Just trying to be the anti-Kipling

Why did you choose to go into your field of study at UBC? 

I was actually a sophomore French major at UC Berkeley and I was in an upper division French class about les banlieues de Paris and the conceived, perceived, and lived lives within them that got me thinking about the importance of the buildings we make our lives in. I had been puttering around Berkeley rather unsure of what I wanted to do, taking all the social science-y courses you’re supposed to when you get to university, when this class led me to an ah-ha moment of sorts. I realized I wanted to help design and build buildings. 

Civil engineers are at the heart of most construction projects, so the major seemed like a logical step. Berkeley no longer allows transfers to their College of Engineering from within the university, so after a couple advising appointments, I thought it would be a good idea to apply to other universities given Berkeley would likely reject my request to transfer colleges from Letters & Science to Engineering. Having spent the first 10 or so years of my life in Vancouver, I reapplied to UBC, and when Berkeley rejected my request and UBC accepted my application, I moved back home. 

It has been great to be a part of a community like UBC Engineering and at the same time reconnect with the place I grew up in. 

What advice would you give a student entering your degree program? 

Two things, very different vibes.

1. Be empathetic. A well engineered project is of no use if the community it is in and the community it is for are not well-served by said project. Without effective listening to and an understanding of the often negative and colonial impacts of engineering on various communities, there’s little hope for a ‘good result’.
2. Don’t take things so seriously! Perform when you have to, and put in the time and effort when needed, but don’t ever get lost in marks, award chasing, resume building, etc. I think the most valuable parts about university are the people you meet, and the person you grow into. Value the relationships you make in school, go on the hike, learn a new language, pick up a hobby— do things for fun!

How has your identity informed your academic and professional experiences within your field at UBC and beyond? 

I would identify as a queer, Cantonese-Tamil-Nyonya woman and a second-generation settler of colour in so-called ‘Vancouver’. I would also note that I have an immense amount of privilege presenting as a cis-Asian person. Moving through the world with my mostly visible identities obviously coloured (pun intended) my experience at UBC just as they’ve impacted and will continue to impact my daily life. My own identities made it easy to empathize and organize with other students with marginalized identities. Listening to people like and unlike me while working on projects, events, or student advocacy initiatives mimics the skills and level of care I expect I’ll need to be an effective engineer and decent human being in the future.