We have so many stellar Options alumni, and in our new series, we wanted to shine a light on a few of our past clients who have gone on to do great things both near and far. This month, we chatted with Benjamin about what he’s been up to since he graduated and his advice for current post-secondary students.
What’s your name?
Benjamin Clayton
Where and what did you study?
University of Waterloo, Biomedical Engineering with Options in Computing and Management
How did you choose this institution and program?
I knew I loved the sciences and felt compelled to build things that save lives.
When I was in grade nine, I had a conversation with my Science teacher about the elective courses I would take the next year. He introduced me to the world of Biomedical Engineering and since then, I fell in love with the idea of building a mechanical heart that could power itself without an external battery. Stem cell research developed beyond my fifteen year-old dreams, but my interest in the subject remained. Waterloo’s Biomedical Engineering program fit the bill perfectly; it was an academically rigorous program that also allowed me to learn by doing through the co-op system.
What would you tell current post-secondary students about finding a path?
Almost nobody ends up where they thought they would when they started post-secondary, and that’s okay! Part of your introspective learning process happens after you start, so do your best to broaden your scope of learning early in your university career because there’s always time to specialize once you’ve found your path.
My journey began by developing a bio-sensing video app to diagnose diseases in babies in developing countries, which led me to take a co-op opportunity in Kenya developing an Android app for pharmacies. I then became involved with some automotive student design teams, eventually leading to a year’s worth of co-ops at Ford, where I developed code for their infotainment systems and took on a project management role delivering features that have since made their way into the vehicles you see on the roads today!
My full-time offer took another turn, this time towards the business world, where I’ll be working as a management consultant next Fall, specializing in digital innovation and venture building. I surprised myself during my undergrad; co-op exposed me to new opportunities in environments I hadn’t considered and I’m happier than I would have been had I stuck to the same plan I went in with.
What are you doing now?
I just graduated from my undergraduate degree and have plans to travel for a few months before settling down in Toronto, where I’ll be working at a management consulting firm in their business building practice.
I recently finished my fourth-year capstone design project as part of my degree, where my team developed a device that mitigates the tangling of IV lines in hospital intensive care units. Our device has the potential to save $47 million worth of nurse salaries spent untangling lines and cables every year if it were widely implemented across Canada. It went over well with our faculty judges, earning us the award for best project in the Biomedical Engineering department!
What at Options Solutions helped you the most?
Options Solutions helped me get the extra edge to put my best foot forward in the admissions process. Like most high school students, I was unfamiliar with the types of candidates that admissions committees were looking for, but the insider knowledge that Melinda provided helped ease my concerns.
I never felt forced to pursue a certain path, but felt supported and armed with knowledge at every stage. In particular, I struggled to sift through my experience and tell my story in a convincing way. There was so much value in my experiences that I hadn’t realized, and Options Solutions helped me craft my applications in a way that felt authentic but enhanced. I wound up with acceptances everywhere I applied, with a few scholarships to boot.
A fun fact about you?
I struck out three times trying to get tickets to the Canadian Formula 1 race since 2020, so this year I’m going to see my first race in Barcelona!
Where can our readers find you?
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/benhclayton
