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Joseph Ryan is a self-professed nerd with a deep passion for STEM related activities. He studied Process Engineering and for a number of years, tried desperately to work as an Engineer in his field of study. After many unsuccessful attempts, he began a career in science. At the start of the economic shift in 2017, he was forced to assess his goals and career choices. Now, he works in aviation and while still passionate about STEM, he has realised that he should continue to strive to make an impact and contribute to things that helped him along his journey. As he says, a life without challenges is a life not worth succeeding in and we all need to acknowledge, address and overcome our hardships. Here is his MENtions story:

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My parents, throughout my childhood, always ensured that I was active. They enrolled me in several activities over the years. I learned to swim at age 3 and by age 10, I would say I had a passion for it. By 11 years old, I was an active member of the La Horquetta Community Swimming Programme. Swimming and steel pan consumed a lot of my time but I made the choice to focus more on swimming as I started to really excel in the pool. Tidal Wave Aquatics Swim Club in the then newly-built Centre of Excellence pool, saw me to my first CARIFTA Games in Barbados in 2000. From then on, I continued to qualify for national teams, competing throughout the region while in secondary school

“Once I came to that realisation, I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life”

In my teens, I participated and then became heavily involved in NIHERST’s Caribbean Youth Science Forum.  Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) have been a thing for me way before STEM was championed in the public domain. I grew up watching Bill Nye the Science Guy, Mr. Wizard and a little cartoon called Cro (I can still remember the theme song). Over time, I realised that the things I liked the most and wanted to do, were under the broad category of Engineering. Once I came to that realisation, I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life. My parents were quite supportive and always encouraged me to ask questions and to seek out not just knowledge but understanding. This did not always sit well with my teachers or my class mates as I often steered the class off topic. At the National Science Forum, I discovered there were way more “nerds” in the Caribbean than I even realised. I was happy to be considered as one of them. I eventually graduated from The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Process Engineering in 2010. At UTT, I swam in the Elite Athlete Programme and was part of its first intake of students. I ended up being the first athlete from the programme to graduate with a degree.

“After graduating, I had a number of failed attempts seeking employment in our local energy sector. “

I applied to work on every continent in the world, except for Antarctica. I returned to UTT to pursue a Master’s degree in Industrial Innovation Entrepreneurship and Management. This programme was unlike any programme I had ever been a part of. It tremendously expanded my skillset. After another set of failed attempts to become an engineer, I started working as a Project Officer and then Programme Officer at the National Institute for Higher Education Research Science & Technology (NIHERST). There, I became involved in every aspect of creativity, innovation and intellectual property through planning, coordinating and implementing various projects to complement the educational system (primary to tertiary) through non-conventional teaching methods. I also represented and contributed to initiatives throughout the Caribbean, USA and Europe.

“My favorite project is still the Science Forum”

During my tenure at NIHERST, the most impactful projects were The Prime Minister’s Awards for Scientific Ingenuity, COMDESI and The Caribbean Youth Science Forum. The Awards showed me the creative potential of Trinidad and Tobago. Unfortunately, I cannot speak of most of the inventions and ideas due to confidentiality agreements but I take pride in knowing I had a personal hand in inventors filing international patent for devices ranging from small appliances to a novel diabetes drug. My favourite project is still the Science Forum, which I was involved in for over ten years: five of which as a member of the NIHERST staff where I pushed creativity and collaborative thinking through something called the Design Challenge.

While at NIHERST, I also began to coach swimming to give back to the sport that gave me so much over the years. I am proud to say I played a role in producing persons who will become positive contributors to society. I have coached on the national team and I went a step further to become involved in the Swimming Association where I served as Public Relations Officer. While coaching, I also competed in national championships. I eventually took a break from the pool but now I am back on deck coaching as well as back in the water with the intent of representing my country yet again, this time at international masters events.

“Letting go of my goal of being an engineer was difficult to do”

Another economic downturn in the country saw me question my set of my life goals and my path to achieve what I had set out to do. I saw an opportunity and decided to make the bold move to switch careers to Air Traffic Control. For the past three years, I have been working in the Piarco Tower and am also on the executive board of the Trinidad & Tobago Air Traffic Controllers Association. Somewhere in between there, I finally turned 30 years old. Another stressful life stage for most adults. (This was when I took a step back from the pool and picked up some hobbies with creative outlets)

I look forward to what civil aviation has in store for me and I continue to seek science & technology-related projects that I can get involved in. The pandemic hindered a lot of that but I look forward to what’s in store over the next few years and will continue to strive to make an impact and contribute to things that helped me so much growing up. I also want to give others the opportunities I wish I had and could have never dreamed would be available to me.

Experiences make us who we are

Life without challenges is a life not worth succeeding in and we all need to acknowledge, address and overcome our hardships. These experiences make us who we are. At an early age, I learned about sacrifice and humility: I always joke about being a pre-adolescent boy in a speedo in front of a large crowd pressured to perform.  I wouldn’t be where I am if not for the love and support of my family, friends and the positive roles that my parents have played in my life. I have never met my heroes but a number of persons have mentored me through every stage of my life and that number increases exponentially. Are there role models for black men out there? Yes. Do we know who they are? That is the question we have to ask. Sadly, as a society our greatest flaw is that the one thing, we love to celebrate more than a hero is to see that hero fail.

No one can do it on their own, ask for and accept help

As I look back, I can safely say that I never truly understood my career path. Sometimes, we all think we have it all figured out at an early age but I think it’s unfair that we pressure children to decide what they want to be for the rest of their lives. To me, that’s too early.  For anyone searching for a career path, please understand that no one has it completely figured out. Understand your skills and use your resources to make the best possible decision and see it through. You can’t do it on your own: ask for help and accept help. Help not handouts. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he depletes the resource and destroys an entire ecosystem through greed. Be wary of lessons and the understanding that comes with it.  Educate yourself as much as possible to maximise your resources. Be informed.

Finally, don’t forget to adapt the advice given to you from previous generations.

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Joseph is a former student of St Xavier’s Primary School, Arima Central Secondary and St. George’s College. He loves Trinbagonian culture, swimming and videography.