I am André Oliveira, Fishing Engineer graduated from UFRA and member of the first training of the PET Fishing Group, created at the end of 2010. In the beginning, we were 12 fellows and our first mission as a group was to organize the VII Scientific Initiation Day of pet groups, JICPET.

During graduation, our union and willingness to evolve as people and future professionals motivated us to always seek and overcome challenges, both inside and outside UFRA, understanding that the dynamics that would shape us as engineers exceeded the physical limits of the university. Particularly much of the professional I am today, I owe to my experience as a petiano. All the events that we organize and participate, all discussions, collections, each exchange of experiences with other groups of such different areas, were fundamental for me today to recognize myself as an ethical professional, competent and especially empathetic.

I was disconnected from PET as a scholarship holder in 2013 but, I accompanied the group to transform year by year, saying goodbye to some, welcoming others, until I noticed the total transition of the team with the change of tutor and renewal of visual identity, being the last member of the first training and the oldest member still active. At that moment, I realized it was time to say goodbye.

I am currently studying master’s degree in Aquaculture and Tropical Aquatic Resources, also at UFRA, also working as a consultant in the area of Quality Control and fish processing.

As a graduate petiano, I am happy to see the group turning 10 years old and I am very proud to be part of this story.