Can you give a short introduction?
My name is Armita, and I’m an EngSci 2T4 + PEY in the Energy Systems major. That means I just finished my third year and I am now on my PEY. I went to high school in Vaughan, Ontario, which is an hour outside of Toronto. Some of my hobbies include reading, painting, and (occasionally) figure skating.
Why did you choose U of T EngSci?
I chose EngSci because I was unsure what engineering major I wanted to pursue when I was applying for university programs. EngSci offered an opportunity to learn about majors that I found interesting before committing to one.
How did you find your transition from high school to university? Do you have any tips for incoming high school students?
The transition from high school to university was very different for me than what it will probably look like for you because I had my first year online. For me, the main difference I found was in the workload. I wasn’t used to a six-course workload each semester and learning how to balance the work for each class alongside leaving time for extracurriculars and friends was difficult for me. What mainly helped me in my transition was time management and prioritization of important tasks. At the beginning of school, I tried to do every single practice question and read all the textbooks alongside going to class, which wasn’t feasible for me. I slowly realized that actually taking time to understand the material and listening in lectures worked just as effectively as doing all the extra work I was doing before. It’s important to use first year as a time to understand how you learn best rather than focusing on just your grades. Learning how you learn will become a pivotal skill throughout university and in your future career.
My next tip would be to not struggle alone. If you need help with a subject or a topic ask the people around you, whether it’s friends, TAs, or a professor. You are not alone and you don’t need to struggle alone. There are many people around to help you out whenever you need it!
What extracurricular activities are you part of? How do you balance academics, extracurriculars, and social life/hobbies?
This year I am the co-president of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and the co-chair for Skule Patrol during F!rosh week! In the past, I’ve been a part of the conference team for Model UN, UTMIST (University of Toronto Machine Intelligence Student Team), and EngSoc Directorships. During the school year, I usually work a part-time job at the Athletic Centre as well. The way I balance extracurriculars, academics, and my social life is by creating doable schedules for myself. I often plan out my week in advance and make sure to prioritize leaving some time for friends and myself.
What is one piece of advice you would tell your first-year self?
One piece of advice I would tell my first-year self is to not compare myself to other students around me. The transition to university looks different for everyone and comparison only adds unnecessary stress. In addition, everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, so instead of focusing on my weakness, I should’ve been proud of my personal strengths. University provides an opportunity for you to better understand yourself, which is difficult to do if you are constantly comparing yourself to the people around you. Having this advice would’ve helped first-year me focus on myself rather than those around me.
You are part of U of T Hatchery as a co-founder and developer for Horizon. Can you talk a little bit about how this started, your experience with start-up culture, and what U of T Hatchery does?
Hatchery is an incubation program offered at U of T that provides you with a space and resources to develop your start-up idea. To join, you have to fill out an application and participate in some interviews either with a team or alone (if you have just an idea and are looking for a team). Throughout the summer, Hatchery provides opportunities to talk to investors and business professionals to build a business model while you are working on your start-up. In the end, your team presents your pitch, and a select number of start-ups are chosen to be funded during the year. I participated in the program after my second year with other EngScis to work on an idea that I found interesting. I was also looking for an opportunity to develop my coding skills, which the start-up provided for me. Personally, Hatchery provided a unique experience for me to learn about how start-ups are formed and the early stages of their development. If you have an idea during your time at U of T and want to work on developing it, Hatchery would be a great place to start with it!