After spending five years as a mechanical engineer at an aerospace component manufacturing firm, Sean Dempsey realised it was not his true calling. He moved to Mexico and joined The Anglo Mexican Foundation as an English teacher. “I knew I didn’t really enjoy what I did as a mechanical engineer and wasn’t passionate about it. So, I went to Mexico. I liked living abroad and teaching,” says Dempsey. But that wasn’t his true calling either. After a year in Mexico, Dempsey moved to the US and pursued a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (Water and Wastewater Management) at the University of Southern California (USC).
During his search for his true interest, Dempsey also spent time as a volunteer with Engineers Without Borders USA. “That’s when I developed an interest in water and wastewater management,” he recalls. Dempsey completed his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After receiving acceptance letters from University of Colorado and USC, Dempsey chose USC for his graduate studies. “USC admissions team was aggressive in the recruitment process and their advisors were very responsive and helpful. They even flew me down to Los Angeles to check out the college and its resources,” says Dempsey. And that’s not the only reason. Having done his undergrad in a “small college town”, as Dempsey puts it, he wanted to do his Masters in Los Angeles which is known for its job prospects, great weather and interesting places to discover.
For Dempsey, graduate studies was a completely different experience and it revealed a different side of his personality. “I was a shy student in undergrad. But I had much better interactions while at USC and got along very well. I enjoyed smaller class sizes and great professors who knew me by my name and gave me constant support,” he remembers. During his first semester at USC, he joined the Salsa club where he learnt the fundamentals of the Latin dance style. In his free time, he also practiced Jiu-jitsu -- Brazilian martial art -- at one of the renowned gyms in Los Angeles.
During his first year at USC, Dempsey worked at the USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research. “They field-tested backflow preventers. I would put together pipe assemblies of various diameters and test different companies’ backflow preventer prototypes to check that they are in accordance with the standards set by USC.”Later, he also worked with the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering’s Environmental Engineering division. He also completed a fellowship with DIGDEEP, a human rights non-profit which works to deliver clean running water to Americans.
After successfully finishing his graduate studies, Dempsey signed up to take on logistical and water and sanitation projects for Doctors Without Borders USA. Looking back at his decision to switch his line of interest, from mechanical engineering to civil engineering, Dempsey believes he took the right decision at the right time which helped him land internship opportunities and connect with people from different walks of life.
Sean is: Disciplined, Pragmatic, Genuine, Goody, Resourceful
Seans’s Favorite...
TV Show/Series: Rick and Morty
Book/Author: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
Hangout at USC: The USC Village Gym (haha!)
Prized possession: My kindle
The one change that USC brought in me: USC Engineers Without Borders, our trip to Antigua, Guatemala in August '17. We were installing a new pump, electrical, and filtration system for a school called Common Hope that works hard to end the cycle of poverty through education. Upon our arrival at Common Hope in Antigua, Guatemala, this project was a challenge. Different parts than expected, last minute design changes, constant troubleshooting and learning on the fly. To say this was stressful is a profound understatement. BUT, our team persevered. With a pipe burst Thursday night, we were down to the wire. We made corrections and tightened our seal, but had to wait till Friday morning for glue to set. With our flight out Friday afternoon, we could only hope and pray. But when the pump kicked on that morning, the system pressurized and out of their faucets flowed the cleanest water Common Hope had ever seen. We knew we had done something small, but great. One of my proudest moments.
One-liner: I try to look at my life from the following perspective when dealing with difficult decisions: When I'm 80 and look back, which decision do I want to say I made?
Social cause: Engineers Without Borders, DIGDEEP, Doctors Without Borders
LA outing: Hiking at any of the greak hiking locations in the area
Sport/Activity: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Stressbuster: Working out, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
