SuccessBeyond

I completed the Fire Protection Engineering Technology program to pursue a fulfilling career in fire prevention, and I chose Seneca because they have the best program in Canada and offer many unique opportunities.

It was one of the best experiences of my life. The professors were very helpful and friendly. The environment was really good, and the culture is one that makes you proud to be a Seneca student. You are given all the tools you need to be successful and a very positive outlook for your future. It is a unique place, and they have courses that many other post-secondary institutions do not offer.

It was the job fair. Seneca invited many companies and organizations to answer all of our questions and concerns, while also presenting opportunities that are offered upon graduating. Another memorable experience was the annual industry dinner. Students, alumni and industry professionals were invited for an amazing dinner and a live presentation. It gave us an opportunity to network.

I participated in the Fire Protection Student Association. I learned how to work as part of a team and contribute to a common goal for events and activities, such as helping set to up for the job fair and the industry dinner.

I wanted to further my education, while also opening more doors for the future. I chose the University of Cincinnati because they offer one of the best fire and safety engineering programs in North America and provided many different courses that align with my professional goals.

My final year at Seneca was online due to the pandemic and this prepared me to navigate online courses for my degree. The diploma also gave me the fundamentals and knowledge of the fire protection industry I needed to become successful in the university program. The professors at Seneca made sure we were well-rounded and taught us the different parts of fire protection, such as fire dynamics, engineering, prevention, fire alarms and sprinklers, codes and standards and much more.

The transition was difficult at first because the degree program had more essay writing, weekly assignments and discussion posts compared to the diploma. As I progressed through the program, I got much better at handling the workload and my time at Seneca helped me tremendously.

The advantage of completing the degree program is that it gives you the ability to choose different career paths focusing on areas such as risk management, loss control and fire prevention. The degree courses are mainly management level and can help you move up in an organization.

My advice would be to do your research and determine if a degree is necessary for what you want to do. The degree I’m completing now gives me the option to pursue a Professional Engineering (P.Eng.) licence with the Professional Engineers of Ontario.

Make sure to perfect your time management skills, especially if you decide to work simultaneously while you study. You can use a planner to keep track of when assignments or discussion posts are due. Avoid as many distractions as possible and be ready to make some changes in your life as necessary.

I work full time at the University Health Network in the Fire and Life Safety Department, while furthering my education. Right now, I am taking several certification courses and licenses, such as the National Fire Protection Association certificates, and pursuing my P.Eng. licence with the Professional Engineers of Ontario.

My short-term plan is to pursue a career in fire prevention, and my long-term plan is to pursue a master’s degree in fire and safety engineering.