Baye Ousseynou Lo,

February 01, 2026

Professor Lobell

Majoring in Chemical Engineering

City College of New York

From my ten years working in chemical engineering, I feel like AI can really help

me to work smarter, but not harder. In the plan, there’s always a lot of data, like

temperature, pressure, and sometimes it’s hard to catch small problems early. It’s also

easy to make mistakes during the process. But, with the presence of AI, those mistakes

can be avoided easily because AI can watch all of this data at the same time and warn

me beforehand. It can also help improve efficiency, like reducing energy use, and

increasing production without guessing too much. Instead of reacting to problems, I can

prevent them, which makes my job more safer and controlled.

I also see AI as a potential partner to count on because its presence helps me

work faster and confidently. It also helps me with maintenance, and daily work energy.

Even though it makes mistakes sometimes, I can fix them before it stops the process. It

also can help me analyze results faster, write reports. From my experience AI cannot

replace humans in the fields but it can help by improving our competence.

Baye Ousseynou Lo,

February 01, 2026

Professor Lobell

Majoring in Chemical Engineering

City College of New York

When I was writing my technical description about smartphones, I learned that explaining something is not as easy as I first thought. At the beginning, I just knew that a smartphone is a small device people use everyday to talk, text, and do many things. But when I had to describe it in a technical way, I realized I needed to go deeper and explain how it actually works. This project helped me understand the difference between talking about something and really breaking it down step by step.                                  

One thing I learned is how important it’s to organize my writing. In my essay, I talked about the main parts of a smartphone like the screen, battery, processor, and memory. I explained that the processor is like the brain of the phone. Before this project, I would probably just say “the phone works fast,” but now I know I have to explain why it works fast. I also learned how hardware and software work together. Hardware is the physical parts you can touch, and software is what tells the phone what to do. If one is missing, the phone would not work properly. That made me see smartphones in a different way.

Another thing this project helped me with is explaining technology in simple words. Smartphones may look small, but they are very powerful. They use Wi-Fi, cellular networks, and Bluetooth to send messages and connect people around the world. Writing about this made me think about how amazing it is that we can send a message in seconds to someone far away. I also learned that smartphones are like small computers that people carry everywhere. They help with school, work, directions, banking, and even entertainment. I also understood that technical writing is more about facts and less about opinions. I had to focus on how smartphones started, how they improved over time, and how they might change in the future. For example, I mentioned that in the future smartphones may have better artificial intelligence and longer battery life. This made my essay feel more complete.

Overall, this project helped me become a better writer. I learned how to explain things clearly, even if its a little hard. I also learned to be patient and take my time when describing something. Now I feel more confident writing about technology and other topics too. Even though I made some small mistakes, I still improved alot from doing this assignment.

Baye Ousseynou Lo,

February 09,  2026

Majoring in Chemical Engineering

City College of New York

Letter of Introduction Reflection

When I wrote my letter of introduction, I learned how to talk about myself in a clear way. I have to choose the most important facts about my life, like where I’m from, my majors, and  my goals. This helped me see what really matters to me and what I want other people to know about me first. 

I also know it’s not easy to sound professional and still sound like myself. had to think about my grammar, my word choices, and the way my ideas were organized. While I was editing the letter, I saw some of my common mistakes and tried to fix them. This made me understand my own writing better and showed me where I need more practice.

Another thing I learned is that a letter like this is not only about the past, but also about the future. When I wrote about chemical engineering and wanting to work on medicine and clean energy, I had to imagine the kind of person I want to become. This made my goals feel more real and pushed me to stay focused in school.

Overall, writing the letter of introduction helped me grow as a writer and as a student. I know myself a little more now, and I feel more ready to explain who I am and what I want to do to teachers, classmates, and future employers.

Baye Ousseynou Lo,

February 01, 2026

Majoring in Chemical Engineering

City College of New York

Dear Hiring Manager,

My name is Baye Ousseynou Lo, and I’m writing this letter to tell you about myself and my goals. I also want to say that I’m very interested in working with your company in the future. I’m a first year student who is learning a lot right now, and I hope you can see my effort and motivation. Even if I do not have a lot of experience yet, I’m ready to work hard and keep learning every day.

I’m a black African American student. I was born and raised in Senegal, West Africa. I lived there most of my life, and it is a big part of who I am. A few years ago, I moved to the United States. Moving to a new country was not easy for me. I had to get used to a new language, a new school system, and a new culture. But this experience made me stronger. It taught me how to adapt to change, how to be patient, and how to keep going even when things are difficult.

Growing up in Senegal showed me many problems in the world, like lack of clean water, pollution, in some places, and limited access to good medical care. When I see these problems, I feel like I want to do something to help. This is one big reason why I like science so much. I started to think that science and engineering can make a real difference for people. I want to be one of the people who use science to make life better for others. 

Right now, I live in the United States and study at The City College of New York. I am majoring in chemical engineering. I chose chemical engineering because I like math, chemistry, and physics, and I want to know how things work on a deeper level. I am especially interested in how we can change raw materials into useful products, how we can create cleaner energy, and how we can protect the environment. Even if I’m only in my first year, I already feel like I made the right choice for my major.

As a first‑year student, I am still taking many basic classes, but they are helping me build a strong foundation. In my math classes, I am learning how to solve problems step by step. In my chemistry and physics classes, I am learning important ideas that I will use later in more advanced engineering courses. Sometimes the work is hard, but I try not to give up. I go to class, do my homework, ask questions, and try to understand the material, not just memorize it. 

Because it is my first year in college, I do not have a lot of professional experience yet, but I am starting to develop skills that will help me as a future chemical engineer. In group projects, I work with other students to solve problems, and this helps me learn teamwork. When we do lab work or practice problems, I learn how to follow instructions carefully and how to pay attention to details. I also use basic computer tools to do calculations, write reports, and make simple graphs. These are small steps, but I know they matter.

I believe I have some personal strengths that can help me succeed in your company one day. I am a hard worker, and I do not like to quit when things are hard. I am also curious, so I like to ask questions and learn new things. Living in Senegal and in the United States gave me experience with different cultures, so I can work well with many kinds of people. I respect others, and I listen to their ideas, because I know that good ideas can come from anyone. 

In the future, my first goal is to graduate from college with my degree in chemical engineering. I want to finish my studies with strong knowledge and real skills. After I graduate, I hope to work in a company like yours, where I can grow as an engineer and as a person. I would like to work on projects that help produce medicine, improve health, or protect the environment, because those areas connect strongly to my background and my values. In the long term, I also want to use what I learn to help both my community in the United States and people back in Senegal, maybe by working on better water systems, cleaner energy, or safer products.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my letter and learn about me. I appreciate the chance to introduce myself and share my goals. I hope that in the future I can have an opportunity to work with your company, learn from your team, and contribute to important projects, especially ones that help make medicine and improve people’s lives. Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information or if there are any opportunities for a student like me.

Sincerely,  

Baye Ousseynou Lo