Welcome to Miners of Tomorrow, a look at how recipients of Hexagon Mining scholarships are faring. Ashley (DaYoung) Yoon studies Mining Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada.
Bring us up to date with your progress at UBC.
I am entering my fourth year of Mining Engineering after my current eight-month work term at New Afton Mine in British Columbia. After 28 months of work experience, I will be graduating in 2019!
How did the scholarship come about? Did you apply or were you picked?
The scholarship was awarded to me through the recommendation of Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering. My classmates and I have worked hard this past semester so I feel very grateful to have been chosen among my peers.
Do you use Hexagon Mining technology at UBC?
We are using MineSight in our underground mining course to simulate mining methods, create block models, and visualize drillholes and reserves.
What attracted you to mining as a career?
Before coming to Canada, I had no idea that mining engineering existed! By the end of my first year of engineering, I was attending open houses of all engineering disciplines to figure out what I wanted to do next. At the mining open house, I was impressed by the diverse opportunities offered by the industry, including field experience, planning, programming, environmental, finance etc. with traveling included! Overall, I was attracted by the dynamic work environment, which made it stand out from other engineering disciplines.
What are your life ambitions beyond career (family? travel?)
My life ambition is to be strong physically and mentally so that I can carry two kids, one on each arm, and take on whatever life throws at me!
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
After work, I like to use the right side of my brain and get creative. I can either sketch for hours or try out multiple roll cake recipes in one night. On a nice day, I’ll grab a coffee and take a stroll through the park.
Hexagon Mining scholarship recipient, Ashley (DaYoung) Yoon at Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta.
Do you live on campus? What’s fun to do in Vancouver?
I typically live on campus but I try to explore the city when I can. Vancouver is such a diverse city with amazing cuisines so there is always something new to try. There are tons of parks, hikes, and walks you can do throughout the year to cure your food coma.
What’s in your iPod?
A portion of my playlists are songs from the 2000s, which always includes Maroon 5.
What’s the last book you read for pleasure?
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. I am always hooked on suspenseful thrillers and mysteries; they keep me on my toes.
Your top three dinner guests, dead or alive?
The first guest would be Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Finding out what exactly happened on her last flight around the world would relieve me from the cliffhanger that I’ve been on for years. My second guest is Sandra Oh, who played the fiery character of Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy. I admire the passionate and self-driven fictional character, but also applaud the actress that had the ability to express her personality. Lastly, I would invite my mom because she inspires me every day … and she is a great cook!
Anything else to add?
I would like to thank Malcolm MacLachlan for nominating me for this scholarship and UBC Mining for exposing students to various mining programs, including MineSight. Lastly, I would like to thank Hexagon Mining for making this award possible, as any kind of financial support is a big help to international students like myself.