THE CANNON SkuleTM’s Newspaper since 1978
cannon.skule.ca
SEPTEMBER 2018, Volume XLI
A Rescue Worth Remembering The Thai Rescue Offers Lessons For All of Us NAJAH HASSAN Cannon Editor-in-Chief Every once in a while, an event in one part of the world occurs that gets majority of the planet glued to their screens. We hold our breaths, sit in suspense and encourage ourselves to stop imagining worst case scenarios. In my life, a few such events have occurred, like the raid of Bin Laden’s compound in 2011, the disappearance of the MH370 flight in 2014 or the last American election in 2016, and, most recently, the cave rescue operation in Thailand this past summer.
In July 2018, the world was witness to one of the most incredible rescue missions of all time. A soccer team and their coach got trapped in a flooded cave and were not discovered until two weeks later. The Wild Boars, as this team is called, consisted of twelve boys ranging from the ages of eleven to seventeen. The amazing story of how people from all over the world came together to save this team holds many valuable lessons for all of us about the importance of community, empathy and determination. Rescue continued on page 7
THE RESCUED SOCCER TEAM AT A PRESS CONFERENCE CREDITS: CBC
We’ve been there, Sincerely, F!rosh-No-More
Second Year Engineers Have Their Say ZAEEM AMJAD Cannon Contributor RUIYING JIA Cannon Contributor Approximately 365 days ago, Zaeem Amjad and Ruiying Jia were about to begin their journey at UofT Engineering. While their year may have had its ups and downs, there were a lot of valuable lessons learned. Now, as they prepare
themselves for their second year, they take a moment to share their take on some of the do’s and don’ts of SkuleTM. ZAEEEM: Everyone is well-aware of the challenges that come with studying at a university as a local or international student. Up until this point, I am pretty sure your family and friends have mentally prepared you for the worst and scared you enough. Here are some not-so-cliché
advices to guide you to completing first year without regrets. 1. Make UofT a way of life Congratulations on making it into UofT engineering to begin with! Now that you are here, a good place to start is understanding the role university will play in the upcoming four (or more) years of your life. Unlike high school, university is more
time-consuming than a fulltime job. Get into the mindset that you are here to build experiences and friendships that you will cherish for a long time to come. This is why most upper year students always tell you to “join clubs that interest you”. By joining clubs, not only are you going to have extracurriculars to write on your résumé but you will make lasting friendships and have some crazy and
memorable experiences along the way. 2. Don’t worry about marks more than you have to Building on the previous advice, you are here to experience a way of life. This includes the stress that comes with exams, assignments and F!rosh continued on page 5
Where are the best Procrastination is Mental health tips spots near UofT? and resources good for you page 8
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THE CANNON Masthead EXECUTIVE TEAM EDITOR IN CHIEF LAYOUT EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Najah Hassan Rick Liu Fletcher Mason Clugston
SENIOR EDITORS Dale Gottlieb Samuel Penner Linda Yu
Letter from the Editor As September rears its head once again, it’s time to buckle up for another academic year. It’s like hitting the restart button. You’ve got your goals for the year, the bad habits you want to break and a list of new things you want to try. A huge welcome to the class of 2T2! Congratulations on getting into UofT. I hope you’ll all come to find your second home here, just as most of us have. And to the rest of my fellow dinosaurs, I hope you’ve had a restful summer and are ready for another round. This issue of the Cannon is filled with some amazing insights on SkuleTM, from alumni and from upper years, tips to take care of your mental health, reflections on PEY and much more. Our writers have worked diligently to share their experiences with all of you and we hope that they will be of benefit. However, the most important thing you learn at SkuleTM is to think for yourself. Everyone will give you advice based on their experiences, but you are different person, and you need to see what works best for you. A lot of hard work went into putting this paper together, and so, I would like to give a special shout out to the amazing editorial team and all the contributors. None of this would have been possible without all of you! -Najah Hassan
About CONTRIBUTORS
STATEMENT
WRITERS Zaeem Amjad Hannah Eng Nikoo Givehchian Ruiying Jia Harry Khachatrian
The Cannon is the official (serious) newspaper of the University of Toronto Engineering Society. Established in 1978, it serves the undergraduate students of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. Submissions are welcome by email to cannon@skule.ca. Advertising and subscription information is available at the same email or from the Engineering Society at 416-978-2917.
