Majoring in Engineering as a USA Immigrant

Immigrating to the USA from China, Jack details his struggles and triumphs adjusting to his new home. He shares stellar study hacks, earning him a high engineering GPA in college, and gives a glimpse into how it's like working as an engineer in the pharmaceutical industry. 

We also discuss his experiences immigrating to the United States and go through the different VISA options international students have available to them.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are solely my guest's and my own. They do not express the views or opinions of our employers.

If you enjoyed this episode let's connect:
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn

Transcript

00:00.00
sharonpak5
Hi Jack welcome to tech exploited I am extremely excited to have you on the show today. We went to school together at cal say fullotton and we majored in mechanical engineering and I believe you're like a year or 2 below me right in terms of when you graduated. Yeah.

00:14.10
Jack
I think so yeah or I'm like yeah too. Yeah I appreciate you having me I'm really happy to be here today.

00:20.52
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah, yeah I know that you're working now at a pharmaceutical manufacturing company as a mechanical engineer and that you also have a side hustle um in freelance music production and also as a sound designer that's like completely.

00:26.26
Jack
Correct.

00:34.36
Jack
Um, and that's also great. Um.

00:37.78
sharonpak5
Opposite sides of what people usually think of for engineers right? because they're like oh engineers like are super like 1 sided of their brain.

00:42.72
Jack
Oh no, we we have a life we we we we we have a life. No that that's not not that that that stereotype is not true. Yeah.

00:50.34
sharonpak5
But people used to like are I feel like a lot of people think that engineers aren't creative and you're like no bro I could do them both I could do it all. You know.

00:59.80
Jack
All No, it's all all ball created in my job like finding a solution that everything yeah music engineering wise everything everything need your brain. It's it's not just doing one task but there are a lot of skills involved in that. Yeah.

01:09.35
sharonpak5
So true. So true. Um, yeah, but let's talk about you and your history and your background I know that you moved here from China and high school. Um, and you've kind of stayed in the United States ever since right? So walk us.

01:20.60
Jack
Um, correct.

01:25.75
sharonpak5
Through that like what did that look like when did you like why did you decide to move here was that even your choice like.

01:32.45
Jack
Oh yeah, so that that's like a really long story I usually ah tell people because my is actually like little little different from like all the people around you know, like all the international students. So most of international student. They joined the us they joined like us. In like a later stage of their education like mostly college There's not too many people like going into the Us institution like as early as high school. But um I was actually well I guess ah victims might not be the word but um, it was.

01:48.95
sharonpak5
The.

02:04.13
sharonpak5
Um, you are a victim.

02:06.74
Jack
It was so it was that it was the onech childd policy kind of and then also like around 16000 a time when like ah Beijing is like kind of way too populated and the government's trying to like they don't say it. They don't always say it but they're they're trying to evacuate people out. So basically the rule they set up is ah oh oh yeah, if you if you're not born there where if you don't spend money to buy your birth certificate that proves you're from Beijing. You cannot progress in your next education step like because there's always there's a big test between middle school and high school and high school to college right? so.

02:24.83
sharonpak5
Huh.

02:40.84
sharonpak5
Ah, ah.

02:44.83
Jack
Basically cannot I'm I'm like forbidden to take that test. So I'm I'm forced to go back to my hometown which you know the the condition or much worses and then just the the way China concentrated their education like all the resources towards major cities. So.

02:57.83
sharonpak5
Ah, ah I didn't know that I.

03:02.79
Jack
Right? So my parents thought that's a bad idea right.

03:07.14
sharonpak5
Ah, do we have the singular child and we wanted to have a brighter future and if it ain't in Beijing you're getting out of you going to the states.

03:12.16
Jack
Um, in nowhere now we're not gettingnna. Yeah, so ah that that that was kind of like a little tough situation for my family and then also when I was really little it was I think else fifth grade I came to us 1 time and then.

03:20.46
sharonpak5
Ha.

03:30.31
Jack
Um, I'll send the Alison middle school and then oh actually elementary school and then you know I Just really love the friends. Everybody's like although I can't talk like this at all before you know, everybody's like super welcoming the teachers like the the class is crazy. They're doing like science projects and all that stuff I'm like oh dude that this.

03:40.39
sharonpak5
Ah.

03:49.23
Jack
This is not school. This is this is something else right? So I I had I had a really good like impression of the Us education system and then so when the policy happen My parents asked me to say hey like you know we could put you back in where you started right? and then go through all the tub things.

03:55.56
sharonpak5
Huh.

04:06.65
sharonpak5
Ah.

04:07.13
Jack
Or ah, you know I Really appreciate my parents for that like or they said ah you know it. It could be a tough time for them like economically, but ah, do you want to go to us I said sure. Yeah, of course you know that that that that's how that's how everything started.

04:16.12
sharonpak5
Well and so you came to the US in high school but it sounds like you didn't really want to go initially.

04:30.44
Jack
At that time you know it's a tough choice I was like 1314 years old you know, ah and the it's eat either this or that and then you know this option doesn't really look better. So I just made my choice and then it's a good choice.

04:33.99
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah.

04:43.90
sharonpak5
yeah yeah yeah I mean it I'm sure it was really hard for you to coming to the US by yourself because your parents were still in China right? and they couldn't come with you to the us. Yeah, so like how was that transition.

04:46.16
Jack
Yeah.

04:51.18
Jack
Um, it was they are you? Ah, it was tough. Actually oh I'm I I spend i. Okay I I say I don't I didn't spend that much time adjusting to it because just because um, you know when when I was really little. You know it's Beijing like it's like New York and Los Angeles like everybody's like competitive at that time and ah, you know my my parents. My parents are um, um.

05:18.97
sharonpak5
If.

05:24.87
Jack
Well I Just recently learned that actually they they did their own startup company actually and then um and then at that time my parents my parents don't tell me too much about the business they do earlier and then until now that I'm kind of getting the idea of I'm like wait. Oh that's what they did. Ah.

05:26.62
sharonpak5
Are you just realized that your parents had a startup you didn't know that your parents had a startup.

05:44.62
Jack
But but they they were busy with the business you know and then so I was in a boarding school for since I was like maybe four or five years old and then you know it wasn't yeah it wasn't with my parents. It was more like my peers and then you know so yeah.

05:50.22
sharonpak5
While.

05:58.15
sharonpak5
So would you say that you weren't that close to your parents up till a high school then or.

06:04.14
Jack
I absolutely wouldn't say that because ah, well they they tried you know absolutely their best like um, well I know I although I only go home like once a week like only the weekends and it but um. You know my my parents' bedroom like our our bedroom are like inside the office they they they love rent the house with like little extra rooms. So I never feel like oh no, my parents are away doing business like when I was little I run around my dad's factory like I run around their racks of like products everywhere and then. They're there. They're they're always there for me. So I know.

06:38.60
sharonpak5
Ha. What an interesting experience because I feel like that's not like typical and the us. But you're just like oh this is my childhood and this was like my normal right? and I'm just like how that's so interesting. Um, yeah, okay so you recently.

06:52.69
Jack
Um, and thank you again? yes.

06:54.88
sharonpak5
Found out that your parents own a startup. Um, and so then when you moved to the United States I remember when we first met you said something that I thought was hilarious where you're like yeah you know when I first moved here out the US was bad but then now that I've been here for a while I guess they brainwashed we.

07:13.65
Jack
I Love putting milk before my cereal mountain. But yeah, not na na na na na that's illegal Not don't do that.

07:28.26
sharonpak5
I Guess like what were the biggest things you had to adjust to Ah when you first moved here.

07:35.28
Jack
Oh yeah, absolutely so um, well, it's it's definitely. It's definitely culture wise out to just because um, you know before? well I was taught English you know, but my parents are really ah good at like letting me focus on the speaking side but you know.

