Last summer I was already starting to have doubts about whether or not I should pursue engineering. I had been on the “Girl in Stem” track for so long that it had become a part of my identity. Gearing Up was an opportunity for me to explore UBC, Vancouver, and engineering to see if it would be a good fit for me. I had a wonderful time. I got to live in the dorms and tour around Vancouver. The engineering camp was fun and challenging, but that wasn’t what left the biggest impression on me. I was blown away by UBC campus life in Vancouver. This September, when I had a tiny (giant) career crisis and started to consider non-engineering options, I kept coming back to this camp. I loved UBC campus. I wanted to live in Vancouver so badly. For some reason it took me a long time to separate pursuing engineering from my UBC experience. Don’t get me wrong. STEAM will always be a part of how I think and create. I know I will always bring a technical perspective to whatever I do. One day- I will need hydraulics. The science of bridge building will come up for a set design. I truly believe that the physics of a roller coaster will come up in a genuine conversation and I will know just enough to ask the right questions to avoid catastrophe. Okay- I don’t know exactly when I’ll have these conversations, but I know without a doubt they will happen.
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