LAYOUT CONTRIBUTOR
Diana Li
DISCLAIMER
CARTOONIST
Nadya Abdullah
PHOTOGRAPHER
Dina Castelletto
The views expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Engineering Society unless so indicated. The editors reserve the right to modify submissions to comply with the newspaper’s and the Engineering Society’s policies.
SPECIAL THANKS Dr. Aviv Gladman Christina Heidorn Dr. Deborah de Lange Jason Yee
CONTACT The Cannon 10 King’s College Road Sandford Fleming Building Room B740 Toronto, ON M5S 3G4 cannon.skule.ca cannon@skule.ca facebook.com/cannon.news
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Alumni Perspectives of SkuleTM WE ASKED FOUR ALUMNI ABOUT ADVICE FOR STUDENS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES CHRISTINA HEIDORN N Ψ 9T1 Who was your favourite Professor at UofT?
DR. DEBORAH DE LANGE ECE 9T1
So many to choose from! Bill Prof. Ted Sargent (he was Burgess for first year chemistry, not my professor, but I have Don MacKay for environmental met him and like his research chemistry, Diran Basmadjian on renewables). for a very challenging fourth year chem course.
AVIV GLADMAN N Ψ 9T4
JASON YEE CIV 1T3
Prof. Dmitrevsky in Electro Professor Brenda McCabe magnetics. All in hindsight of who taught Construction course. We often retrospectively Management. recognize the individuals that had the most significant impact on our education.
External Relations What do you currently do Officer, Division of for a living? Engineering Science, University of Toronto. I help with student recruitment, run alumni events, and help students develop professional skills. A large part of what I do is build a strong EngSci community and connect current students with graduates to help them with career advice, industry and grad school info, and so on.
Associate Professor, Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University. My research covers a variety of international topics related to sustainable development, especially in respect of technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, responsible investment and divestment of fossil fuels, the circular economy, and responsible corporate/urban governance. I have taught courses such as sustainable business, globalization, high tech strategy, and international strategy and entrepreneurship, all from a lens of sustainable development as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Chief Medical Information Officer and Critical Care Physician at Mackenzie Health. Currently engaged in designing and building one of the world’s first intelligent hospitals based on the internet of things. Practicing both medicine and engineering is a fulfilling, albeit highly challenging, career.
Did you go to Frosh in your Yes, but I was still first year? If yes, what was commuting then so I your favourite part? wasn’t there for all of it. Getting my hard hat was my favourite part—it still sits on my desk today with the words “Christina’s hat” scrawled on the inside. Hands off my hat!
The best part was stopping traffic on Yonge Street with our crowd of happy engineering Frosh and leaders. Lots of spirit!
F!rosh week was a great Yes, I did go to my Frosh experience that I remember Week! DO NOT miss frosh quite fondly mostly for the week! It will be a time to great friendships that ensued. remember! My favourite part was not from my own F!rosh experience but from one that I helped lead. We built a full-sized Roman torsion catapult and used it to fire water balloons OVER university college from front to back campus. Nobody ever saw them coming.
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Assistant Project Manager at Mattamy Homes. I help plan, budget, oversee, and problem solve throughout the construction process of high rise buildings. My job is to ensure the projects are completed in a timely, high quality and efficient manner. I have been exposed to many aspects of the construction business since the start of my career, including on-site work as an assistant construction superintendent. It is a blessing to be working with phenomenal people who really care about what they do.
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Explore widely. One of the things that’s great about being at a large faculty in a large university in a large city is that there’s something for just about any interest you can think of. Think outside your usual box. Go try something you’ve never done. So far you’ve spent your whole school career being an academic rock star with excellent marks on a straight path to a clear goal—that’s how you got into SkuleTM in the first place! Don’t be discouraged, if your marks in first year are lower than what you’re used to, or you no longer know exactly where you’re heading. That’s entirely normal--don’t let it discombobulate you. Cut yourself some slack. Grades do not define you, and they don’t define your future success. It’s normal to be unsure of where you’re ultimately going. What matters is what you’re learning (about engineering, about yourself, about the world), and how you’re growing (professionally, personally and otherwise). The rest will take care of itself. Take care of yourself— sleep is not a trivial thing! Seriously. Get some sleep.