07:37.99
sharonpak5
And.

07:53.10
Jack
Even though that I know English Even though I can write even though I can talk maybe a tiny better than than all my friends. Um, you know coming here. Still you know you get off the airport. Everybody's like skin color suddenly change I'm like oh what is happening and then and then there's this people would started talking to in English like in real life. So. You know that that that's like a big shock like big culture Shock. You know so taking my time to really like you know, learn how to communicate with people you know and then um, you know, Um, but I.

08:19.88
sharonpak5
Yeah.

08:26.10
Jack
Yeah, my my high school did a great job I went to ah like a private catholic high school like Roman Catholic high school and then right so I'm not allowed I'm not allowed to go to public high schools and so so I had to go to private and then you know so.

08:28.98
sharonpak5
What I didn't know that either. Wait. What do you mean?? You're not allowed to go to a public high school.

08:43.76
Jack
I think right now the policy loosened a little bit but if you are coming heresf 1 student which is meaning like you're financing your own education journey. Ah that that's fone versus j one is when somebody's sponsoring you but f 1 student. Ah you are. Right now I think you're allowed to go to public institution for maybe one month but you're you're not allowed to stay there for like throughout the whole duration.

09:05.52
sharonpak5
So like a business they just want your money so they're like you're allowed to come to the United States but

09:11.73
Jack
Um, Peace takely will show die Sh still say.

09:16.65
sharonpak5
Ah, if you like pay up, you're allowed to come and pay your way through education I didn't know this ok interesting.

09:22.12
Jack
Yeah, yeah, so it's tough. Um you know, sound the family like my family is a tough choice because well you have the currency difference all of a sudden your tuition like it's normal here. All of a sudden it goes like 7 times like right now the currency changes I 7 to 1 and then you know and then also it's ah it's private high school. It's private schools and then this the tuition is even higher. So yeah, but I think I think it was.

09:46.65
sharonpak5
Wow.

09:52.30
Jack
I Think it's absolutely worth it because my high school did ah like a great job prep me for you know college education prep me for like all the steps that's me and then we have yeah we we have golf fathers We have ah people who are really you know following the religion path and really nice. So that's that that like.

10:00.61
sharonpak5
Ah, yeah.

10:07.41
sharonpak5
Oh.

10:10.94
Jack
Put a conquering me of how to like you know treat people. It gave me a lot of chance to like talk to people and then you know know their culture from the root and then I was also living with like a host family. Um, so you know so so yeah, so so I was like inside the American culture for the longest time versus I'm just like.

10:14.98
sharonpak5
Ha ha. A host family. Okay.

10:30.81
Jack
Coming here seeing sightseeing everything look io tower away. That's not America but but but no you you get? what I mean though, but you know I was.

10:33.26
sharonpak5
Yeah I thought I was definitely here up My guy.

10:48.39
Jack
Yeah I say I I say I was like pretty pretty like culture right? Yeah, they hear just dying covered. But yeah.

10:58.91
sharonpak5
Okay, so you came to you came to America you saw the skysrapers you're like wow eiffel tower.

11:10.31
Jack
Um, that's not what I meant but you get what I mean yeah and the venus River Oh look. Ah, no.

11:12.53
sharonpak5
He he was a Vegas guy that's where he saw the Eiffel Tower and big.

11:22.10
sharonpak5
Ok, ok, interesting. Um I feel like that must have been like even crazier I kind of assumed that you stayed what family over here. But you said that you were staying with a host family so they were like complete strangers to right.

11:31.48
Jack
Right? They wore and then they they treated me really nice and then you know they they taught me a lot of different perspectives and then I was going through my puberty but ah I think that was a good way to go through my puberty because you know yeah, it just. I Get to like actually accept a lot of like different opinions and start to like rethink about everything. Yeah.

11:51.57
sharonpak5
Wow, That's crazy. Um, were you religious at all or is that why they sent you to a Catholic school or was it just like a random school and they're just like good luck. We didn't We didn't really care about the Catholic part.

11:58.31
Jack
Um, ah, but here's in the middle of the desert. So yeah, it was actually in Palm desert and it iss in the middle of nowhere. But um, it it is the it is the wild The like. Like nicest private school in the area I wasn't religious I think my mom is like all the all. But yeah, all the people. Well my mom is not practicing the like the correct way you know, but ah so so she's spiritual and then my also my grandma. So.

12:24.95
sharonpak5
Ok, ok.

12:32.50
Jack
Ah, that side of my family actually does have that which is weird in China you know you're you're not really allowed to practice. But ah my my family kept that tradition and then ah yeah, and then you know yeah it is.

12:33.87
sharonpak5
Yeah.

12:43.85
sharonpak5
Huh What? an interesting story That's like so random and so then while you're in high school is that when you decided you want to major in mechanical engineering or like how did that happen.

12:50.42
Jack
Link.

12:57.26
Jack
Okay, that is ah even weirder stories. So yeah, So so when I was in high school. Ah well you know besides the class things you know I did took ah like Ap computer science I I did took a lot of physics and Calculus but um. The most things I was actually involved is in music right? So I was in Band I was in Jazz Band Orchestra I Was you know my my my music teacher is the Calculus teacher and the music teacher. So yeah, So so he's giving me like you know.

13:16.27
sharonpak5
Interesting. Okay.

13:27.32
sharonpak5
Um, what.

13:33.10
Jack
Yeah here, go do this math problem and rearrange this orchestra music I'm like ah what.

13:36.57
sharonpak5
Ah, actually that actually kind of makes sense though because like I also have a little bit of a musical background because my mom is was a piano teacher but like rhythm and stuff like that right like being able to like if you play piano. It's like you're trying to like make 2 things like work together.

13:44.51
Jack
Um, Ray O and then.

13:50.68
Jack
Oh no, absolutely absolutely there there's so many correlations Einstein does that Newton does that like all the good mathematician the world and physics people they the yeah everybody it is.

13:54.42
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah, you have to have really good tempo and it's all math right? and count. Yeah, interesting. Okay, and so your things by your teacher.

14:09.16
Jack
Yeah, so oh sorry right? I did right I did so um and and then that that become that become like a ah weird thing for me when I actually choose my major because I was really really interested in music and then.

14:13.38
sharonpak5
Calculus as a music things where your teacher was also your Calculus teacher.

14:29.18
Jack
But ah, you know Asian families. Ah yeah, so so my dad was doing his business actually ah he was doing solar panels and all the green energy stuff. My aunt is a civil engineer. My uncle is an industrial machine designer.

14:32.83
sharonpak5
Ah, okay.

14:40.91
sharonpak5
Okay.

14:46.90
Jack
And then my other uncle who's in China right now. He'd do more? Ah well he's he's more business related but um, he is really familiar with like manufacturing and and um, ah so his thing is doing more like like electronic like screens for skyscrapers es and all that. So. You know so I was trying to talk to them said which major should I choose and then guess what? Yeah yeah, exactly no. But I guess I did have that inside me because ah, you know it's not just doing music. Um.

15:10.56
sharonpak5
They all said not music. Ah.

15:24.67
Jack
When when I was in high school. It's more about you know I was super interested in all the electronics like all the sound design audio design The ah you know the electricity stuff the stage setup and then like sound science. You know so physics math and everything and then I'm really interested in like.

15:30.14
sharonpak5
Okay, yeah.

15:43.59
Jack
Sending things up, you know, buying screws on this on that I'm like I'm I'm hands on that's the way I learned that's way I usually do stuff. So yeah I guess I like translate nicely to when I actually take the mechanical engineering measure.

15:51.15
sharonpak5
Ah.

15:55.77
sharonpak5
Wait wait so you went from I Really like audio engineering essentially to I like audio engineering and music and screws and because I like screws I I chose mechanical engineering.

