Laila - Mechatronics and Robotics
I'm Laila, a first-year Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering student. During my first year, I've been shaped and changed to be more prepared for the working world – but not through lectures and seminars. It was through group work and projects that really transformed me.
The robot projects we've tackled have honed my teamwork and problem-solving skills, teaching me to take in everyone's perspectives and find the most effective solutions. Working on code in the middle of the night during busy exam season has definitely taught me patience and resilience under real pressure.
Global Engineering week became my leadership breakthrough. We were placed in multidisciplinary teams of engineers, and this challenge taught me when it's necessary to take initiative and lead. But what makes a great leader is learning to listen to groupmates' different perspectives on tackling problems and creating bigger ideas that incorporate everyone's input. We had to present our final concepts to a board of students and staff, which elevated my presentation skills and taught me that any feedback is precious – even if I couldn't apply it immediately, I could use it in future projects and interviews.
Building on that foundation, I decided to push myself further by joining Eco Motorsport as a co-curricular activity. This has shaped me in ways unimaginable. It challenged me to learn Fusion360 software from scratch in just one week and taught me to work under tight deadlines. Most importantly, it showed me that every mistake is a learning point and how to take setbacks positively rather than negatively. This year, I've learned so much from my peers and hope they've learned from me too. The Diamond and these experiences haven't just taught me engineering – they've given me the confidence to tackle any challenge.