Try to look for a good summer job in engineering as early as possible – start in first year. The University of Toronto offers tremendously helpful career services. Having engineering experience earlier on will help you to make a more informed decision when it comes to choosing your first real job on graduation. Also, your studies will have more meaning if you can see how they are applied on the job. Your summer job may even lead to a long term position after graduation. Also, don’t forget that your university years can be the lowest risk time period over which to try to start your own business and become an entrepreneur. In addition, your knowledge from your courses is fresh and you can reinforce your learning by applying it through the development of a new product or service offering. Your university years are also a great time for finding entrepreneurial partners in your university friends. Who knows, such efforts could make you and your friends your own bosses over the long term and then you will be hiring SkuleTM graduates. You might even become serial entrepreneurs.
Carpe carp, as they say (seize the fish). My advice to you is to figure out early on how to balance academics and fun. There’s an old joke that A students make the best professors, B students make the best engineers, and C students make the most money. The most successful engineers that I know are the ones that studied hard AND came out to events, joined clubs, had great fun, and still had their problems sets completed by morning. Looking back, I think my first-year self would be quite relieved to know that marks are not everything. I am proud to say that I got a 69 in first year semi-conductor physics, then ended up as the course teaching assistant 4 years later during grad school. And I was failing electromagnetics two months in until I sat down with the professor and he explained it to me one-on-one, and I ended up with a 90 by the end of the year. So yes, hard work does pay off, there is life outside of SkuleTM, and even the most ill-reputed professor really and truly does want to help you learn. And I’ll repeat my mantra: It’s ok to have fun as long as your problem set is in on time.
Don’t forget that school work isn’t the full experience. Join a club! Work together! You will realise that it will be very difficult without others suffering with you. Helping others will end up helping you too. Marks are important, but the process of learning and how you get through it is even more important! Over your undergrad, the most important things you’ll gain, is from the people you meet along the way. Don’t let the change in atmosphere drag you down. Don’t let your surroundings intimidate you. Remember that everyone around you is in the same boat as you. Stay afloat together!
There are so many— Are there any clubs you just pick one that speaks would recommend to first to your interests. Don’t years? be afraid to explore things that pique your interest even if they’re new to you. You can’t expand your mind, if you only stick to things you already know.
IEEE University of Toronto Student Branch. Get elected as an engineering executive to help make the engineering experience great for everyone – I was a Social Director and a Communications Director. I think that in your first year, joining one club is a good idea to help you get to know some others with similar interests. You are also getting used to the demands of your engineering program, so you may want to wait until your second year to add more activities based on what you can reasonably manage. Don’t let your studies suffer because you are in too many clubs. I also had to work while in engineering to pay my way, so keep this in mind when you are joining clubs, in case you are like me and may need to balance many obligations. de Lange continued on page 5
I recommend SkuleTM Nite to everyone whether you are in first year or last year. Great experience, great friendships with students from different years and programs, great opportunity to acquire new life skills (afraid of public speaking?), and a lifetime of memories. I also recommend the newspapers, although as a former Toike editor I’m a bit biased.
I am biased, but I would definitely recommend Concrete Canoe! Can’t go wrong with building something that floats (or sinks) with concrete and then race them! No matter what discipline you are, there is alway something related to your speciality that you can contribute to Concrete Canoe. It is always a great feeling building something with a great team and seeing something you helped build actually work!
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Do you have any advice to first years on how to get the best out of SkuleTM? What are some things you would tell your first-year self if given the chance?
