On January 18, 2013, a group of first year engineering students travelled with EngSoc representatives to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay for the First Year’s Integration Conference organized by Essco. Expecting a formal and very structured environment, we were surprised to begin interacting with other first years from across the province within our first few hours at the hotel. From trading patches to complaining about tough courses and work load, the first few hours served as a sneak peak to the fantastic relationships that could be developed over the next few days with people who were all, just like us, interested in impacting the world on a large scale.
Daytime events included guest speakers and team building activities which were both mentally and physically engaging. We learned more about the PEO and how to obtain your P.Eng. We heard a political figure speak of the impact that an engineer’s problem solving perspective can have in the political community. We must not limit ourselves to the technical fields that we study in University because what we are taught is more than how to take apart an engine, or program an operating system, but rather how to tackle a completely new and complex problem. It was inspirational and eye opening to hear these perspectives. This coupled with hearing about other schools’ Engineering Societies made us feel encouraged to be involved with our Engineering Society over the next few years, striving to make Waterloo Engineering an even better environment than it is.
The weekend was about acceptance and realizing the value in diversity. We were brought together with people from all over Ontario; people with very different perspectives and values, people in all sorts of engineering disciplines. However, these differences didn’t matter when we were trying to bear the cold while tubing down a hill, trying to strike down all the bowling pins with one hit, or running through the unknown campus of Lakehead trying to complete a scavenger hunt. This was the time for collaboration and team spirit, which we are proud to say Waterloo displayed to the highest extent.
It only took those three days to expand our ever growing group of friends in our field, and best of all they were from all over the province, not only from our own school. Throughout the weekend we mingled with students from other universities, making friends and exchanging contact information. This was more than than just a solid networking opportunity though. FYIC became the spark that ignited a desire in the many students that attended to become more involved in the vast engineering community we had discovered. It is also this same fire we plan to bring to not only our own engineering class at Waterloo, but those there now and those to come. We will work together and with others to bring all we can to the Waterloo Engineering Society and the students.
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