I went to Edmonton this time in a different life cycle than last. Two years earlier I had just begun my masters and was just beginning to pursue knowledge in my field. Two years ago I had met someone who I liked but needed time and space to gather courage to pursue an important relationship. This time around I am trying to complete my education and looking for contacts to cross into industry. This time around I very much missed Tipu and realized that us working in separate cities would likely be intolerable.

I learned a lot from the trip. I used to believe all undergrad degrees in engineering are equal. I do not believe that anymore. Although I received and excellent education from the U of M, I do not believe I was able to develop industry contacts during my stay in Winnipeg. Universities, especially in the east (Ontario, Quebec) have incredible co-op opportunities. They are also available to develop relationships through technical event planning.

I was able to get career advise from friends, colleagues, experts and presidents. It’s incredible how supportive Canadian professionals can be, especially those in the Microfabrication industry. There’s a lot of mutual respect between companies and that was brilliant to see.

This was the first time I went to a relatively unknown city by myself and drove around. Previously I had been with family or friends or had relied on public transport. I was a little nervous but it felt great.