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Walking across the front Lunches at Hart House campus in the middle of a crisp are my favourite memory. November night after finishing Hart House is a beautiful, my programming assignment inspiring building. on the computers in the Engineering Annex (we didn’t have home computer yet—yes, I’m that old), the sole person out in the cold dark night, with the glamorous downtown lights and the CN Tower glistening beyond the campus, thinking “I can’t believe I have this all to myself!” Also walking through the stacks in Sigmund Samuel library (now Gerstein) in the winter, getting a shock every time I touched the metal shelves. It’s static central!
I was in the SkuleTM Nite prop room at 2 AM the night of run-throughs one year, rummaging around for props, when I was startled by the campus police: “What are you doing in here?” As I turn around, holding two prop M16s in one hand, and a prop BFG in the other (picture a giant six barreled hand-held gatling gun that looks like it came off of a warship), one of the cops yells “gun” and they both drop to the floor, while the whole time I am yelling “They’re props, they’re props!”. Still makes me laugh every time I think of it.
There are many crazy and enjoyable things that happened during my years at UofT. It’s hard to pick just one favorite, since all of what I have experienced contributed to who I am. I would say the most memorable time would be survey camp during the summer between 2nd and 3rd year. Two weeks away from home and stuck with your classmates is definitely an experience to remember (now not sure if it is in a bad or good way). It was a lot of hard work, but making the best out of our two weeks together really made it a great time to look back at.
Are there any life mottos Challenge your “No! Try not! Do or do or quotes to live by? assumptions. (Which not, there is no try.” - Yoda means you’ve first got to “Fear is the path to the identify what they actually dark side. Fear leads to anger. are!) Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” - Yoda
I have always been a fan of Montrose’s toast: “He either fears his fate too much, Or his desserts are small, Who dares not put it to the touch, To win or lose it all!”
“Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way… Therefore, it’s so important to consider this question: What do I desire?” - Alan Watts
residence and you realize that it is already 9:13 am and you already have a participation score of 38%. You may think to yourself “Hey, maybe it’s not such a big deal if I sleep in again one more time”. Trust me when I say that every percent matters, and that it hurts a lot more in knowing that a 69% could have been a solid 70%, if you had just had the willpower to go to one or two more classes. However, this is not to promote just going to class because of the extra marks, but also to go because you are here to learn and do well in school. When you miss class, you miss the chance to understand important material clearly, and with the professor in reach. As mentioned in a research paper on college attendance written by Marcus Credé (et al.), there is a strong correlation between how often you attend your 2. Go to all of your classes lectures and your GPA. It is not It’s the beginning of the a secret that engineering has year and you are probably in a notoriously high tuition, so the mindset where you will please, just attend your lectures. attend all your lectures and tutorials and maintain a full 3. I am a commuter, what is Tophat participation score in the best time to commute to your Engineering Strategies school or home, and where and Practices course. But, as can I rest between breaks? the months pass by, you wake up in your bed at home or on
In the morning, there really is not a best time to commute to school, but going home, based on my personal experience, I would recommend leaving before 4pm or after 7pm. For the breaks in between classes, your own discipline’s common room would be the best place to start. However, if you really like to play Smash Bros., there is always somebody in the Sandford Fleming ECE common room who you can join. It might also be helpful to note that they have the cheapest sodas on campus. If you are more of an intellect and want to spend your time studying, some great quiet study places are Gerstein, Robarts or the second floor of Wallberg. General rule of thumb is that the higher up a campus building you go, the quieter it is. If you are the type of person who likes a bit of white noise, a good place to go is Bahen, your own common room, the Medical Sciences building or, my personal favourite, the small lecture rooms in the basement of Bahen. I like going there to quietly do my own work while a Masters or PhD lecture is going on.
What is your favourite memory from UofT?
with something different, as long as it conforms with your personal beliefs. It could the notorious marks. But, be something as weird as that does not mean you have changing your dressing style, to stress over them day and to something very important night. Give priority to your like not procrastinating for studies over most other things tests like you did in high but do not forget that there are school. After all, we are other reasons for attending students, and we learn best from our mistakes. university as well. F!rosh continued from page 1
3. Start discovering your identity Now that you are about to start a new chapter of your life, one of the challenges you will face is answering the question of “who you are”. In the upcoming years, your friends and surroundings will define and solidify your identity. At this point, you can become anyone or anything you want to be. Make the most out of your time and try to get involved in meaningful hobbies outside of university to define who you want to be known as.
