Charis Ho
Learning about static electricity at the Ontario Science Centre with a Van de Graaff generator!
Meet Charis, she is an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo student. She is currently a Quality Assurance Engineering Co-op, Quadrad Manufacturing. In her spare time, she likes to be creative, stay active, and try new things. She likes to craft through crochet and different needlework forms and stay active through sports like rock climbing, running, and going swimming, and she is always trying to learn something new, whether that be a language or a cool skill like handstands.
When did your love of STEM begin?
I always found myself trying to fix broken toys and taking apart things that worked to see how they functioned on the inside and came together to be a working system. It was always something new to discover and maybe could be modified to make it even better than the original version.
What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?
The best part about working in the field of Stem is that there is always so much to learn, and that learning will never stop! It encourages you to always stay curious to anything that comes along your way and to try it out. There are also so many challenges to solve and obstacles to overcome, so being open minded and using problem solving is important for success.
What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?
When someone tells you that you can't do something to put you down, use it as motivation to prove them wrong by doing it and doing it well. Believe in yourself and show that you are capable of achieving great things and no one is stopping you except yourself. There may be lots of challenges along the way, but overcoming them is one of the most rewarding part of the journey!
Tell us a fun fact about you and your current role!
I started playing underwater hockey in university, combining my love for hockey and swimming! Now I've played three types of hockey: ice hockey, field hockey, and underwater hockey!