| Job Title: | Operations Engineer-In-Training |
| Employer: | City of Ottawa |
| Grad Year: | 2014 |
| Degree(s): | B. Eng. (Civil) |
| Major(s): | Civil Engineering |
| Expertise: | Engineering |
| Industry: | Utility |
What makes you a good mentor?
I would like to participate in the mentor program because I feel that I have learned a number of hard-won lessons and I'd like to be able to pass these onto others. I believe there are many students with an incomplete picture of what they want to do with their careers or what is available to them, or how to achieve what they do want. I would like to motivate others and help them realize their aspirations. In my own academic and professional career, I've struggled at times with feeling out of place, unqualified, or uncertain of my role. I've learned that these are common sentiments, but they can nevertheless threaten to overwhelm many people; I believe that through empathetic listening and engagement, I can help people avoid these negative experiences and fulfill their own potential.
About Alex Sereda
Originally from Victoria, British Columbia, I moved to Ottawa to pursue a degree that aligned with my passion for water and water resource management. After completing a degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on environmental and municipal issues, I was fortunate to be hired by the City of Ottawa’s Environmental Engineering Branch, where I have been able to work with drinking and waste water systems across the city.
Outside of work, my interests revolve around the fantastic natural environment in the Ottawa Valley – cycling along the rivers and parkways, hiking and camping in the many parks, and skating the frozen canals and outdoor rinks in the winter. If the weather outside is frightful I will often pass the time being overly-competitive at card and board games.