For a lot of students, the first year of uni can be pretty tough. The changes between high school and university require a fair bit of adjustment which can be a tad stressful.
But at the same time, the first year of uni has every ingredient to be one of the best years of your life. We spoke with Sophie, a second-year Mechanical Engineering student at UTS to chat about some of things that made her first year of uni the best year of her life so far.
What are you studying? And what drew you to choose that degree?
Currently, I’m a second-year student at UTS studying a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) and a Diploma of Professional Practice. I would describe myself to be a curious person who’s not only fascinated by technology’s potential to transform the world, especially in the design process and innovation that can lead to the development of advanced technologies that can have a meaningful impact on the lives of others.
I love going to my hands-on classes, such as the mechanical workshop and mechatronic lab, where I’m able to put theory into practical applications and work collaboratively with others in order to achieve a common goal or fulfil a project.
Since engineering has always been a male-dominated field, it wasn’t something that was actively promoted to me growing up, and often I was discouraged to pursue it because it was considered to be a “man’s job”. But if you draw a 3 set Venn diagram of my biggest interests and strengths; problem-solving, creativity, and communications, engineering is the field that can satisfy all areas and is at the centre of it all.
I am also a part of the Women in Engineering and IT (WieIT) community and have received the faculty scholarship for Women in Engineering. This scholarship aims to increase the participation of women in Engineering and IT as a non-traditional area of study. I believe that it is a worthwhile initiative that brings a community of women together, where support is offered and diversity is celebrated. Studying this course allows me to be committed to breaking down gender barriers by promoting diversity and inclusion in the field.
How has your study/life balance changed since starting University?
Unlike in high school where I was very academically focused during my HSC, I find that in university, I have a lot more free time for myself and to explore different areas of my life such as in the work and social sector.
The academic workload for university courses requires more independent study than high school courses. However, there is more freedom to learn how you like, with options to attend online and in-person classes and to pick what days you have uni. I find it liberating to manage my own schedule and dedicate time to things that I find important.
Along with changes in studies, there are also new opportunities to socialise with others via clubs, societies, and events. In my first year, I joined EWB, Engineering Society, and Get Gigged. All of these held amazing events throughout the year where you can meet like-minded people with similar interests. I find that a lot of people at UTS are very social and I have made lots of friends just by hanging at The Underground which is UTS’s social hub and playing a game of pool.
I also juggle 3 casual jobs whilst completing full-time study. This is sometimes hard to balance but it allows me to develop important time management skills and lets me be able to prioritise tasks and plan ahead. I work at New Balance over the weekends and have 2 different roles at uni, one as a student ambassador and the other is a Faculty of Engineering and IT (FIET) Sprout (Student Promotions Representative of UTS).
I love the casual hours as it gives me the flexibility to balance uni and social life. I previously had an office job working as an administrative and HR assistant and intern for a start-up. Although it gave me great experience and knowledge, it just wasn't manageable as they wanted me to work full time but I wanted to study full time.
So what does a typical week look like for you?
I usually have uni 3 times a week on campus and have online lectures on Monday mornings. This allows me to have flexibility throughout the week to balance work, home, and social life.
My main work is usually on weekends but for my uni jobs, I will usually use some of my free days or even time between my classes to hop on a shift. I find these shifts are usually fun and can range from running workshops for high school students, doing school outreach programs, data entry/office work or even filming/creating content for UTS.
I try to make time for friends and family during my free time and make plans to catch up with people when I get the chance, usually, it will be at the end of the week on Friday when I get the most time to spend with my loved ones.
Did you know many people in your course before you started studying?
Coming from an all-girls school that only had 5 girls undertaking Engineering Studies, I knew no one doing mechanical engineering at UTS and was anxious to make friends and talk to people.
So before I started at UTS, I attended the HSC workshops that ran online, this allowed me to get exposure to potential UTS students doing the same course as me. I met one of my closest uni friends in the breakout room and I was relieved that I at least knew one other person before I started.
How did you go about building relationships with your peers?
I find that many people are quick to form cliques. However, I learned that a simple hello goes a long way. When you first start, everything is new and unfamiliar, you kinda feel like you're a small fish in a vast ocean. But the truth is, everyone is in the same boat and there's a high chance they feel the same way as you.