16:12.23
Jack
You know I was everywhere and then you know that that my high school did a good job like just expanding my personality and my interest. So so you know it was nice. Um I like doing all sorts of things.

16:25.50
sharonpak5
Huh Ok, interesting. Not not so as still kind of feels like you just kind of landed and mechanical and is like choose a major. You're like ah this one I guess like something like hands on. So I guess mechanical engineering.

16:40.90
Jack
You know that? yeah you can put it that will be okay.

16:41.70
sharonpak5
Question mark.

16:47.73
sharonpak5
Ok, ah, how about like cal say Fourton like did you pick cal say Fourton like how did that happen.

16:53.29
Jack
Yeah, so ah, calsate four 10 Well one of the so I actually apply for a lot of cal states. Um I wasn't going to apply for uc at all because the price in my family just ah, just personal issue. My my family can't afford it and and you know at that time I can't afford it at all.

17:08.15
sharonpak5
Um, and.

17:11.94
Jack
And then also if you're international student without like special qualification. Ah, you're not allowed to take on on loan. So that was an option for me. Yeah, that was an option for me either. So um, the only school system that's good and you know, um that that I can really.

17:15.98
sharonpak5
Oh really.

17:28.59
Jack
Hey calm is between all the cal states so I did a cal state forwardton long beach Sam Ber and know Sam Markles I remember that that that's it. That's the only 4 college that I ever replied and then you know I got accepted by all 4 But um.

17:35.19
sharonpak5
Okay.

17:41.93
Jack
Visit at long Beach. Really nice place and and the culture is nice too. But it just it just seems wide. It just seems everything scattered everywhere and and you know I was Born Errby City So you know Calsate Floton is kind of packed. You know it's still big. It's really big but it's self Urban and I went in there. There's.

17:49.21
sharonpak5
Ah.

17:55.27
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah.

18:00.74
Jack
Actually buildings that have floors more than three So nice. So yeah, ah correct. Yeah.

18:04.19
sharonpak5
Ah, ok, ok, ok, ok so that's how you kind of ended up at Hal say forth and that's interesting. Um, and so do you feel like ok I know that a lot of my friends that come from internationally like abroad. Um, when they can kind came to the states usually in college they said that. Like first couple years in college in the states is like super easy because there you learned it in their countries. Um, and that their country's curriculum is like way ahead of the United Statess Education curriculum do you feel like you kind of experience that too.

18:24.67
Jack
Um.

18:32.30
Jack
Ah.

18:39.27
Jack
Um.

18:41.43
sharonpak5
When you came to the states like whether was in high score even in college did you still feel like you're like ahead of the curve or like how was that.

18:49.12
Jack
Ah, yes, so ah, but I do have a counter for that like after now that I stay here in the state for like 10 years I don't feel that is a completely correct statement. But.

18:51.88
sharonpak5
Okay.

18:58.28
sharonpak5
Ha.

19:01.17
Jack
Ah, what? Well yeah so ah China when they're in middle school. They really focus on pushing um all the science like science subjects. So um, you know at my time english was also a big subject and now it kind of switched the the dynamic kind of switch. But. Ah, physics ah chemistry we we started chemistry at middle school. Um, you know we we start we start physics in middle school. So um, everything up to Algebra Two was already taught in seventh grade.

19:19.45
sharonpak5
You learned physics and middle school. What.

19:35.92
Jack
Right? So so when I came here. Um you know I was you know when I first joined high school My ah you know people suggest me just oh take a lower math and then you know you can get used to the language and I I started with the geometry and and I said yeah I learned this one year ago.

19:53.16
sharonpak5
Um, okay.

19:53.49
Jack
Yeah, and then Algebra Algebra Two I said yes I learned this too. So the whole year of studying algebra two and my ah software in high school the most I learned is how to solve a 2 by 2 3 by 3 and 4 by 4 Ruby's q ah and so I learned nothing else. Nothing new until we get to calculus. You know? So yeah, um, and then I so that was only me passing the eighth grade in China and a lot of people who actually path ninth or 10 um their starting class on sophomore years ap calculus right so that was.

20:23.10
sharonpak5
Wow wow.

20:29.48
Jack
What the education system is trying to push in China however, my counter to that is to all your friends who just say that is that they focus really less on developing you know, um what you're really good at so.

20:34.12
sharonpak5
Okay.

20:46.00
sharonpak5
Ah.

20:46.29
Jack
You know for? For example, my high school they didn't force everybody to be. You know so excellent on this particular subject which I might not even use it when I do my major I might not even use it when I'm actually walking to the society get my job but ah, you know the the Us institution.

21:02.84
sharonpak5
Um.

21:03.36
Jack
Um, you know, just some Chinese people say that they're like oh look, you're so lagging behind but they spend their time building a good personality in someone which they they they spent it correct. No don't don't laugh. It's actually true. They they they spend so much time on like building.

21:12.94
sharonpak5
Um.

21:21.73
Jack
Religion faith and then um, you know help help you grow in the transition of your puberty that that was like approximately high school right? and it helped you discover what? you're actually interested in for like for me, it's music. Although I unfortunately I couldn't take it but um, yeah, so you can see.

21:33.33
sharonpak5
Ah, yeah.

21:40.70
Jack
From middle school to high school like we're the weight between the 2 education system like the dynamic kind of changed so which lead to a really really weird phenomenon ah I couldn't say bad well could be bad right? So um.

21:44.90
sharonpak5
Ha.

21:57.70
Jack
As we all know if you don't know now now you know? ah so the the test they take um the high school graduation test the ga call in China right? So that's the stage where you graduate high school. You have to take like a pregrre I don't know if there's anything equivalent to that. But you have to take that to.

22:14.00
sharonpak5
It's like the SAT in high school. Yeah.

22:17.30
Jack
Correct correct correct but the amount of pressure that thing gives you is just brain damaging that that's the only word I can think about no I say you can take 3 times you can discard your grade that thing. Yeah, you have 1 time you gamble once and a you mess something up you mess.

22:26.94
sharonpak5
Um, yeah.

22:32.10
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

22:34.82
Jack
So a lot of students spend like days and nights every day grinding all that stuff and then and then you get 1 grade and then you get assigned to a college you know to to your level which is not fair because different cities in China have different lines so say you're.

22:49.65
sharonpak5
Oh.

22:53.17
Jack
Living in major city in Beijing right? Your line of score is so much lower than those people who are outside the city like trying to squeeze into and then try to like get your resources. So um, you know again, that's how the system is set up so you know it's so that caused.

23:03.91
sharonpak5
Ah.

23:12.71
Jack
A lot of ah students in China where they took way too much pressure in high school they study so hard. They they grant so hard when they get to college nothing is working. You know they they yeah freedom look and then I can do whatever I want now. So that was ah that's a time when they really start to expand their hobbies. But that's the wrong time you know the the us students are really focusing in college on what they are actually focusing on their subject by. I really like engineering where I really like music so I'm going to use the college institution as my advantagetage to progress and what whatever I I love to learn versus hey look I finally found my free space I'm just going to do nothing well it happens here too. Well we see that in cal state forth into every every day. But.

23:52.56
sharonpak5
Ah.

23:59.20
sharonpak5
Sure.

24:02.30
Jack
Yeah I say I say the proportion of people in us actually trying to you know gain knowledge more to like their favor is proportion is a little higher than um, you know the the kissing Chinese college where they just you know they did that because after that big Test. It feels like their last step. But it's not they. They just started to started walking to the society So that. So Yeah that that's my little counter to whatever your friend said about about yeah I'm ah I'm learning so much to this now which you know later on in life.

24:28.30
sharonpak5
Okay, okay.

