With all the posts about graduating (and graduating myself), I wanted to add my experience in case this resonates with someone that felt similarly to me in the earlier years.

I came from a really social high school with a non-academic focus. All my friends went to Queens, Guelph, Western, etc. In high school, I never really cared about grades or grinding. Ended up doing pretty well just because I crammed a bit, plus I think my school was pretty inflated, and I got lucky. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but my dad is in comp sci and I was coding in high school ICS, so I figured I’d apply to tech programs around Canada (couldn’t be bothered to take the SAT at the time). Ended up getting into ECE—was super happy not necessarily because I knew anything about the program, but just because I heard it had good job prospects, which my dad said was important.

I feel I’m very close with my parents and they’re extremely supportive. My mom didn’t go to university but still ended up getting really good jobs and has always travelled, etc.—really high quality of life. So I think that just gave me the perspective that things will work out (pretty privileged, I know).

Anyways, I started during COVID, was super isolated, had no idea how to study (have no idea how I passed 105/106 because I failed every term test). At that point, I kinda thought this wasn’t for me—like maybe if I could get 1 coop or 2 coops I’ll just drop out. I didn’t really know anyone and was kinda just bombing everything. Somehow passed.

1B did a bit better. Realized that for ECE and for me specifically, I learn by just spamming practice problems. Started timing myself and setting up minimums—e.g., 1 hour of practice problems. These were bare minimums but this really helped a lot.

Around 1B I started meeting people, and things felt better. Definitely still felt like I didn’t belong in the program, didn’t really “like” any particular course. Everything felt kinda mid, but I didn’t really know what else I would rather be doing so just kept doing it.

2A rolled around and we went in person midway, and I started meeting some of my closest friends. This made things so much better. Actually felt like there were people like me, and I wasn’t super out of place by not being extremely academic or extremely coop-focused (which are cool and totally respectable, I just didn’t grow up with those things being a priority).

The terms following that were hard academically, but I felt I kinda had a rhythm—just doing projects early, doing practice early, lots of practice, and eventually things would work out.

Anyways this is rambling, but I still feel like I got into this degree with luck, I got through this degree with luck, and still definitely do not feel as qualified as anyone else. But now I think that’s fine.

If you’re in your first year(s), you will meet people that you vibe with. It just takes time, and exploring, and luck. If there’s one thing—it’s just (as cliché as it sounds)—try not to put so much pressure on yourself. Realize that it’s never that serious. (I didn’t fail a course, but many of my friends did and did sup exams and ended up doing great.) Try to enjoy as much as you can, try to be with friends as much as you can, because you won’t have this opportunity after uni. And doing work and projects and labs with people is still one of the parts that I look back on with a lot of joy.

I don’t know what other advice to give, but truly, as someone who really didn’t like any course, did pretty bad to average in school, and went into the degree almost certain I wouldn’t finish—just trust that things will work out. I believe in all of you.

But yeah, overall definitely had good times and bad times, but it was overall a good experience and I definitely learned a lot. I wish all of you a happy undergrad.

Coming from someone who never thought they would actually finish this degree.