Meet Alex Chen, a determined and introspective second-year Civil Engineering student at the University of Waterloo. Hailing from a small town, Alex had always dreamt of becoming an architect but chose civil engineering for its practicality and job security. Struggling with the intense workload and rigorous curriculum, Alex faced moments of doubt—tempted to switch to a less demanding program. However, through self-reflection and incremental planning, Alex learned to embrace a growth mindset, focusing on personal progress rather than comparisons with peers. Now on co-op, Alex is grounded in the belief that perseverance is key and that finding one’s own path is an evolving journey.