24:37.92
Jack
The you know that this could actually have benefits. So.

24:40.97
sharonpak5
So basically if I were to recap what you're saying is in the US system um even though we might not be like drilling in in the math and sciences like Asia in general not just China because that friends were from Japan and Korea. Also it's very similar even like India.

24:44.77
Jack
Um, gray.

24:52.15
Jack
Um, and in India yeah, all the countries correct right.

24:57.23
sharonpak5
Um, Middle East right all these those countries are very similar in terms of um, you drill down hard in the math and sciences and like elementary all the way up into high school right? So by the time you go to college math and science is easy right? If you come to a US school um

25:07.14
Jack
Oh absolutely. Oh yeah, um.

25:15.66
sharonpak5
But you're saying that what they're sacrificing is the exploration part of high school. They don't get to explore different subjects because they're just so drilled into ah the math and sciences. Um versus in the US schools in high school.

25:25.46
Jack
Um, oh absolutely. Absolutely.

25:30.27
sharonpak5
People have more time and opportunity to instead of just like grinding twenty four seven to try and get into a college and to just like really master the maths and sciences. Um, they're able to do like music if they want they're able to do art.

25:35.56
Jack
Are.

25:45.22
sharonpak5
If they want they're able to explore all these different areas because they're just not so like mind numbing like study or else you die right.

25:47.20
Jack
Um, absolutely absolutely.

25:53.12
Jack
Right? exactly and then that burns all the creativity out of you and then that's that's really bad even in even in subjects that like engineering like people typically say Engineers hey? well you guys are studs. You know you don't know anything you were just like doing math every day and Then. No, and that that that's not true like once I transition to my actual job phase when you do designs when you do brainstorm? Oh no, you need so much creativity like all the time. Yeah.

26:22.40
sharonpak5
so true so true um so I'm assuming that you still have friends that are in China still that didn't have the same. Yeah.

26:29.76
Jack
Um I have friends. Um, oh I didn't know that thanks for reminding me? Yeah, um, I'm kidding.

26:35.93
sharonpak5
Um, acquaintances people you might know you know, um, who didn't get the same opportunity as you to come to the states um in high school and that stayed in China and went to college in China um.

26:45.30
Jack
And oh.

26:51.93
sharonpak5
I Guess now that you guys are all graduated. Um, do you feel like they're working in roles and they're in roles that they actually ah wanted to be in or like how did that work if they didn't have as much time to explore um like you did.

27:07.61
Jack
So the way I understand it. Um, you can imagine that the high school phase and the college phase kind of flipped in the Chinese education system because well like us high school is the where you started develop your personality find your orientation and then.

27:15.46
sharonpak5
Yeah.

27:24.37
Jack
College go grind. But ah so the in my understanding I could be wrong. You know, um, just through my experience that's kind of flip so high school is more grinding versus college I've I've seen their college ah class chart you know. Um, yeah, we we we have our own flow chart too and then every semester the school give you 12 to 18 units depend on ah what you do ah in in China the the class chart looks less. It looks that the gap looks way bigger. Um, you know, but while they also have to implement. Ah you know, like political study which is required but um, it just seems it just seems that the that the time is loose like um, you know? Well if you are a really grindy person if you are you know where you're doing that. Obviously you could spend your time. Like wisely to to you to to drive your goals but mostly people don't they they just free themselves up. They just get to college you know I'm going to do I'm going to go play this I'm going to go play that I'm going to go chase kpop and I'm I'm going to go up. It's true I'm going to go go play games and and so ah, the college part didn't really it functions different than what the us college most of the us the us college is doing so.

28:46.26
Jack
Ah, the college you're going to is only a name like hey look I got a badge right? So that's because of how much score you got for for your high school rec graduation test. But the reason why? ah so many? Well yeah, it's a cultural thing you know? ah.

28:51.54
sharonpak5
Um, your high school. Yeah.

29:05.00
Jack
So Many of my acquaintancet so much. So So many of my friends like I think if possible maybe even 95% The Chinese family who can afford Education. Always a master degree. That's that's the point where you start choosing? Okay maybe I like computer Science. Maybe I like this maybe I like that you you hear that a lot so you know people. Who are doing music all of a sudden transition to engineering people who are doing like ah agriculture all a sudden transition to that. So Master degree is where they started their education Journey I think like that that's where their life purpose started and then it just culture Wise. Um. Because Education has ah benefited the last generation so much they have this like ah really fixed idea that hey you have to get a master you have to go as far as possible into your education Journey Master Ph H D And then you know ah s two Ph Ph D I don't even know it What what was after that. So.

29:44.55
sharonpak5
Yeah.

30:02.50
Jack
Um, yeah, So so so so that's um, that's one of the reasons why you kind of see a lot of people talk about this say hey you know? Ah why?? why? All the Chinese people were middle Eastern people or Indian people their their degrees are so much higher than the Us institute. Well, that's because not because that. Oh you're intelligently so much superior than that it just it just their education step and the the way they grow is is it just out of face correct. Yeah, ah.

30:24.89
sharonpak5
Ah, sir.

30:30.80
sharonpak5
It's it's Asian culture right? where it's like that's your parents' bragging right? if you want to be your parents' pride and joy what are they gonna tell all their friends right? It's like my child went to this school my kid.

30:38.88
Jack
My child had them raised that that is that is so true that is so true and then that kind of also cost that um you know like like some some of the something international didn't come to us. They.

30:43.40
sharonpak5
Went to school in the US right and they got a ph d at Harvard right? yeah.

30:57.20
Jack
Um, men to study they they meant to put another badge on their shoulder hey I went to this uc you know I went to that you'd see but in reality they just I paid thirty k fifty k of education and then you know I can I can ride 1 line on my resume which is not what I would.

30:59.38
sharonpak5
And.

31:16.10
sharonpak5
No, it's not even for their resumes for their parents to parade around that batch to their friends back at home right.

31:16.60
Jack
Really think Education should be doing.

31:21.85
Jack
Um, absolutely is a sixty K worth it. Oh my God Um, and.

31:27.92
sharonpak5
Yeah, pay anything for the bragging rights. It's like better than a car right? It's better than driving a mercedes buds. It's like your kid went to this school and they majored in this major right lawyer doctor engineer those are the only 3 majors that count. But yeah, exactly exactly.

31:41.80
Jack
Oh no, if you can't afford all those 3 finance. Yeah, but.

31:47.88
sharonpak5
Okay, interesting. Um, so let's talk a little bit about your current role. Um at your pharmaceutical company. So like what does your day to day look like it's kind of in the medical space. Um, obviously I'm in a completely different industry I'm in the aerospace sector. So tell me a little bit about like the company. Ah what you.

31:54.90
Jack
Um, put him.

32:01.38
Jack
Um, correct. Um.

32:07.71
sharonpak5
Do as a mechanical engineer in a pharmaceutical company and yeah, maybe like where you're day today. Looks like.

32:12.53
Jack
Oh yeah, of course of course yeah, so ah day to day is a little well you know this year of working experience just absolutely changed my point of view and but everything so I'll tell you a little bit ah little little by ah, you know my my day to day now versus.

32:21.52
sharonpak5
Let's try.

32:28.19
Jack
Day to day from last July when I first got get hired is so much different. So um, you know so when I first got in um because it's a pharmaceutical company. Ah Fda is really strict actually so you know if you have any opinion all Fda. They're actually doing their job. So don't worry about it. So. Straight and ah all the things we do all the procedure have to be documented and then there's specific rule for doing specific things. You know everything have to be saved. Everything have to be modern observed so when I first got in it. Just. One month to two months straight doing nothing but reading the instruction instruction menu for doing all the jobs and doing all documents which is oh god no every single day you know? Yeah I just I I've been reading the document listen to every music that I could.

