Meet Alex Chen, a resilient second-year engineering student at the University of Waterloo. Originally from a small town, Alex faced challenges transitioning to the rigorous academic environment, especially when calculus proved to be a major hurdle. With a strong belief in the power of perseverance, Alex draws inspiration from engineering literature, particularly Henry Petroski’s work, which emphasizes learning from failures. Alex has a knack for supporting peers through tough times and enjoys sharing insights from personal experiences to encourage others to find their path in engineering. Outside of academics, Alex volunteers at local STEM outreach programs, igniting passion for engineering in younger students.