Name: Angelica Nava Richardson
Place of Birth: Toluca, Mexico
Date of Birth: 19 September, 1986
Studied at TU/e: August 2010 - September 2012, graduate program Systems and Control
Current position: Designer engineer at ASML Mechatronics

Why did you choose to study at TU/e?
Because TU/e had a graduate program that had my interest, and ASML offered me a scholarship. I studied Systems and Control. In Mexico I did my Bachelor’s thesis on Mechatronics, and there aren’t too many universities in the world that offer a graduate program in Control, and have such a close relationship with companies at the same time.

How do you look back on your study time at TU/e?
It was very difficult for me to get used to the Dutch way of working. In Mexico, we tend to do what’s required only. The reason we don’t stick our neck out is because it might get you in trouble with the professors – they assume you want to prove you know more than they do. If you’re a threat to your boss intellectually, you could lose your job. That’s how it works. So we only do what’s required of us – as well as we can, of course. Here, if you merely meet the requirements, you’ll get a 7. You need to take it up a notch for a better grade, and you have to challenge yourself and really get into the projects. Do more. After several months I finally realized that professors actually appreciate it when you go the distance and want to go deeper. After that, things went more smoothly.

What did you do after TU/e?
ASML offered me a job as a designer engineer at their Mechatronics department, and that is what I'm doing now. I think my internship at ASML plus my graduate project with Philips opened doors for this job secifically. Since I had been studying on an ASML scholarship and did my internship with them, it wasn’t difficult for me to arrange a job interview. I don't think that my nationality would have made any difference in this case. I think my previous work was more important than my being Dutch or not.

Was this what you intended to do?
Yes, I intended to stay in the Netherlands to work after I graduated. I like the lifestyle in the Netherlands: biking to university every day, and now to work. I like the fact that people only work during working hours. I like that everything is well-organized. I also like the engineering work level in the Brainport area. I like to be challenged and this is one of the few places in the world to find challenging engineering. But I’m still not used to the fact that the shops close early and I still struggle with the language.

What are your plans for the future?
I'm planning to keep growing as an engineer at ASML. It’s a very challenging company and I'm having a lot of fun in what I do.

What advice would you give current students?
My advice is to arrange an internship and/or a graduate project with a company. That way you’ll find out whether or not you appreciate Dutch work ethics soon enough, and you can build your resume.