33:05.72
sharonpak5
Super fun.

33:17.95
Jack
Possibly listen to for like 5 hours I have people from the same age who got higher around the same time and then every day we go off for lunch. We just said I have listened to every podcast possible every single allbe book that I could ever listen to and I still haven't finished reading this document. But so so so that was the first month or 2 right? and then ah after that I was actually really lucky and then the the manager and supervisor level actually decide to like actually train me into some some their secrets of so um I don't want talk about it because you can you can. Have this information online. But um, so they have different great areas so you know they have the gray one area which is everybody dressing all white and full closure. No germs at all out. Yeah, absolutely that that was.

34:08.54
sharonpak5
Bunny suit. Yeah.

34:12.69
Jack
Absolutely torturing I don't know why they put me in there So I actually did the training. So yeah, So so you have that level of medical filling room which that's where the medicine exposed in thin air that could because they had to use the machine to fill right? and then. It comes out go to packaging room go to other testing rooms. So The grade gets lower and lower and lower lower and then depend on different medicines. Um, you don't see our medicine too much on the field because they're more for like surgeryge surgery room like there.

34:44.44
sharonpak5
Ah.

34:46.16
Jack
There There is like numbing solutions. There is like ah there there's glucose and then ah, there're all kinds of different syringes. But it's more used in like secret more emergency area and then yeah, so so I was ah lucky.

34:55.89
sharonpak5
Ha.

35:02.67
Jack
I did the the full gown training. Oh my god so um, you know that that was not fun. Fun. Not really fun. Um, the the first time the trainer train me when I put on the whole suit following their procedure. It took me 1 hour of 40 minutes I remember that strictly and.

35:18.94
sharonpak5
Just upon a gown took you a hour and forty minute hour 40 minutes

35:21.17
Jack
So I've been practicing every single step you had to follow the procedure so it it's not as simple as hey look let me put out my glove and put on my clothes and everything so you have 2 layers of protection. Your hands cannot touch anything else at your body. Your hands have to be above your waist the whole time and throughout the whole procedure you have to change your gloves multiple times because everything you touched is theically germed so you have to throw that away change another glove another arm guard put on this take your else off put on this put on that. So. Right now I can get it down to 40 minutes for 1 dressing but the training phase is just absolutely hazard and then you know every day you know, ah it' just filling passing out and then I really admire the people who actually to work in there because their shift is like. You have to stand there for 2 hours you know waiting and then operating and then sometimes you don't even get to get out which is the reason why medicine are so expensive. So their shift is really tight and then um, sometimes you're supposed to work.

36:20.44
sharonpak5
What do you mean? don't get to get out wait. What do you mean? you don't get to get out.

36:35.16
Jack
2 hours take a break another 2 hours and then you have your lunchtime and then you you get your full a hour shift but ah sometimes the schedule is way too tight and and sometimes the machine had problem. So um, you know we we go in as mechanic and then there's also my ah mentor who's really experienced. He's been there for like ten something years um you know we have to go in troubleshoot and now we have to determine if the situations still possible for the lot to keep running sometimes it doesn't sometimes it does so that that was a lot of like on field troubleshooting where you know I talk about creativity before you just have to be there and start brainstorming of. Every single possible situation using everything you learn. You know you have to top through glass to the outside through a little just like little calm system and then yeah, so it's that the environment is um, it's tough and then.

37:26.59
sharonpak5
It sounds like you're in like really clean jail.

37:29.19
Jack
And I realize why medicines are ah that's exactly how you.

37:36.17
sharonpak5
Um, like if Jail was squeaky clean. That's where you were but interesting. How do you like use the bathroom like are you now allowed to use the bathroom for.

37:43.65
Jack
Um I would rather go to Jail all right? Oh man. But besides that ah.

37:54.34
sharonpak5
2 hours because I'm like if it takes you an hour to like put on this gown right would have.

37:55.77
Jack
Um, during the hours of standing there. No, you're not allowed.

38:02.69
Jack
Right? You you are not allowed you. You cannot go you you you have to be there I am not joking I'm not joking. Ah.

38:07.30
sharonpak5
Is that real are you just joking I can't tell wait. What. How do you prevent people like if you have to go you have to go? What are they gonna do like if you just put on you if you just put on your gown and it took like an hour but like right after you put on your gown. You're like working for 5 minutes you like oh I actually have to go pee now like are they just like na you got to got to keep working for the next two hours

38:22.20
Jack
Um, right.

38:26.42
Jack
I feel like at that point in time you're conscious of I'm trying to pee versus the effort if you putting a whole tech clothes. It just beat it down. So I hope to go out and come back. Another 40 minutes it's not worth that I'm just gonna hold it in on. It multiple times I just stopped drinking I just stopped drinking water that that often and I they told me I have to go in today all right? I'm festing today I guess I don't have to eat anything.

38:59.50
sharonpak5
Um, Wow. Okay, um.

39:02.64
Jack
It's a little tough but that's only ah, that's only a one part of my job you know, but besides that my you know my my my main duty is still a mechanical engineer. So ah, you know you know back on my main track So lot of things I do is.

39:08.33
sharonpak5
Um.

39:18.39
Jack
I Do machine design I do troubleshooting I do ah I do vendor tracing because you know how luckily I I'm bilingual and then maybe trilingual I know tiny bit of Spanish So it's really easy for me to go out and talk to all the vendors and like outsource our parts.

39:26.70
sharonpak5
Um, really.

39:36.36
Jack
Do all the process like anadizing like stainless steel fraction because the people from our outside they all they got skills they they they do really amazing parts and then um and then most of the people who work on the mechanical side on my company are actually all Chinese So um.

39:37.44
sharonpak5
Sure yeah.

39:52.26
Jack
Um, I'm I'm lucky that you know I have the communications skill to actually like help them out to to you know and say hey Jack what are this part where hey Jack go go talk to this guy or talk to that guy I can actually communicate and then you know transfer the information pretty smoothly but a lot of the designs that I do are practical. You know so.

40:03.61
sharonpak5
Sure.

40:09.16
sharonpak5
Yeah.

40:12.16
Jack
Um, that's where you know I realized that jobs and schools are so much different like you probably have that same experience too because I watch your videos Actually I actually watch your videos. No.

40:22.14
sharonpak5
Um, ah thank you? Thank you? You're like this is good information I relate I.

40:31.60
Jack
But but not lot of stuff lot of stuff you talk about on your ah your reels are like actually so true you know at at this point in life I realize yeah that that's you know school you use maximum I say. 10 to 20% of what will you learn in school and then it it made me reflect the value of education system a lot too like during this year of just doing this job right? Um, oh.

40:48.42
sharonpak5
It has.

40:54.16
sharonpak5
So Here's what's interesting I went back I still keep in contact with some of our professors from Calsate Fullerton and I I was ranting to one of them and I was like I'm not gonna expose her name but I was like hey like why is it that only use 10% of what I learned in school at my job. Right? Um I was the heck man like here all the things you be teaching instead and they're like here's the thing Sharon You have all these other friends too because you're a social in school right? and involved in all these clubs like I'm sure you have other people, you still keep in contact from Calsey Fullerton I'm like yeah of Coursea right? And so they're like ask them what 10% they use.

41:25.45
Jack
Um, not good.

41:33.63
sharonpak5
And I'm pretty sure the 10% that you use from school is different from their 10% and I was like oh shoot you're right right? and so they're like that's the problem is that you guys go out into the world afterwards and you guys work in a million different industries and everyone uses a different 10%

41:35.80
Jack
Um.

41:40.29
Jack
Um, that be absolutely true and I never thought about it out that way.

41:51.98
Jack
Um.

