Two Years Later
Entering my first year of university, I never would have imagined I’d end up where I am today.
Two years later, here I am.
December 2015, as I was just finishing up my 1A term at the University of Waterloo, my older brother studying Mechatronics Engineering brought forward an opportunity to me. He told me all about this student design team he joined which was competing in a new competition hosted by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
I joined Waterloop in January 2016 (as the first girl on the team!) to start and grow the team’s social media platforms. Of course I had an interest in social media and marketing, but what the heck did I know???
It started with a Facebook page, followed by an Instagram page, then a Twitter page. From 10 likes to over 4000 likes, from 10 followers to over 1000 followers. Watching our channels and outreach grow over two years has been exhilarating. Our social platforms have been able to reach hundreds of thousands of people across the world. The support and love we receive from all these people who believe in us and our mission is incredible.
Down the Road
My original desired career path was in the sports marketing industry. I knew I enjoyed sports...and marketing…I thought I had it planned out.
After experiencing a taste of the tech world, I decided to indulge in it a little more. In the fall, I worked for one of Toronto’s fastest growing tech companies, TribalScale. There I found a great interest in the world of innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging tech.
Because of Waterloop, my desired career path has shifted in a completely different direction.
Why Waterloop?
When someone asks me what my favourite thing about this team, I’m always truly at a loss for words.
- I’ve been able to meet and work with brilliant and inspiring students.
- I’ve been able to watch this team grow from 15 to 150 members.
- I’ve been able to watch this team conquer many challenges and overcome various obstacles.
- I’ve been able to travel to California and meet other student teams that share the same passion.
- Lastly, I’ve been able to grow as a person and build a strong foundation for my future career.
Overall, I’ve had the most incredible experience because I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something new.
To conclude,
You never know what you will find a love for if you don’t try it. Joining an engineering team with zero technical background has opened me up to many opportunities and experiences I am so thankful for.
Shoutout to my amazing team for keeping this experience worthwhile❤️
