what helps you stay organized to get things done.
It’s good to take risks
To clarify, I’m not saying you should run wild and try to do everything yourself. What I mean is that after you’re comfortable with your role, sometimes it’s good to take a chance with something or make an independent decision. You might end up being wrong or making a mistake, but that’s just another chance for you to learn.
The work culture you want
School is way different than a professional work environment because most of the people around you are the same age and dealing with the same problems. Working in a “real” work environment for a co-op term can help you figure out the culture you’ll be looking for when you start your career. Luckily for me, the culture at Lake Utopia is a definite example of what I’d like to be a part of. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable – which is great for a student who has a lot of questions.
What your future career will be
My supervisor told me that there are three “L’s” that will help you decide what your full-time job will look like: Love, Location and Lifestyle. One of the things your co-op term will help you figure out is if you love that industry, job, or company. You can adjust your future job searches accordingly when you know what you love from an actual experience. Location and lifestyle might not be as easy to figure out as a student, but you have to wake up every day and do your job, so loving what you do is really important.