41:52.54
sharonpak5
Everyone uses 10% but a different 10% so like how are you supposed to give a student a training curriculum to prepare them for this like job when they end up in all these different industries the same major and I was like ah they're like I was like that makes so much more sense I'm like oh okay, thank you.

42:02.78
Jack
That that is absolutely a good way to think about that? Yeah well my my way.

42:12.12
sharonpak5
Answering my question. This is why you're the professor exactly.

42:16.22
Jack
I'm not renting to you anymore. You're free today? Yeah no, but but yeah, the the way I made sense to it. It's ah it's more so anybody is watching this episode. The the main thing I would really be focusing on like if I would go back to college.

42:30.60
sharonpak5
Sure.

42:33.64
Jack
It's not well what you do is obviously important like get get that a get that B like don't don't drop out of your you know your academic but ah the thing you want to learn the most. It's not to finish your homework or to to not just like cheat on your friend's homework and get it done. Ah you know, um.

42:42.48
sharonpak5
Ah.

42:54.40
Jack
The the the main thing you have to learn is the logic of how you approach those problems because that is the most important thing when you go to job because just just continue while oh I was saying earlier like one of the tasks I got recently is um so they have instruction menus right? when when they put in the.

43:08.82
sharonpak5
I have.

43:12.39
Jack
Medical boxes like the super long one where expanded like covering the sky like those ones right? So but that those little menus they they have those they have those little menus and then but they ordered it and it's too long for the box.

43:16.39
sharonpak5
Yeah, covering this guy I Love it. Ah.

43:28.96
Jack
And the the old machine that packaged the boxs like they usually push the product in close the blocks is called the cart machine but ah the menu too long. You can't put it in so they're thinking about okay, what if I can fold the menu like maybe you know one fourth of an inch on the top and and make make sure that the Mary fits okay, that's it. That's the problem. The top give me create something that can fold the menu one fourth into ° that's it that that's her problem right? So that's while I was in college sometimes we get the homework question I thought that's on this is the most on specific thing that was ever given. No instruction on what to do right? No clue on what to do so you know I have to bring out the 10% I had to bring out. Okay, so what do I do to make this happen. You know? So um I started to do 3 d printing I started to study. How I fold papers you know, like nobody would ever thought about that on their day life like how do I fold this paper. Yeah, like how do I drink this water. How do I look my phone. No way to look at that right? So it's a really practical solution so you know it came from so the project started at.

44:28.56
sharonpak5
You're like origami I'm Asian let's go baby. Yeah, yeah.

44:43.68
Jack
This year's January it just finished like September you know, like through all the process I've been 3 d printing I've been creating jigs I've been creating like little fixture of this and that I've been hearing feedbacks from like the top the bottom everybody you know like you you really have to use your communication communication still out there where um, so.

44:57.74
sharonpak5
wait wait. wait you took nine months to figure out how to fold paper.

45:03.73
Jack
Nine months to figure out how to build something. That's the most efficient that I can put into production line for them to finish this task. Yeah folding paper folding paper took me a month though

45:10.77
sharonpak5
Ok, that makes me feel a little bit better than you say I.

45:20.00
sharonpak5
Okay, okay.

45:22.17
Jack
Like I'm not going to lie that took me actually actually a long time so you know when you think about it you fold a paper you know our brain is something else like when when we use our finger to solve something we make it look so much Easier. It's not when you when you do engineering. It's not you know you you have to think about every possible angle that you can absolutely. But how do you?? Okay so how do you do that consistently and how do you do that when the paper is like this thick right.

45:43.42
sharonpak5
I'm like fold paper.

45:50.26
sharonpak5
Sure sure sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure.

45:54.60
Jack
Because they start bouncing back. It start to create corners and they don't want defections in their product right? So there there there you go then now that's your conditions now. That's your problem condition start to line out so they really have to think about that. So I think at the end I went with a air actuator. So a pneumatic controllers. So. Um, the the final product I'm pretty proud of it's like big stainless steel table super pretty and then I had my mechanism lined up over there and then they can do 2 work at the same time and then folding I think the efficiencies like 80 or 90 men ah per minute they they can do yeah, that's pretty good and then you know I also implement a 3 d printed in there I reduce their cost.

46:24.35
sharonpak5
It's pretty good.

46:31.42
Jack
And and you know so the signs of material like how do I reduce the way. How do I reduce the cost how I make sure people don't get hurt by this edge that edge you know? So so that is where you know where you were where you talked about the the 10% really come into to actually apply in my in task I'm doing.

46:39.86
sharonpak5
Ah, ah.

46:42.88
sharonpak5
Yeah, you like kinematics you know like kinematic equations. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

46:50.45
Jack
Oh absolutely. Absolutely you know you you had to brainstorm the the fea out of it like this does the the pressure point this is the the failure point you know, but hey we we learned all that and then so that that that's why I said it's not about finishing your homework. It's more about hey how do I. Look at the world differently now that I have this How how do I You know how do I you know expand that to whatever I'm doing.

47:16.65
sharonpak5
It's like learning the basic engineering principles and then learning how to problem solve and training your brain on how to solve problems. Um, and think about problems that you normally wouldn't be solving. Ah.

47:20.85
Jack
Um, right Absolutely Absolutely Absolutely you know.

47:30.97
Jack
Oh absolutely yeah, that's that's what engineers do they hire engineers to do that. That's our job That's gonna be our job for now.

47:34.65
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely Okay, um, that's super interesting I think that your job is very very different from mine and from having the cleanest ah prison cell in the world to folding paper. It's just a very different industry. Um, and pharmaceuticals like I never thought for a second like how our pharmaceuticals were made um but that makes sense why you'd have such a high cleanliness standard I Just kind of assume that it just be like it's like magic you know like but like you don't really think about how this stuff is made. Um, but now that you've kind of like.

48:02.27
Jack
Um, no absolutely yeah.

48:11.93
Jack
Um, you you don't until you actually get in there. You know.

48:14.67
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah, and I'm like that's fascinating. Um, and so now that you're working at your job and you have been at your role for about a year and some change. Um, what do you think was the hardest part about that transition between school to working.

48:27.46
Jack
Um.

48:31.56
sharonpak5
Ah, full time for the first time like what did you struggle with.

48:35.52
Jack
Oh so of one of the things I struggle ah definitely losing the of three month of a summertime is definitely one of the hardest things.

48:47.15
Jack
Like know I actually have to stay here during August through ah you know during due to August I don't want to do this? No but ah, ah, well, ah, 1 of the one of the actual like big difficulties is that what you when you were in school you have well people are different age you know, but but they're not. That big of a gap so you know when when when we went to college like you know where are your difference but I have a lot to talk with you like because we're friends the same generation where we're we're about the same age. We're learning the same subject when you go out there. It's still different like my company. Well my my company have that weird culture where you know a lot of elder people are.

49:12.30
sharonpak5
Yeah.

49:26.27
Jack
They they want a stable job. You know they want a stable income. My company is pretty stable. So um, ah I actually work with a lot of elder people instead of ah people my age. You know there's almost no people my age like the youngest. Well the youngest me and then the the next youngest is I 35

49:34.48
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah.

49:43.69
sharonpak5
Ah, the.

49:44.17
Jack
And people already married they already had their family so you know lot of lot of the things you talk about is different and then a lot of the ways you guys treat something is different like your your point of view of looking at something is different so you kind of have to adjust to that because you're actually.

49:52.20
sharonpak5
And.

49:59.67
Jack
In this society now you're you're not in your little tiny safe society of college now you know so I say I say really embrace that and then also ah you know it also just after a year um

50:01.46
sharonpak5
Sure.

50:15.10
Jack
It. It might not be too encouraging to say that right now. But after a year you really really um, know what you want in life. So once you start to make income once your knowledge start to translate into income. You start to think about. Okay.

