Bingxuan Yang
- What are you interested in? Machine Learning, Biology (Neurotechnology, Drug Discovery)
- Fun facts, hobbies, or interests outside of school: Athletics (gymnastics), piano, arts & crafts
Why did you choose EngSci?
I chose EngSci for two reasons: the majors and the community. EngSci offers a lot of unique specializations, such as Machine Intelligence or Biomedical Systems Engineering, and early on I wanted to specialize in Machine Intelligence. I also wanted to experience the EngSci community: meeting people who were curious, intelligent, humble, and just fun to hang out with in general. In this environment, I could push myself to become a better person.
What has been the most rewarding experience in EngSci?
It is definitely the friends I have made here! I have grown so much because the people around me all possess different traits that I continue to learn from. I have also gotten to know a lot of upper years, and I am grateful for the amount of mentorship I have received from them. Honestly, I did not expect myself to socially mature so much over the past year, and I would definitely give credit to these incredible people around me.
How do you have fun while managing an intense course load?
This is an interesting question, because I would say most of the time, under an intense course load, I would be thinking about how to take care of myself / relax. The fun things I chose to do were more for relaxation: eating out with friends, playing card games / board games, watching movies, nature walks, etc.
What are your tips for doing well in your classes?
Knowing how to study is really important. There will not be many conceptual questions on exams, so it really comes down to how much practice you do. Time management is also something to keep in mind because often there will be many overlapping projects / deadlines that need to be completed. Knowing how to motivate yourself and breaking down notions of perfectionism are things that I learned from year 1 winter semester.
What do you wish you had known before starting EngSci?
I think it would be how to smartly use my time to get better results. Often, I would think: the more time I spend on something, the better results I would get. However, in EngSci, you often have to be selective of how you spend your time. Sometimes, saying ‘good enough’ is the more humbling option.
What would you like to say to incoming EngSci students?
Honestly, you don’t have to worry. Getting in means that you are capable of doing well in EngSci. It is normal to feel challenged here, and often times I leverage this fact to help me grow. If I didn’t feel challenged (in the things I did, ways I studied and managed my time, in my search for meaning and purpose of studying what I studied), then I wouldn’t have grown so much this past year.