Maximizing friendships and opportunities

I am excited to graduate from the University of British Columbia and continue growing as a leader, a friend, and a mentor. Looking forward, I will be stepping into the world of transportation engineering. My time at UBC has consisted of more time outside the classroom than inside. I have fond memories of several ASCE conferences at which I met aspiring civil engineers and celebrated victories with the UBC Concrete Canoe team. I am grateful for the community I had as a participant and a leader with CCO - through my involvement I learned the importance of caring for individuals. Through a combination of my courses and my extracurriculars, I learned to maximize my time and hopefully my talents. 

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

I chose the field of Civil Engineering, honestly, through the process of elimination. At the end of my first year of general engineering studies, I had completed courses focused on the basics of the applied sciences along with over 800 peers. I was rejected by every design team I had applied to, resulting in no technical or hands-on experience whatsoever in the field of engineering. However, I did have a sense of self-awareness and knew that growing up, I was excited by the creation and application of tangible ideas. My interest in the outdoors and marine biology also naturally led me to decide upon a discipline that involved sustainability and environmental sciences. I narrowed my options down to the following - Civil, Geological, and Mining. I decided that any program that I would be accepted into, I would embrace with open arms and make the most of it. 

What has made your time at UBC memorable?

With respect to my involvement with the Civil Engineering program, the UBC Concrete Canoe Team undoubtedly impacted the course of my degree - in the best way possible. In the last months of my first year, prior to being accepted to the Civil Engineering program, I attended a friend’s birthday dinner and met one of the coordinators on the Concrete Canoe Team. She was extremely enthusiastic, friendly, and passionate about the team and its goals, convincing me to join the following term. I met many inspiring individuals during my involvement as a lab tester, mix design member, and paddler for the team. Notably, we were blessed with a wonderful group of leads during the 2018-2019 school year, acting as mentors to many of us. I attended a very memorable Pacific Northwest ASCE Student Conference in Washington at the end of my second year, competing as a paddler in the Concrete Canoe races. I am grateful for the ongoing mentorship that I received from the leads that year. With their guidance, I was able to attend the ASCE Workshop for Student Chapter Leaders in 2020 and host the ASCE Student Symposium in 2022 for 13 schools in the Pacific Northwest region. 

People can impact your life in the best ways and open up opportunities you would have never imagined.

Tell us about your experience in your program. What have you learned that is most valuable?

If my experience in obtaining my Civil Engineering degree were a hike, it would be described as an exhausting one filled with many meaningful relationships cultivated along the way, with an infinite panoramic view at the summit. The most valuable lesson I learned is the importance of people and connections. Whether it be friends, acquaintances, mentors, mentees, etc., people can impact your life in the best ways and open up opportunities you would have never imagined. 

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

Take care of yourself first. Fill your cup and let it overflow to those around you. It will be difficult to stay motivated and to put your best effort into your studies, your relationships, and your extracurriculars if you are not taking care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. Prioritize your soul and everything will follow. 

Value the people around you. Human relationships in all forms have been essential for my growth and success. I am especially grateful for those who have taken the time to mentor me and also for those who have respected me enough for me to give advice to them. 

Manage your time! Time management is one of the most important skills you can have - it will allow you to be present for your work, studies, friends, family, etc., without being distracted by your other commitments.

What are some contributions you would like to make when it comes to the future of work in your field?

I would like to see the infrastructure of communities transform and shift towards a united theme of connectedness and accessibility. Through my co-op placements and transportation planning courses, I have gained an appreciation for the impact that planned modes of transportation can have on communities and human relations. I would like to contribute to the development of walkable communities, integrating basic needs with residential and recreational spaces while maintaining accessibility for all ages and abilities.

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