Get involved, get inspired

QWhat communities have you built in your time at Grainger Engineering?

One of the most meaningful communities I've been a part of is the InSPIRE RSO. It is an RSO focused on sustainability and renewable energy (particularly solar). The RSO is currently working on an outdoors table with solar panels instead of an umbrella and a mini wind turbine. Having been in the RSO for over two years now, I've had a lot of fun and did a lot of productive work with a variety of different people from multiple different majors (although mostly engineering majors).

The RSO enters the Engineering Open house every year with a project related to sustainability. Endeavoring in these projects gave me an opportunity to use the knowledge and skills I attained from my education into actual hands on engineering work. Unlike other engineering projects I've worked, which involved a lot of research and paperwork beforehand (which is important, don't get me wrong), the InSPIRE projects are smaller and more hands on. Utilizing the skills of the students more thoroughly since the projects generally do not require the need to hire contractors.

InPSIRE has also gone to local high schools and libraries in order to display science related demos and fun games for children and teenagers. This is a fun opportunity to engage with the larger community, but it has also been a fun time to bond with other RSO members. The RSO has over all been a positive impact to my Grainger Engineering experience. Many of the meetings helped me relieve stress and have fun with engineering stuff. But it also enhanced my skills and made me more ready for the workforce.

QWhat places on campus mean a lot to you?

A campus space that I've had a lot of memories in is the ECEB 2nd floor open lab. Its a place for any Grainger Engineer (who apply for access) can use in order to finish any project related endeavors. Including personal projects and RSO projects (but not homework or class work). I had a lot of fun working with other RSOs in this lab space. I've also increased much of my electrical engineering work skills (soldering, wiring, creating circuits, testing breakers etc.) in this lab thanks to all their available tools.

QWhat advice do you have for new students?

For new students, I guess my advice is to find a good balance between classes, RSOs, part-time job etc. And while doing so, consider the value of all those endeavors relative to each other. Some students I've met, take a large amount of classwork that can affect their work with other matters or not consider the effect of other endeavors in their classwork. Also, the value of other endeavors can also help in one's professional career much more than additional credit hours or extra GPA.

I heard that, one lead in another RSO I'm in, the Illini Solar Decathlon, did such extraordinary work with structural calculations, while talking with one of our corp sponsors, he was hired one the spot !!(well, not literally, but you get the point).