Trung Ngu

What made you decide to enroll at the University of Maryland?
My main reason for enrolling at UMD was because of the generous financial aid provided to me. Outside of that, another reason why I decided to enroll at UMD was due to the numerous study abroad opportunities available. Specifically, study abroad opportunities that pertain to engineering and my interests. I was also drawn to the proximity of D.C. to UMD, which would open up many opportunities for internships.

What major/career path do you plan on pursuing and how did you select that path?
I plan on pursuing a major/career in mechanical engineering because it combines both my love for science and math. Also, with mechanical engineering, I have more flexibility when it comes to finding my specific interests within engineering.

Activities I do outside of class or community service/volunteer activities I'm involved with:
Before graduation, I was a part of my high school's marching band. Specifically, I was a part of the color guard. During the fall or marching band season, we would perform and compete as a part of the marching band. After marching band season ends, we would switch over to winter guard where we would compete with other color guard teams. Another activity I was involved in was the conservation club where we would perform stream studies, box turtle population surveys, campus cleanup, and more. More recently, however, I've been working at NIST as a part of an internship. I would help prep samples for testing, put samples on machines to be tested, and extract PFAS compounds. The main goal of the project I'm on is to determine the intensity of PFAS in firefighting gear and how different stresses affect what gets released.

Aside from academics, what else do you hope to take away from your time at Maryland?
I hope to be able to meet new people and start forming connections that will help me after graduating. I also hope to be able to travel and explore the different cultures of the world. Finally, I hope to explore my newfound independence, to make mistakes and be able to learn from them, and to experience new things.

What are your future goals after graduation?
After graduation, I hope to find a job that pertains to climate change, such as renewable energy, carbon capture, or one in the aerospace sector which focuses on finding ways to explore and reach other habitable planets. However, my overall goal after graduation is to live a fulfilling life, one in which I can look back upon with little regret.