A random cross section of the student population here at Waterloo would be a pretty good representation of how the Canadian population is composed. What’s more revealing is taking a walk through the various hallways on campus that contains our programs’ graduation photos. It really gives us an idea of how multiculturalism in our population is becoming more prevalent. A lot of factors have contributed to the immigration boom in Canada, but what I would like to focus on is the one that made me choose to study at the University of Waterloo.
If you couldn’t tell from my first name, then you will definitely be able to tell from my last name that I am of Indian descent. My father came to Canada in the late 70’s, followed by my mother in the late 80’s. Both of them had internalized the idea that North America was the land of opportunity, however, it wasn’t opportunities for themselves that they had in mind. They were thinking about their unborn children. Opportunities for their children meant being able to obtain a high-quality education, graduate with a job that has a high starting salary, and being able to enjoy the riches of a successful life.
That’s where my decision to apply to engineering came from. In high school it was advertised to me as “it only takes five years of school to get a well paying job”. After a couple of terms, it became clear that what my parents had hoped for would come true. However, what also became evident was that there was more to engineering than just a good job. During my co-op terms and classes, it quickly became apparent that engineering is more than just a stable life: it’s how ideas become reality. It’s the driving force behind the growth of our economy. It’s ensuring that we all have access to the amenities of life. It’s a forum where problem solvers from all walks of life come together to tackle society’s problems. As students we often lose sight of what it means to be a part of a profession, and instead focus on what we can get from the profession.
This phenomenon is more than prevalent on our campus and is arguably one of the main reasons why many of us are here. However, I would just like to take a moment and ask people to really think about what it is you do in class, why you get involved around campus, what you work on during co-op? Who is affected by your work? I think you will quickly realize that it’s more than just the people you know.
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