50:24.82
sharonpak5
And.

50:32.20
Jack
What kind of Lifestyle do I want what kind of life. Do I Want how do I manage my money you know. So ah I wish school would have taught me better on that. But you know that that that's something I learned when I walked in a society you know, Um, and yeah, so so lot lot of that lot of that come in then um, you also have um.

50:35.79
sharonpak5
Ah, her.

50:51.56
Jack
You know the the adult crisis where things are going all crazy in your life. You know, but and then when I'm in college I take a day off you know I'm lazy tonight I don't want to go to class I and catch up. Um, when you're in and work your project is waiting for you. You especially when you're at a engineering level position. You know.

50:59.70
sharonpak5
And.

51:09.35
Jack
Ah, whatever you don't fix. Whatever is holding there. You really start to see how much people were how much things you're dragging behind you like if I don't finish this this and this and this and this all behind is never gonna get done So that's a really great motivation to you know.

51:20.16
sharonpak5
Sure.

51:25.41
Jack
Push my projects to to to push everything forward.

51:27.71
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah, yeah, um, knowing all those things now is there anything you would have done differently to prepare for your current role or any engineering role in college if you're to go back.

51:38.50
Jack
Oh absolutely. So um I actually because I give the advice of like you know, really learned the process of you thinking about problems instead of just get things done I suffer from that that that that's why I give you that that's why I give the viewer that advice you know I was. Foreign china I am so good at you know, ah dissecting the education system cheating the system. So I can get a good grade now I am I'm no joking. So for all all college years I spend way too much time on how do i. Accomplish this to give me the best gpa instead ah instead of how should what should I learn from this homework or from this task from this project to better translate this into my work life. So I have a good great I have a three point five one gpa which is I consider that.

52:13.12
sharonpak5
Ha.

52:24.79
sharonpak5
A half.

52:32.35
sharonpak5
It's pretty high for engineering. Yeah yeah.

52:32.96
Jack
Pretty good I think for engineering correct. But I Yeah so I but after I graduate you know all my friends are um, they go to their job and then we we have little gatherings. Later and they're super excited to talk about their Job. You know they they really really did a good job of ah like transition their knowledge to whatever they do versus me I Just got a good grade I got a degree I and then I really started questioning. Okay, what did I even use the college for you know, is it just.

53:05.25
sharonpak5
And.

53:05.32
Jack
Am I the same just putting a badge on my shoulder or you know I could have done a lot better to you know to understand the process The thinking process you know, ah instead of just ah like complete this and done.

53:18.77
sharonpak5
Um, um, but that being said, you also only use 10% of what you learn in college at your job and I would argue there's this whole joke right in the engineering community where it's like the laziest engineers make the.

53:28.37
Jack
Right.

53:37.88
sharonpak5
Best engineers.

53:38.34
Jack
Um, oh absolutely I saw that I sell that everywhere. Yeah.

53:41.73
sharonpak5
So that being said since you were like I also don't get the whole mentality where you're like I was lazy so I just figured out how to opt like I I felt like I was working super hard and I saw a shitty Gpa right? So I'm like.

53:56.26
Jack
Um, ah.

53:57.98
sharonpak5
What did you do and what did you figure out that I couldn't figure out in college for you to feel like I just studied but I also wasn't learning but I ought a high Gpa like how did you pull that off.

54:10.83
Jack
So ah, it comes a lot. Well Okay, so first of all, do do what I said but do it Correctly. So don't use my words as a cheating point please so it really comes down a lot to ah. So So I will say I will say Communication is a big part So instead of ah instead of grinding for yourself really Learn. You know what is the best studying style for you like am I a group studyer or am I individual Studyer. So. Ah, you know I through throughout all college years. There're being group projects and individual like individual learning times and then ah throughout those time I'm not you know lot of people go to group study and waste their time they're like ha your your ex-girlfriend Ha yourre your weekend I went to this party that party.

54:42.65
sharonpak5
Yeah.

54:58.29
Jack
That's not efficient you you done? Absolutely nothing in 3 hours so ah for me I realized that so I say okay maybe I need a different group of friends who are at like actually concentrating or sometimes I need to really pull the efficiency back and focus on myself. You know and it also is about time management. So.

55:11.99
sharonpak5
A.

55:17.20
Jack
Um, sitting there in front a computer staring screaming for 3 hours ah doing using 40% of your efficiency versus you know? Ah I personally use the method of I study 40 minutes 20 minute break 40 minutes 20 minute break 40 minutes 20 mere break I can I can go for. A long time getting so much more done versus you know, somebody just staring a computer and then ah you know get a glasses like me at the end. Um, you know so so really, really, um, you know while while you're doing your project really also focusing on like developing the best way that can. Um, that that can you know expand or what's the word like that that can ah drive your efficiency out of you. So um, you know so exercising is a great way. You know 40 minutes later I do start doing 50 pushups and then all the blood rushing back to my brain and then I got all the nutrition back I can go again right. Ah, 40 minutes later I feel like hey you know ask my roommate do you want to go grab ice cream today 20 minutes later we're back and I'm I'm happy. You know that this actually won the method I later on that I saw online which is you know you reward your brain when you were during the break that later on the next session you can. Maximum your output to learn everything and then um also just try to study differently like study everywhere you know everybody developed their study habits through all elementary school middle school high school and then you're fixed right? Try different stuff. You know? Um i.

56:49.59
Jack
Bought a white board in my house I never did this I'm I'm more of a paper guy just to do problems on my paper. But once I figure out how beneficial it is like standing up starting writing on the white board. Yeah I'm um I'm exercising my brain I'm I'm making sure my brain is active the whole time and that.

57:07.36
sharonpak5
Ah.

57:09.20
Jack
That can give me so much faster and also it just um, you know do more practices you know like um if the if the professor tomm me this one time. Okay, cool I get it and then everybody know the memory curve it goes straight down after two days right so how are you going to enforce that to yourself. So. Ah, you know one of the things I do is I it's it's incredibly easy. But until you look at the signs behind everything so you know I I look at my notes the night I took that class. That's it I look through it I don't do anything I don't write. It's not gonna cost you 10 minutes of your time every day I look through it right? The next day I look through it the next day I looks through it do my homework wait. So this is why I don't understand I pinpoint that out now I can go to office hour not wasting my time.

57:49.41
sharonpak5
Ah ha.

57:57.40
sharonpak5
Ha.

58:04.68
Jack
Ask Professor hey this is what I don't get and then in that process you really form your own understanding of something instead of let me memorize this or screw it I'm just not gonna do it so little by little by little by little you create all those like little memory points and then the knowledge that. Only you understand? Yeah, but.

58:25.27
sharonpak5
Huh I should have came to you for study help in college I didn't do any of the things you should like none of them. But.

58:35.64
Jack
But you know that that that that's that's something ah you know well as griny as say the Chinese education system is that they are really good at teaching you that they they're really that is well.

58:42.88
sharonpak5
See I grew up in the US education system and we did not learn any of that. Um.

58:53.12
Jack
Call me? no, but.

58:54.37
sharonpak5
Ah, that's why I graduate with a 3.02 and you graduated with a three point five

58:59.48
Jack
Right? correct but you know you know so don't but also you know as I said earlier don't just use that as hey that that's a good way for me to get my Gpa up so you know really also focus on what I said earlier earlier that you know. Grab the process of learning you know, know the process of solving problems and then yeah you learn the world differently through whatever you're learning correct. Absolutely absolutely I was a good test Taker I wasn't a.

59:21.99
sharonpak5
So basically you're like don't just memorize stuff right? like actually understand things you could be a good test taker but not understand was actually going on and like.

59:35.38
Jack
Good and like ask good of the understanding person is.

