In high school, Daniella balanced creativity and athletics. She explored everything from painting and drama to climbing and jiu-jitsu. When choosing a career path, she considered creative fields but ultimately wanted something that offered long-term stability. Architecture briefly crossed her mind, but a conversation with her dad—an airplane mechanic who once worked in the lesser-known field of non-destructive testing (NDT)—introduced Daniella to a different possibility.
Straight out of Grade 12, Daniella enrolled in the Quality Engineering Technician – Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) program at Mohawk College.
While the course topics initially felt unfamiliar, she found herself in an environment that challenged her to grow. Surrounded by older peers with trade experience and navigating a program that leaned on verbal instruction, Daniella, a visual learner, developed an enterprising mindset to find her footing.
“I’m the kind of person who, if I’m not good at something right away, I don’t want to do it,” says Daniella. “So, I really had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and being pushed out of my comfort zone.”
Claiming a space in NDT
Determined to move forward with her education, Daniella pushed herself to speak up, ask questions and stay engaged, even when it felt uncomfortable.
In a program where she was one of just three women, that meant learning to advocate for herself and take initiative to get the most out of the experience. Along the way, she’s discovered that the community, regardless of gender, can be supportive when she reaches out.
“It’s such a small group compared to the engineering classes, for example, which are a lot bigger,” she says. “I feel like you get a lot more comfortable with one another and I don't feel nervous to ask questions. Everyone’s really nice and we all kind of just mesh well as a group.”
The experience also showed Daniella that she has a chance to represent women in a specialized field. It was something her dad had hoped for her during their early talks about non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and testing (NDT). The closely related fields focus on finding flaws in materials and structures without causing damage.
“I want to show people that this is an industry for everybody,” Daniella says. “I want to bring more awareness to this program as well because it is a hidden gem filled with amazing opportunities.”
Turning industry-led learning into direction
As her confidence grew, Daniella started to notice her progress—and so did others. In Visual Testing, a class she initially found difficult, her results eventually mirrored an expanding understanding of the material.
“On one of my assignments, the teacher said, ‘This is one of the best examples of this that I’ve ever seen,’” Daniella shares. “That meant a lot to me.”
Daniella values that Mohawk College placed her exactly where she needs to be. Through the program, she’s received industry-led training on tools and processes while working in the same spaces where the Canadian Institute for Non-Destructive Evaluation (CINDE) conducts professional certification exams.
“We work in the rooms that you’re doing your big CINDE tests in,” she says. “It’s the best program and, in my opinion, Mohawk College has the most resources.”
Looking ahead, Daniella is focused on mastering her classes and understanding the full range of tests, exams and certifications she will need to launch her career. At the same time, she’s keeping her options open across industries such as aerospace, nuclear, oil and gas, automotive, power generation and construction.
All her hard work and enterprising persistence has helped her feel fully engaged in the program and ready to take on new opportunities.
“I remember starting in my Visual Testing class feeling like a fish out of water,” she says. “However, I persisted and continued to learn and try. I’ve gotten to the point where I’m more confident in my abilities as a student and that I’m meant to be in this program.”
