My name is Meine Kootstra, and I studied Mechanical Engineering at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. It was an easy decision, because which city is better for students than Groningen? I chose to study Mechanical Engineering because a lecturer of Mechanical Engineering once said to me: ‘The difference between a mechanical engineer and ‘normal people’ is your location relative to the machine. ‘Normal people’ sit behind the wheel, whereas a mechanical engineer will get underneath it to see how it works. This is definitely the case with me. From a young age, I have been busy with building (and demolishing) things, and this interest developed further as the years went on. To expand on this interest with knowledge, I decided to study Mechanical engineering. I haven't regretted it for a moment. After my study programme, my current colleague told me that VIRO was looking for mechanical engineers. After a series of interviews, I set to work here. Since then, I have completed a number of projects and I am curious about what else the future holds.
At a certain point I was seconded to a company to strengthen their engineering department. Here, I design products from start to finish. After the drawing part is done, I validate the models in practice by testing them in accordance with legislation and regulations. It's quite the diverse range of responsibilities. The challenging aspect of this assignment is that it involves multiple aspects that are not directly related to Mechanical Engineering. This includes establishing a relationship with the client, which requires communication skills. Of course, there are also aspects that are related to Mechanical Engineering. These include ‘standard’ drawing work and negotiating with suppliers. There are many challenges out there to be found, as long as you are open to them.
