Matthew Nguyen, sophomore in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University, recently joined the Zachry Leadership Program (ZLP) in the College of Engineering. He has already made connections with people he likely would not have met without the program.
"We're all engineers trying to be better people, but that doesn't mean our personalities are the same," Nguyen said. "We're drastically different, each and every one of us. I've met people in the College of Engineering that are outstanding human beings, but because we're so different, I don't think I would have met them if it weren't for ZLP."
Nguyen heard about the ZLP from a friend who was already involved in the five-semester program and it sparked his interest. The program's purpose is to help engineering students gain leadership, communication, teamwork and critical-thinking skills. Nguyen said he set a goal to learn from his fellow cohort members and guest speakers.
"I also promised to be someone who would ask the tough questions," he said. "I'm not one to be complacent, so I always ask personal questions on how can I grow. I promised myself and the rest of the cohort that I would do the same with them."
Nguyen started at Texas A&M in microbiology but decided to transfer to mechanical engineering before his sophomore year. His long-term goal is to become a doctor — specifically orthopedic surgery — and he saw the opportunities engineering provides on allowing students to think differently about problem-solving.
"You have to be very methodical about approaching a problem, and it's a very systematic solution," he said. "I realized I wanted to incorporate that problem-solving into my patient care."
He said he chose mechanical engineering because he wanted to diversify his education and pursue other interests outside of the biological environment to focus on mechanical systems.
"I know that you can definitely draw parallels between mechanical systems and the body systems," Nguyen said. "Fluid dynamics is very much a system in the body with blood flow and whatnot. Being able to draw those parallels in the future is going to be really vital to my understanding as a doctor and as an engineer-doctor."
Along with his academics and ZLP, Nguyen also works as an EMT, administering COVID tests to members of the athletic department. He earned his certification over the summer. He also is involved in The Big Event, the Sophomores Leading in Developing and Educating organization and the MSC Abbott Family Leadership Conference.
One piece of advice he had for freshmen interested in ZLP is not to be intimidated by the application. Nguyen said current cohorts don't share too much about the program's day-to-day activities because that ruins the surprise for incoming students.
"It's frustrating but valuable, we're trying not to spoil it for others," Nguyen said. "The application may seem intimidating. It's a lot of work, but it's so rewarding, and I'm only just beginning. I'm super excited for what's to come."