Perspective
Since the purpose of the Part II student blog is to help first years choose their specializations, the focus has largely been on the courses taken in their respective specializations. But I believe that only tells one side of the story. There are many aspects of the Engineering lifestyle that we overlook, and in this blog I would like to cover some things in the realm of Engineering which affected my personal experience within the last three semesters.
Logistics
It’s no secret that as the weeks of the semester go by, attendance drops significantly, and people only show up when physical presence is graded. You start wondering whether the two hour bus commute to the CBD is worth it, especially when the time spent at uni is less than the commute. Yes, lectures are available from the comfort of your own home, but perhaps there is something about being physically present and watching the content being taught in real time that changes how you digest and understand the same information, otherwise presented in the form of a video.
Notetaking
Everyone has a different learning style. I never understood people who copied notes down when the same information would be uploaded later. My wildest guess would be that writing the information down turns listening—a passive action—into an active one, which somehow activates more neuron connections. Though I wouldn’t know; I prefer to just listen and try to understand the content without the burden of documentation. It’s just about finding what works for you. Still, I can’t help but feel a sense of guilt watching my peers scribble away while I sit dead still, like the golden man you see on the streets.
Device
Do not buy Apple. Simple as that. Many programs do not work on macOS, and finding workarounds is a massive burden. You’ll be limited to lab computers, but then you deal with the hassle of saving and transmitting files via cloud or a USB stick. It is doable, but the risk of SSD failure in your laptop is much smaller than the risk of losing your USB stick or your cloud not syncing, and having your lab files vanish a day before the due date is likely not in your top 10 priorities. There’s no denying that having a MacBook is more performative, but we’ll leave that to the business majors, as practicality is directly correlated to survivability in engineering.
Mental Health
Engineering is one of the hardest academic paths, and it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There will be times of despair, and perhaps moments when you feel the weight you’re carrying is unbearable. Although not as tangible as the weights in the gym, it can still be deeply detrimental, and seeking help should be one of the very first steps you take. We have a free health and counselling service at UoA, and I’m sure that simply telling someone your current situation will help lighten the load.
Final Rambles
Three weeks into Sem 2, and I’m getting back into the zone again. I gave it everything I had in Semester I, and I’m expecting nothing less this time around. For those of you who enjoy hands on learning and applying the theory you’ve learnt, Sem 2 will be awesome. You’ll get to confirm that your lecturers weren’t lying to you the whole time—and discover why what we observe differs from what was taught. Nothing is ideal, after all!