RUIYING: First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on your acceptance to the University of Toronto Engineering! This is a great milestone in your life and the start of your engineering career. Hopefully, now that I have managed to survive first year engineering, ‘survived’ being the key word, I can give you some well informed tips based on my own experience.
1. How do I approach my professors? This answer, essentially, boils down to four words. Do not be afraid. From my own experience, every professor 4. Try new things! This might sound cliché that I have ever encountered but it really is not. As you has been pretty consistent experience new things in your across the board. There are first year of university, do not some professors that stand be scared to step out of your out more than others, but the comfort zone and experiment university does a pretty good
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job in appointing instructors to courses that they actually like to teach or is within their realm of research. The best way to approach your professors is during their office hours or right after their lecture. Within their own busy schedule, they teach multiple lectures a day, and will not know who you are if you do not make yourself known in the first place. This does not mean that professors see you as ‘just a number’. On the contrary, they are quite good at recognizing who is in their class. However, making the extra effort will help you stand out. Be curious about their lecture or work, and engage in their class. That way, if you approach them later during the semester, whether it be for help or for a future research position, it will not be such a daunting task.
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PEY Perspectives: A Year in the Real World to Agfa Graphics in Antwerp, Belgium. DALE: This past year, I SAMUEL PENNER completed my PEY at the Cannon Senior Editor Toronto based start-up company Synaptive Medical. Last year, over 700 students At the time of me joining, participated in the PEY the company was in the final (professional experience year) stages of releasing their digital program, gaining professional neurosurgical microscope experience outside of school Modus V. I worked in the and saving some money optics department, and it was for the next year. The PEY my team’s responsibility to program offers many positions ensure the optics and imaging DALE GOTTLIEB Cannon Senior Editor
“
company is very different from attending school, and it is a nice break to step out and see what kind of experience your degree will get you. I learned a lot from my year at the company, and I can start applying these principles to other positions I will have in the future. I plan on attending graduate school, and I still feel PEY has helped prepare me for the research I will be doing. One of the biggest lessons I learned involved understanding the amount of testing and validation required for a final engineering product. The optics team was mainly focused on the camera used in Modus V, and validating this one component was a full-time job for several people. Before starting my PEY, I never would have imagined the amount of testing that goes into one component. I think the experience of being so highly focused has taught me two things, both of which capabilities of the system were will apply to my future studies. beyond industry standard. First, validation of results is I want to tell anyone who extremely important. Even is questioning whether or not mechanical setups that can to do PEY to register for the visually be confirmed to be PEY portal and start applying working need to be measured around. You never know what and reported. Second, position you will be offered. communication between the The experience of working in a
PEY has demonstrated, at least for me, that being a good engineer means balancing your focus properly both on the job and off.
in Toronto, and many international positions, with over 60 students going abroad. We spoke to two 1T8’s, Dale Gottlieb and Sam Penner, who are just finishing their co-ops, about their experience. Dale worked at Synaptive Medical in Toronto, and Sam went abroad
SAM SPENDS A DAY IN THE MAIN SQUARE ANTWERP, BELGIUM, WHERE HIS POSITION AT AGFA TOOK PLACE CREDIT: SAM PENNER
team is key. Every finding and every result had to be communicated in a way that could be quickly understood by other members. Only as a team could issues be resolved. I would highly recommend that everyone participate in the PEY program, even as just a learning experience. I had a lot of fun taking a break from school, meeting new people who are now my friends, and earning a bit of money too. Everything that I have learned has helped me continue to develop as an engineer. SAM: The PEY experience is one that I recommend to everyone, but that should come as no surprise after I mention that I did my PEY in Antwerp, Belgium. For twelve months, I worked in the research and development department at Agfa Graphics, a division of Agfa-Gevaert N.V., which is a division specializing in industrial graphic solutions of nearly all kinds from packaging, advertising, and traditional printing applications. I arrived as the company was celebrating its 150th anniversary, and despite the graphics industry being an old one, it would surprise you to find out that the latest
technologies in materials science and engineering are being applied to objects we take for granted in our everyday life. No matter what job you get for PEY, it will be an excellent opportunity to better understand a new industry and learn new skills. The most valuable skill set, I have found, is learning how to use the enormous amount of time now available after work hours. Once there is no academic work to catch up on, establishing a work-life balance is not only possible but a necessity. PEY gives you an opportunity to hone your engineering skills during the work day and develop your other interests on your off-hours. PEY has demonstrated, at least for me, that being a good engineer means balancing your focus properly both on the job and off. It is a great opportunity to develop technical skills as well as time to contemplate how you want to spend your time after graduation. Whether it is gaining experience in the industry you want to work in, or giving you breathing room within your degree to figure out what that might be, PEY is a valuable learning experience.
