This is an interview with Jesus Arteaga, a second-semester freshman in Chemical Engineering, recorded and edited by Sophie Gettelman.
Introduce yourself!
I’m Jesus Arteaga, from the San Fernando valley just north of USC, I LOVE to cook and enjoy going on runs.
What is your definition of what a chemical engineer is?
Chemical engineering is scaling reactions to an industrial level and optimizing their outputs, whether that is for pharmaceuticals, fertilizer, or crude oil processing.
What led you to choose chemical engineering at USC?
I chose chemical engineering because I love chemistry and my AP chemistry teacher told me that an engineering background will get me farther in life even if I seek a chemistry graduate education. As for why at USC, growing up near UCLA and USC, these two schools were always pushed as “the goal”. This incentivized me to apply and then the chairman of Viterbi called me personally while I was on vacation in Mexico congratulating me and offering her time for any questions. That gesture was my first introduction to Trojan culture.
How was the first semester? Was anything surprising or different from what you expected?
My first semester was an adjustment, going from being late every day my senior year of highschool to having to wake up at 5am for NROTC was a major lifestyle change. Adjusting was my biggest challenge but I figured myself out.
Having completed a semester as a chemical engineer, has your description of what a chemical engineer is changed?
Not much has changed. It’s pretty much just reinforced why I chose this major.
Other than class, what do you like to do at USC?
As I mentioned earlier, I am in NROTC, which takes up a fairly sizable chunk of time. Along with that I started rock climbing, and I consistently go on runs. I also LOVE to cook. I chose parkside apartments for the sole purpose of a kitchen. I cook three meals a day and have it as a personal resolution to avoid the dining hall with the exception of social reasons. My favorite thing to do is a small hangout where I cook with friends
Any advice for prospective chemical engineers?
For prospective chemical engineers, my advice is to do it. Ignore all the difficulty rankings and understand that hardest engineering is the one you don’t like. If you’re considering it to the point that you’re reading the life story of a freshman, you’re clearly interested enough.
