Hi, I'm Yafiah!
I'm in my Third Year of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechatronic. I caught up with the Women in Engineering team to chat all things engineering and offer my advice to new engineering students.
What or who inspired you to choose engineering?
Living in multiple countries as a child, I got to learn about and experience many cultures and environments that was only possible due to my father’s occupation as an engineer. My love for Maths, Physics and problem solving also piqued my interest in engineering, but what really confirmed my decision was when I got to visit my dad’s office for take-your-child-to-work day where I got to witness engineers of all disciplines and backgrounds coming together to solve complex problems. Here, I got to experience, first-hand, the importance of diversity of thought.
Why did you choose the discipline you are studying?
Starting my degree under the flexible first year pathway allowed me to explore the different disciplines of engineering and what each specialisation entailed. Discussing with older engineering students about their pathways and why they chose their specialisations really helped me choose mechatronics as my chosen discipline.
Throughout my first year, I found that I really enjoyed electrical and mechanical courses, like ENGG1300 and ENGG1700, as well as the introductory programming course, ENGG1001. Doing mechatronic engineering, in my case, seemed to be the obvious choice. I am currently enrolled in second year electrical and mechanical courses and really enjoying my discipline!
What is one thing about university or engineering that you wished you knew earlier?
I wish I knew of the support that would be provided for me throughout this journey. Choosing your degree and starting this journey after high school can be a daunting experience, but once university started and I had access to the First Year Engineering Learning Centre (FYELC) where there were academic adivsors and tutors eager to help, I felt comfortable reaching out with my concerns and felt very supported throughout my first year at university.
What made you pick engineering at the University of Queensland over other universities?
Whilst living in Qatar pre-covid, my physics teacher started our class introducing the longest running laboratory experiment, the pitch drop, that UQ’s first Professor of Physics began. Since then, my interest in UQ and its outstanding facilities grew. With UQ being ranked #1 in the state for engineering and offering the flexible first year option, I was immediately drawn to UQ. The flexiblity I had in my first year with experiencing courses from software, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and civil backgrounds allowed me to explore every option before confidently settling on my Mechatronic Engineering specialisation this year.
Give us your best tip for first-year engineering students?
Talk to the person next to you in your lectures – I promise, they’re probably just as nervous as you are!
The most important thing is to get involved; whether it’s through volunteering, attending EUS events, joining clubs and societies, or studying at the FYELC, the university experience is highly enjoyable once you get comfortable and seize opportunities.
Tell us your favourite example of amazing engineering?
FitBit! Every aspect of FitBit wristbands amaze me. The way in which different features, like steps taken, heartbeat, sleep tracking and calories burned, all have unique and intricate systems and algorithms is my favourite example of complex problem solving. For example, FitBit trackers have optical sensors that can detect the pulse of the user’s blood to their wrist. Whilst the user wears the tracker, their heart rhythm is recorded and monitored for any irregularities between each beat, charting the data and alerting the user if there were any irregularities.
What's your dream engineering job when you graduate?
I don’t think I would be able to get this job right after graduating, but I hope to build upon my skills and experience so that I can work for Notion someday! As an avid user of the application, it has truly organised my life as a student. The software developments that Notion is making is astonishing, especially with their very own AI tool, Notion AI, being released recently!
What do you hope to achieve as a WE student leader?
I hope to be a show other students that may have doubts on choosing engineering as their degree that anyone can be an engineer. I look forward to supporting current and prospective students academically but also by providing them with advice and tips just like the 2022 student leaders did for me during my first coffee catch up with the WE team! Through being a WE leader, I hope to strive in diversifying future engineering cohorts to ensure there is a diversity of thought that can only be brought forward with a diversity of people.
