Biotechnology is the science of taking what nature does, and using it to create what we need. You take the cells that make up life, which are little factories, and make them produce something else. It sounds complicated, but we use biotechnology in many different parts of our lives, which you can read more about here. It sounds complicated, but it’s a very hands-on, practical science, one that’s just as much about the people in it as the science itself. Htet Yee Aung’s a student of Centennial College’s Biotechnology Program, and she believes that the most important part of it is the connections she’s made with the people around her, and in her career field, through the Biotechnology Student Society Club, or BioSS, a club for Biotech students. It’s particularly important to her as an international student from Myanmar, who left to come to Canada under complicated circumstances.
Starting Over in Canada
"In Myanmar, we can apply to the Medical University right after high school," Htet says. "I applied, and then I studied for four years, including two years of clinical exposure." It would be real-world health and political circumstances that would see her leave this behind, along with the country.
"Right after finishing the fourth year, COVID happened, so everything stopped," she explains. "I joined some volunteer programs, just to participate. And then the following year, the military organization took over the country. So, everything had stopped, and the situation was in chaos. I decided it's not okay to continue like this. I needed to continue my education, so I decided to study abroad."
"I have relatives here, so that's why I chose Canada," she says. "And I knew about Centennial College because of them."
Changing Careers to Microbiology
Htet didn’t want to start her education over, but knew that she wanted a career change, along with the scenery change. So, she took the opportunity to follow her passion.
"During my medical studies, there was one subject that intrigued me a lot," she says. "That is microbiology. And since my childhood, I've always wanted to be a biomedical scientist. So, I searched programs related to microbiology that can contribute to the public health, and I found biotechnology." And as for why she chose to come to Centennial College, it came down to word of mouth from our own students.
"I saw student experiences and testimonials on the YouTube," she says. "Not just the official Centennial College YouTube, but channels made by the students, so they're honest experiences. And I saw that the culture is very diverse here in the college. Because I'm from an asian country, and I've never studied abroad, I was afraid it wouldn’t be. But after hearing the student testimonials, I was assured that I was going to choose Centennial College."
Despite the reputation of the field as being for thinkers instead of doers, science is a hands-on field, and biotechnology is no exception. That’s why Centennial College’s biotechnology programs got Htet on her feet, working in real laboratories.
"The courses for biotech, they focus mainly on hands-on experience," Htet says. "There were more lab courses, compared to theory courses, but still, the lab courses were assembled on theory. There were two or three separate microbiology labs, and separate courses for chemistry. Currently, I'm in my final semester, so I have an independent microbiology project, where my partner and I have to do an experiment of our choice."
It’s About the People
But it’s the social and networking opportunities that have impressed Htet the most, through the Biotechnology Student Society Club, or BioSS, a club for Biotech students, which includes, among other things, its own YouTube Channel.
"There were mentorship programs," she says, about what she got to do in BioSS, "opportunities for social media management, and also for event organizing. There’s also an alumni interview program. I participated as a mentor in the mentorship program, and also as a social media manager. And also, there was an event led by the CCSAI at the end of their semester, called Supper Pops-up, for the school’s various clubs to refresh students before their final exams. I helped organize BioSS’s part of that event. I also did the alumni interviews, and currently, I'm doing the faculty interviews as well." One of the special events organized by the club would be BioConnect, a symposium where students and alumni could connect.
"BioConnect was a symposium led by BIOSS," Htet explains. "It was an event with an alumni panel. There were three alumni from Centennial College, and they shared their experience, how they transitioned from the college to their industry, how and what they doing in their current role, how they transition from issue to issue, what their most important skills in the daily workplace are, and what we should do for our job search. They share about it, and also the attendees ask questions." The whole experience would go so well, that she’d go on to call BioSS the best thing she’s ever done in college.
"I think it’s because of the connections," she says. "Because I moved abroad, I always try opportunities to find friends, connections and networks. After I joined the club, I got opportunities to participate in industry tours, so I got to know how that industry was in real life. And also, I now know people who have the same ambition as me, like-minded people."
Connections Lead to a Future Career
"I think the major thing is transferrable soft skills," Htet says about what she’s gotten out of BioSS. "I did a lot of activities, and for every activity, I learned how to communicate with people, how to approach to the strangers, and networking. So now, I'm not shy or afraid to reach out to the faculty for faculty interviews, or the alumni for alumni interviews."
"I am graduating this semester, so I'm currently on a job hunt," she says about her own future. "After graduation, I'll hopefully get a job in a microbiology lab, as a lab technician, and then I’ll also contribute to the club again, by participating in an alumni interview as alumni, and sharing my job experience with the juniors." And, as far as she’s concerned, any potential Biotechnology students reading this should join BioSS, too, or any other clubs they have the chance to.
"A lot of international students work part-time," she says. "And that part-time work is really important. But the thing is, make sure to join the clubs. Join the clubs, have fun, meet new friends, and get connections from the clubs. By joining the club, and knowing people, you're getting network connections."
By Anthony Geremia