Hi, I’m Linh!
I'm in my third year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Software Engineering. I joined the Women in Engineering Student Leaders to give advice about software engineering and support future students.
What or who inspired you to choose engineering?
I initially chose to pursue engineering because I enjoyed STEM subjects in high school, and I found that problem solving works well with my ADHD brain!
Why did you choose the discipline you are studying?
My passion for Software Engineering was ignited from a first year coding course (shoutout CSSE1001). I did not know how to code before I took that course. It taught me the basics and built my programming skills from the ground up. I found it so rewarding and engaging that I would sometimes work on the assignments as a ‘break’ from the work in my other courses. When I thought about a discipline that I would be interested in partaking as a long-term career, software engineering seemed to be the greatest fit.
What is one thing about university or engineering that you wished you knew earlier?
One thing that I wish I learnt earlier is that time is very valuable, and how you choose to spend it makes the greatest difference. One thing about university is that the time you choose to spend in class, studying, and/or doing your assignments is really what determines your grade. Use the early few weeks of the semester to be ahead or keep up to date with class content. Assignments might get released unexpectedly or things might come up that reduce the time you thought you had to study, so you need to set yourself up for success early. If you fall behind on content for too long, then it will pile up, cause stress, and negatively affect your performance.
What made you pick engineering at the University of Queensland over other universities?
I chose engineering at UQ because of the flexible first year option and because it is the top-ranked university in Queensland.
Give us your best tip for first-year engineering students?
Join clubs, come to events and make friends! It is so difficult to do this degree alone, so it is very valuable to have people that you can lean on and relate to. Someone you meet in your first year might be your buddy in a course you take in your second year. Expand your network!
Tell us your favourite example of amazing engineering?
The role of computing in the Apollo space mission. Back in the 1960s, programming involved writing code on paper and punching holes in cards which was incredibly painstaking and difficult compared to modern day programming. Despite the challenges, the engineering team still successfully landed humans on the moon! Which is no small feat. There is a photo of software engineer Margaret Hamilton standing next to a stack of written code for the Apollo Guidance Computer taken in 1969, and it is still marvelling each time the story is retold.
What's your dream engineering job when you graduate?
I would love to work as a software developer or a user-experience (UX) designer.
What do you hope to achieve as a WE student leader?
I hope to aspire and validate to young girls that this profession can be for you! I grew up in small town in regional NSW called Lismore so I would love to be able to travel to smaller areas just like mine to represent what women in engineering at UQ can achieve.