DALE WORKS IN THE LAB AT SYNAPTIVE IN TORONTO. CREDIT: DALE GOTTLIEB
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SEPTEMBER 2018 Rescue continued from page 1 Looking at it from an engineering student’s perspective, I started to draw on some parallels and thought about how these lessons could be applied to our own lives. On the 23rd of June, the team, along with their coach, went exploring the Tham Laung cave that lies among a mountain range in Mae Sai, Thailand. A heavy downpour of rain caused them to move deeper into the cave and they ended up four kilometers away from the main entrance. It would be days before they would leave. On the outside, their loved ones began to worry. The boys had not returned home and nobody had heard from them. From some of their friends, the parents found out that the team had made plans to visit the Tham Laung cave and so everyone headed there. However, when
together. They brought with them any equipment they could find. Small water pumps, long pipes, knives, shovels, and anything that could have been of the slightest use was brought forward. A small vigil, consisting of the boys’ families, formed at the front of the cave. The Wild Boars’ classmates held group prayers, sang songs of encouragement and folded paper cranes. The nation was in prayer and everyone was eager for good news. These initial actions, although small, showed signs of a community taking initiative and preparing themselves for what was to come. As the news went global, specialists from the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Scandinavia and several other countries joined the operation. A few days in, they were successful in finding all twelve boys and their coach, alive and well. But
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Pausing and taking a moment to understand what other people are going through is empathy. But, in addition to that, seeing what you can do help, in my view, is the essence of humanity
they got there, there was no sign of the boys other than their bikes and bags lying outside the cave that was now flooded. More people were informed about the missing team and soon Thai navy seals, the national police, other rescue teams and volunteers began to come
now the question arose, how were they going to get them out? The water levels in the cave had risen and the passages were narrow and jagged. There was no simple way out. While the rescuers were planning the next steps of the operation, the rest of the community
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CREWS MOVING PUMPS TO DRAIN THE CAVE CREDIT: USAF
came together and pooled their resources. Nobody stepped away saying ‘This isn’t my area of expertise’. Everyone wanted to help and no job was too small. Local drivers would drive people up and down the mountain for free, food stalls were set up, people began cleaning the country park toilets outside the cave entrance and a local laundromat cleaned the rescuers clothes every night as they were covered in mud. This was a nation on a mission. When the specialists began looking into ways of getting the boys out, they decided that training the boys to dive out would be the most dangerous method and should be left as a last resort. They thought about letting the water recede naturally, but monsoon season was just about to begin and waiting for the water levels to drop naturally could take months. As reluctant as they were and as risky as it seemed, diving the boys out seemed like the only option. Everyone realized the impacts and dangers of this operation. Saman Gunan, a former Navy Seal diver, had died while on a run to deliver
oxygen tanks to the boys. Yet, they persisted, and a team of 150 specialists and volunteers worked day in day out to get these boys back to safety. As the world watched on, every news of another boy being brought out of the cave brought a wave of relief, until all thirteen had been rescued. It goes to show that sometimes, after evaluating all your options, you may be forced to pursue the riskiest path. Yet, pinpointing all the areas of concern, slowly working your way through it and preparing for the worst, could help you plan your way through even the highest tides. But why? Why was everyone so willing to help? These children were absolute strangers to most of them. It could have been that everybody wanted to be a hero. Or was it because they understood, to some extent, what the families of these boys were going through? Most of us know the pain of losing a loved one. It’s those holes in our lives that we can all relate to and that connect us to each other. And the pain of losing a child, I have heard, is inexplicable. If
we can do something to reduce the suffering and pain in the world, and not add to that list, then it is our duty to do it. Pausing and taking a moment to understand what other people are going through is empathy. But, in addition to that, seeing what you can do help, in my view, is the essence of humanity. Some may call it a miracle, a highly unlikely event with positive consequences, which it may in fact be, but it cannot be denied that there is strength in numbers. What made this operation successful is the unity and support of everyone who played a part in it. Every story of struggle has a hero. This one has several. The passion, support, and drive of all the leaders, volunteers, families and everyone in the neighboring community made this entire operation possible. It stands to be a reminder of the amazing things that we can accomplish when we all have the same end goal in mind. As aspiring engineers, these are just a few of the traits to hold on to as we continue our journeys to make the world a better place.
