Meet Alex, a second-year engineering student at the University of Waterloo who is keenly navigating the intricacies of co-op and academic life. Having always been passionate about hands-on learning, Alex is a bit anxious about the Professional Development courses this semester and is curious about how they compare to his practical experiences during work terms. Outside of classes, they enjoy tinkering with robotics and often participate in hackathons, hoping to find the perfect balance between theory and practice in their education.