What made you decide to choose your specific major?
From doing various DIY projects with my dad, such as performing maintenance on our family's vehicles or wiring in lights and electrical sockets throughout our home, to joining robotics teams starting in middle school, I developed a deep interest in how things work and how they're put together. This culminated in me aiming to pursue Mechanical Engineering here at Purdue, with my current major, Robotics Engineering Technology (ROET), actually being my backup choice. I was eventually rejected from Mechanical Engineering but accepted in Robotics Engineering Technology. After more research into the Polytechnic Institute, I decided that its hands-on approach to engineering and the major's wide range of concepts would better suit my interests and learning style, and now I couldn't be happier with my choice.
What are a couple of your favorite things about your program of study?
Perhaps my favorite thing about Robotics Engineering Technology is that I get to experience a little bit of everything. I get to learn about mechanical, electrical, and software concepts all in one go, and I get to customize my education even further with the various concentration options offered in the program. Additionally, I love that I get to get my hands dirty working with components that can be directly applied to industry.
What has been one of your favorite class projects?
One of my favorite projects (actually a few) have come from the lab for a class called Materials and Processes I (MET 143). Over the course of a few weeks, we learned about different welding processes and actually went into lab and performed those processes, which I was able to apply to my club Purdue Lunabotics. We also learned about different metal casting processes, then went into lab to perform sand casting to make a simple propeller and pulley (I took the pulley home as a souvenir).
What other activities are you involved in on campus?
I am a highly active member of Purdue Lunabotics, a student-run team that participates in the annual NASA Lunabotics Challenge to design and manufacture an autonomous lunar mining rover. We compete against 40+ nationwide university teams to autonomously traverse, mine, and deposit simulated lunar regolith.
What do you know about your program of study now that you wish someone had told you when you were choosing a major?
I have yet to have a professor that hasn't cared about my success in their course, and oftentimes they're incredibly passionate about the material that they're teaching. There's also a large element of collaboration between the students - everyone wants each other to succeed, so there is almost always someone that is willing to help if you don't understand something.
What would be one piece of advice for prospective students or new Purdue students?
Be interactive on campus! Being a part of even one student organization is so beneficial for your health and it opens up so many opportunities, be it friendships or something in a professional setting. There are so many organizations on campus that no matter what interests you may have, if you want to join a club that relates to your major or a club that hosts a fun activity, you're almost guaranteed to find something that'll suit you.