[The Home Page will show a running blog of your recent posts, which are categorized and show on that category’s page. Please delete this post or edit with your own information.]
Month: September 2015
Year in Review
This year, I have really grown academically and professionally. Until this year, I had never taken any electrical engineering course or even delved into my major. I had only been accepted into my major in the spring. This year, I took my first major course and took the initiative to apply for an internship/ co-op. I interviewed for a position at Ametek and GE Aviation and received job offers from both. I accepted the offer from GE Aviation and am currently doing a double rotation in Grand Rapids as a manufacturing electrical engineer. I have since then learned more about electricity and electronics than ever. In addition, this has been a great way to gain experience working in an engineering industry and more specifically on a supply chain and production line. In my courses and in my internship at GE, I have been able to gain a lot of academic and professional experience.
G.O.A.L.S.
Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc.
Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.
Above, are the GOALS of The Ohio State Honors and Scholars Programs. I have exemplified these qualities in my past, in my academic studies, in my professional experiences this semester, and with my time in the International Affairs Scholars Program.
Global Awareness: Through my many travels to France, Spain, England, Italy, Mexico, Canada, India, and all over the United States, I have been able to experience many different cultures and compare and contrast them with my own. From the different ways people speak all over America and Canada to the completely different languages I had to learn to make my way around France, Spain, Italy, and India. I enjoy seeing how even the simplest details of our everyday lives are different around the world: the two-hour, six-course meals served in France or the way merchants follow you in India to try and get you to buy their goods.
Original Inquiry: Last semester, I went to the Ohio State engineering career fair to inquire into internship and co-op opportunities. I sought to educate myself and get work experience through employment on my own. In a few weeks, I was fortunate enough to receive a job offer from GE Aviation. I am now expanding my knowledge of electricity and electronics and how to apply that knowledge in a professional company setting. This will significantly improve my future job prospects.
Academic Enrichment: In addition to my involvement in the International Affairs Scholars Program, I have taken a rigorous course load at The Ohio State University and currently have a 3.343 GPA. I am an Electrical and Computer Engineering major with a specialization in Electrical Engineering, and getting a double minor in Computer and Information Sciences and Nuclear Engineering. I came to Ohio State with 52 hours of transfer credit and graduated from high school Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian, and with a 4.3 GPA.
Leadership Development: In my role at GE as a manufacturing engineer, I often have to coordinate and communicate joint actions with many employees at GE. I have set up meetings with GE leaders to effectively lead others, collect their inputs on the situation, and carryout a plan that will positively affect the company and the supply chain process here in Grand Rapids.
Service Engagement: I am a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi music, honorary, service fraternity at Ohio State. We serve those who take part in music and in the bands at OSU. We have worked with the communities around Ohio State, including the local Boy Scout troops, Kroger in Polaris, and local band competitions. In addition to those commitments, I am a committee chair of the Brotherhood Committee. This position requires that I coordinate with other chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi to serve them and help them serve their respective communities.
Career
Résumé: Niedzwiedski-Grant
This spring and summer, I am participating in an internship at GE Aviation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’m employed to help update test equipment and software. This includes anything from trouble shooting equipment, writing code in BASIC, testing and helping to debug products, and documenting everything I have accomplished so others can use the tools I helped to create and be able to recreate them. All of which will be useful experiences in my career.
I learned a new programming language, BASIC. It is an older language, so I can understand how newer computer languages came to be and how they were inspired by the functions in BASIC. This knowledge can only help me in my future when I need to program something. Documentation is a necessary part of engineering. What is the use of someone making a tool that cannot be used because it broke and the person who helped created it is gone? Making drawings of those tools and leaving instructions on how to troubleshoot that tool allows me to pass on my knowledge to others who come after me.
Lastly, the most important skill that I have learned at GE thus far is to think on my feet. Debugging programs and fixing test equipment has taught me how to react to having a problem in a quick way while still making sure that the problem is diagnosed correctly and is responded in the most concise and pragmatic way. Fast problem-solving is a skill that is necessary in any profession. I am fortunate to have had this great opportunity to work at GE and have these experiences which will greatly enhance my career and my future.
India Reflection Paper
Going on the trip to India with IA scholars was awesome, but the challenge was actually writing a final report about everything I had seen and learned. The trip was an unforgettable, but it is a whole other thing to sit and contemplate the culture that I had just witnessed in India compared to America. I learned to critically analyze myself and my surroundings when I wrote this report and to truly reflect on the trip that I had just taken.
About Me
Grant Niedzwiedski is an Electrical and Computer Engineering Major at The Ohio State University. He is specializing in Electrical Engineering and getting a double minor in Computer and Information Science and Nuclear Engineering. He plans to one day design hardware for electronic devices. Aside from engineering, Grant enjoys playing the drums with the Ohio State Athletic Band and travelling the world. The above picture was taken when he joined the International Affairs Scholars Program and went to India. In addition to India, Grant has also been to France numerous times, Spain, Italy, England, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico as well as all over the United States.