59:37.87
sharonpak5
You know what sucks I understood the concepts but I was a horrible test Taker Horrible Horrible test taker to the point where at the time in college I think when ah you knew me or when we first met I had a boyfriend right.

59:43.96
Jack
Um, you know what is long.

59:55.90
sharonpak5
And my boyfriend and I both had the same class together and before our quiz I was studying for like 3 hours straight for like a quiz from the material that we learned the week before because we had quizzes every single week. He went out drinking with our friends during that time a korean barbecue place.

59:56.21
Jack
Are um.

01:00:07.75
Jack
Um.

01:00:14.80
sharonpak5
And then I gave him my flashcars 30 minutes before our quiz right? because ah he came back. This guy pissed me off so much who he got a way higher score than I did on this quiz even though I had been study the whole time I didn't go drinking with our friends at crane barbecue right before the exam and I was just like what in the.

01:00:19.90
Jack
Um.

01:00:21.75
Jack
I.

01:00:34.43
sharonpak5
Well.

01:00:36.58
Jack
It happens it happens in people's brain constructed differently but you know it varies from people to people that know that that's why I said it's important to learn your own style like if it's meant for you to drink for 50 minutes come back and study another half an hour if that if that's the best way you can maximize your efficiency.

01:00:55.57
sharonpak5
Oh my gosh? Yeah, but um I guess the last question I have for you was what and this is like completely off topic base but I like came to mind um because you came here in high school and then you went to college here.

01:00:55.96
Jack
By all means go Korean barbecue Please you.

01:01:09.76
Jack
Um, oh no, that's it's okay.

01:01:14.99
sharonpak5
And they found a job in the United States how did that whole visa sponsorship thing happen because I know you're still not a US citizen right? and this is a question I get all the time. Yeah.

01:01:19.87
Jack
Well, yeah, yeah, yes, yes, yes, so um, ah for international student. So the ah the the school does give you a guideline of how to do it. But here's how some my understanding so right now I have something called the yeah card which is a Us. Basically like a working permit that ah you know they do us is good at that to attract ah people with talent to say hey you know you graduate with the institution like especially stem majors. They're super rewarding on that. Ah they say hey you know you can apply for 1 year of working period after you graduate your bachelor degree.

01:01:48.13
sharonpak5
Her.

01:01:54.14
sharonpak5
I have.

01:01:56.84
Jack
And then one year later which is where I am now you can apply for two more years of the thing called opt extension optional practical training. Yes, so ah, the application process you have to so that's just paperwork. So I mean again, you can use.

01:02:03.82
sharonpak5
Okay.

01:02:13.47
Jack
The method I talk about like you can break down the task a little by little like every day you fill the schedule a little bit so you don't have to feel overwhelmed like doing you know 17 pages of ah documentations. But it does take a while to for that process so you had to communicate frequently with the international student office. Ah, you had to obtain your I 20 and then ah you had to ah you know networking is a big part. Um, you know, talk to your professor talk to your friends see where you can get internship opportunity see where you can get job opportunity. So there's actually a few categories. So um. 1 of them is called the cpt which is um during your school years like for example, during my last year I did a internship while I was doing school that was the only that was the only way that that e equationition could work so you have to be in the ah education institution.

01:02:56.11
sharonpak5
Okay.

01:03:06.58
Jack
You cannot break your bond with education institution period right? So um, you could do um Cp which is ah concurrent at the same time with your education journey. You can get internship and it has to be a part time job has to be has to be a part time job right? And then.

01:03:07.48
sharonpak5
Okay.

01:03:25.85
Jack
Ah, you could also use a summer break to get an actual job or actual internship. But um, that is going to be opt which because at that time you're not actually studying so ah, be very careful about that because at that time say summertime I use my opt time they.

01:03:35.39
sharonpak5
Who.

01:03:45.24
Jack
Like I say I did a work for three months they will actually deduct that three months from the next year period so I would so after I actually graduate I will only have nine months of opportunity to actually work instead of a whole year of twelve month right for most of the major. It's like that.

01:03:52.54
sharonpak5
And.

01:03:58.93
sharonpak5
Um, oh interesting.

01:04:04.44
Jack
However, for stamp major because it's important measures you can apply for I didn't say that you submit that but you can you can apply for another two years of extension which is you know, super grateful for whoever came up with that policy.

01:04:05.93
sharonpak5
Are you saying the other ones are not important. Yeah.

01:04:24.29
Jack
Um, so a lot of the time student like me. Um they use this time to enroll in a bigger company because they have the power to sponsor your visa so they go into H one B they they start rolling their you know the rolling their power ball to to see where the visa can come in and then.

01:04:33.70
sharonpak5
Ah.

01:04:43.22
Jack
But if you don't get it during those 3 years say like oh god on my my love just so bad I didn't get it. Don't worry about it because the rule is actually every time you graduate a Us institution. You get a chance again. So if for example. Using me as a example if after 2 years if I apply for h one b which is my working b so I didn't get it I could go do a master degree after my master degree the whole cycle starts again. So I have another 3 years to work for another company and then.

01:05:03.58
sharonpak5
And.

01:05:12.49
Jack
You know that that that would be that would be just a really long journey but you know a lot of people who um, you know without really that much of a financial support they they chose that way. You know although the way is long. You know you get your work in Visa and then ah at that time you you can start applying for your green card.

01:05:19.89
sharonpak5
And if.

01:05:30.67
Jack
Um, and then or maybe during the process. They really found a girl or guy. They really love from the Us and then you know that works everything out, but so I.

01:05:37.54
sharonpak5
Ah, so get married or get a visa. Ah.

01:05:46.92
Jack
If you're doing the wrong way. Yes, no that I mean did different things happen differently in people's life but ah to typically for all the international student. That's the that's the way to go. You're right.

01:05:55.46
sharonpak5
Okay, so get a masters get sponsored by company or get married.

01:06:05.87
Jack
Basically yes, if you want to long term stay in the Us. Yes.

01:06:09.71
sharonpak5
Okay, so for you right now, you're probably either. You're all 3 of them right? It's like either go to a bigger company get married or ah go to masters.

01:06:20.57
Jack
I So ah I'm I'm a little different I actually started my green car application process through my ah family because I do have family who live in the live in the state. So ah, yeah, so so my parents apply for it and then you know they just drag me as a child and so I so I follow them.

01:06:30.70
sharonpak5
Gotcha.

01:06:38.26
Jack
Um, so yeah, but but I'm I'm a little different so you know when I apply for jobs ah big companies Really don't care. So ah that that that's another thing ah smaller companies. They they do care about that because sometimes they don't have the power to sponsor you that because for the company That's a.

01:06:55.67
sharonpak5
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:06:56.30
Jack
Actually a big cost for you to to be there. Yeah, unless you're you are so valuable so make yourself valuable with which can get you very very good opportunity. But ah, you know So Ah well, but the controversy is also that big companies are harder to get in. But ah, you know so. Ah, make yourself valuable. You know in the meantime, learn different kind of skill set. You know, go Network Go talk to a lot of people and yeah, so it's nothing to worry about it's everybody had their different way and and now the us is so much more open to that.

01:07:19.37
sharonpak5
Shar Shar sha.

01:07:30.80
Jack
Although you know recently the international relationship is a little messy but it's still a possibility.

01:07:31.21
sharonpak5
Sure sure. Yeah, yeah, definitely well thank you so much Jack I feel like you this is a lot of new information that I learned from not only your experience as an international student. But also just like in the medical devices industry and it was like super duper awesome to hear about all the cool stuff that you've been doing and a little bit about your background. So yeah, super duper fun. Yeah I'm a pauseit.

01:07:51.49
Jack
Um, ah absolutely.

01:07:57.92
Jack
Um, ah thank you for having me today I really appreciate that.