By engaging with the people around me in class, attending various orientation events hosted by the university, and getting involved in university life. A simple hi or hello is the first step to building those relationships with people around you. Before you know it, you’ll feel like a big fish in a small pond.
It is important to not only build but to maintain relationships with others. Social media is a powerful tool that can connect you with other people and allows you to stay in touch with them. I find that adding people on Instagram, Discord or LinkedIn is an effective way to keep up to date with your peers’ lives and to celebrate their achievements.
Be friendly and approachable, and show that you are open to conversation when with your peers. Body language is a reflection of your thoughts and nonverbally communicates your attitude and mindset to the people around you at a given time. So smile and have open body language to ensure others that you are genuinely interested, and actively listen to what they are saying.
Finding a common ground is also something that is important in building relationships as it gives you more to talk about outside of your studies. This can include hobbies, interests, and likes.
How did your first year at uni shape your goals for your future and your career aspirations?
The people in my first year at uni are definitely what shaped my experience at UTS so far. The interactions I’ve had with staff and students have built my confidence to explore my passion for engineering and encouraged me to dream big.
Going into uni, I was a complete noob when it came to technical stuff. I’ve never 3D printed before and when I was down at proto space, looking lost and clueless, the staff were so friendly and were there to assist me. I learned how to save files and submit them, I learned how 3D printers work, and how to know when a printing job is complete. This grew my fascination with the manufacturing and design process.
The same thing happened when I wanted to solder some electrical components in the mechatronic labs. I never soldered before and was lost. I was sitting at the bench trying to look at how others were doing it but I was too shy to ask anyone for help. Luckily, this group that was in the cohort above me, noticed my distress and asked if I needed any assistance. I nodded and they went out of their way to help me out and teach me the correct technique. This allowed me to develop some technical skills and get some hands-on experience, and this experience gave me insight into compassion and the culture of UTS, where the people around you want to see you win.
When I was struggling with maths, UTS had optional classes called U:Pass, which is a free student-run tutoring program where you’re able to get that extra help. At first, I was a bit embarrassed to go as it meant that I was not perfect. But after I attended the first session, all that fear of failure went away. I met so many people who were in the same boat as me and I really connected with them as people. We made a group chat and from there we all assisted each other with tutorial questions outside of class. Coming from a competitive high school environment, I found this to be a breath of fresh air and this made me realise that my peers are not my competition but rather my teammates.
Towards the end of my first year, I acquired an Internship at UTS StartUps as a mechanical/mechatronics and marketing intern through my tutor from my first semester at uni. Connecting with others and building strong relationships is core to unlocking opportunities.
During my internship over the summer break, I gained experience in the creation of technical engineering documentation and worked with the assembly of electronic hardware and the software systems in place including backend cloud engineering. In this multidisciplinary environment, I also undertook administrative responsibilities as well as managing video and content creation. This experience was my first real look into the technical side of engineering and inspired me with their entrepreneurial mindset to one day open my own business or engineering consulting firm.
The best way to visualise it is that UTS is kinda like a spiderweb where the links in the network represent people, faculties, and services which are all there to support students’ journeys to success. Through my experiences, during my first year, I have better developed my values surrounding compassion, awareness of the environment, and the power of relationships, and hope that this enables me to be an effective leader who advocates for others and encourages success.
Do you have any tips for future students to help them also have the best year of their life?
Say yes to opportunities. I cannot stress this enough. Going into uni with an open mind is possibly the best thing you can do for yourself. Expand your horizons, step out of your comfort zone, and explore new interests.
So say yes to joining that society, say yes to volunteering opportunities, and say yes to attending social or academic events. To that person that you may not know that well and they ask to have lunch with you, say yes and get to know them.
Don’t be afraid to take opportunities because you never know where they will take you.
“Yes” is a powerful word that can grant you access to industry connections, lifetime friendships, and valuable experiences. It can allow you to unlock your passions and build a diverse range of skills that can be incredibly rewarding and help you grow as a person.
Saying “yes” in my first year allowed me to undertake an internship with UTS StartUps over the summer, be connected to an industry mentor who works at an engineering consulting firm, and also let me foster solid relationships and friendships with my peers.