Meet Ryan, a driven second-year engineering student at the University of Waterloo. Having faced the challenging realities of co-op placements and rigorous coursework, he’s learned to navigate the ups and downs of academic life. Ryan is passionate about mechanical engineering but often finds himself in the library on weekends, studying alongside peers who are also repeating terms. He’s become a vocal advocate for better support systems for students struggling with difficult courses, using his experiences to foster conversation about the pressures of engineering academia.