Why did you choose to study at UQ?
In 2018 I attended the UQ Open Day to look at Engineering options, not knowing which tertiary institution I wanted to study Engineering. After talking to two of the Engineering Ambassadors that day – I walked away convinced that studying mechanical and aerospace Engineering at UQ was for me. I feel UQ will be able to provide me with the best job opportunities after graduating, especially considering the strong ties with Boeing and other Engineering companies related to mechanical/aerospace Engineering.
When I was beginning university I knew that Engineering would be a competitive field to find a job in so my initial thought was to go to a reputable university that provided me with as many opportunities to expand my network and connections. Through the various clubs and societies associated with UQ, this is a relatively easy thing to do, although with the unorthodox first year I had in 2020, these opportunities have not presented themselves yet.
My Mother is a UQ graduate and I was eager to look at studying away from my hometown at a world class university and expand my social and educational networks. UQ has allowed me to meet and connect with people from different cultures and towns. After reading about the different courses that I would need to complete as part of my degree I felt like my experience at UQ would not only be educational, but also enjoyable. Although I have only completed a single year of my degree so far, I have found this prediction to be true, and I look forward to the future.
Why did you choose to study your discipline?
Even though it may be somewhat cliché, I have wanted to do something along the lines of aerospace engineering ever since I can remember. I even wrote a letter to future me in grade 8 where I told myself that my dream job was to be an aviation engineer. As my years of schooling progressed, my passion for engineering, figuring out how things around me worked and how to build things only strengthened. In particular I have a love for aircraft, and I have even designed and built my own 2m balsa wood RC glider. However, I also have a strong interest in cars, trucks, engines, etc. which may not be covered extensively in the aerospace part of my degree but would definitely be under the umbrella of mechanical engineering. As many great people have told me throughout the years, “If you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life.” So, choosing mechanical and aerospace as my engineering majors was my obvious choice.
What advice do you have for prospective students interested in studying engineering, architecture, computer science and/or information technology at UQ?
For a younger student who has not yet started senior schooling I would strongly advise them to study design/graphics in senior. And for those who have already started and chose not to study a subject similar to design/graphics I would suggest becoming familiar with popular CAD programs such as inventor or fusion 360, both of which are available for free for most high school students. This knowledge has helped me more times throughout the past year than I thought possible. Even though it can be learnt after high school, the principles/rules for design do not come naturally for a lot of people and getting a head start in this can relieve a lot of pressure in first year. I would also encourage all people to immerse themselves in the mechanics of many different objects that surround us in day to day life, challenging them to understand how many of these objects function. If high school students get excited about understanding how an internal combustion engine works, they are already well and truly thinking like an engineer.
