Last week, the Fusion cohort, including me, went on a 6 day trip to the University of Victoria. This was our chance to check out the campus, see the labs, meet engineering students and professors, and most excitingly, present our own projects at two separate events: a pizza night with engineering students at the university and a family friendly science fair hosted by the university.
The highlight of my trip was a boat building activity. With limited materials provided and even less time given, we had to build a boat who’s goal was to sail in the ocean along a rope to the end of a line, and then be reeled back in. However, after I launched my boat into the ocean, it broke free from the string and charged into the waves. Our student leader Sam didn’t hesitate. He jumped into the ocean fully clothed and, after an epic struggle, tugged the rogue boat back to shore. It was hilarious and thrilling and definitely the most memorable moment of the week. Best part is, the boat still worked fine after it got back to shore, despite technically having become a submarine!
While the boat fiasco was the most fun, my biggest takeaway was more personal. Before this trip, I was unsure about type of engineering specifically I wanted to study in university. But getting to talk to real engineering students across different field and see their work firsthand helped me finally decide on mechanical or aerospace engineering.
One moment that really helped me with this decision was an exclusive tour of the Rocketry Club. During a normal washroom break, a few of us took a detour and managed to receive a special tour of the club from one of the club’s leaders. Hearing about their projects, the roles of different engineers, and the club’s accomplishments over the years was awesome. Plus, as someone who’s always been into aerospace, getting to ask all my questions was a great learning opportunity.
Overall the trip was great. Not just because of the activities, but because I finally have a clearer vision for my future. Between networking with students, checking out labs, and even chasing down rogue boats, it was an amazing experience.
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