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The Essential Spots Near Campus The Cannon staff list their favourite places to eat, explore, shop, study near SkuleTM
Hart House Hart house has many attractions. Whether you want to hit the gym, practice your piano skills, or grab a bite to eat in the café, Hart House will be there for you. They also host events and classes throughout the year. Some examples are Art tours, Adobe Premiere workshops, and bridge club.
GIS CREDIT: City of Toronto, OSM PHOTO CREDIT: BlogTO, Hart House, Ryerson, Cadillac Fairview GRAPHICS CREDIT: Rick Liu
Spadina
College
Kensington Market
Baldwin Street
This market is a must see location that’s conveniently close to campus. Filled with small local stores, you can find just about anything here. Some of the highlights are the local fruit markets, great restaurants, and a store selling peruvian cola. You can also find some great ice cream!
Situated directly south of U of T, this street is a great spot to find a good lunch or quick snack on those awkward hour long breaks between classes. Baldwin street has a diverse selection of restaurants and places to eat, ranging from Krispy Kreme, for a quick snack, to Kinton Ramen, for a more complete meal. Baldwin McCaul
Nassau
Dundas
Chinatown
Dundas
Located just south of U of T, Chinatown is centred on Spadina, south of College St. with more restaurants than you could try in your time at UofT there is something for everyone. It’s the perfect location for a quick lunch between classes or to find a late night snack while studying. One of Fletcher’s favourite hot pot places, Little Sheep Hot Pot, is just at Dundas and Huron.
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SEPTEMBER 2018 FLETCHER CLUGSTON RICK LIU Cannon Photography Editor Cannon Layout Editor
DINA CASTELLETTO Cannon Photographer
DIANA LI Cannon Layout
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NAJAH HASSAN Cannon Editor-In-Chief
Church Street Also called The Village, Church St. is Toronto’s LGBTQ enclave. Although known for its nightlife, Church Street is also packed with cafés, boutiques, and restaurants. During the annual pride parade, the street is filled with booths and free events. Church street has something for everyone!
Wellesley Church Yonge Bay
College
Uninversity
Ryerson SLC - 341 Yonge Street While UofT students may have a friendly rivalry with Ryerson, it can’t be denied that they have one of the nicest study spaces in Toronto. Everyone is welcome to study at the SLC and they even have free WiFi for UofT students . This tower has eight floors to choose from, each with a different theme.
Eaton Centre and Yonge-Dundas This place has EVERYTHING a student could need: Canadian Tire to deck out your dorm, Bubbletease to chill out, Cineplex for the movies, and Denny’s and Alibabas beside Chestnut for some food at 3AM. Whats more, most of the best stores are at the Eaton Centre, for some stress relieving shopping. Dundas
10 • THE CANNON
SEPTEMBER 2018
Procrastination: Possibly Beneficial? NIKOO GIVEHCHIAN Cannon Contributor I can still recall the glorious days when I thought procrastination was, for me, impossible. How naive I was back then… I remember once, when my ninth grade teacher assigned us an essay that was to be handed in a week later, and also gave us inclass time to work on it. My friends exchanged grins with one another, all sharing in the same not-so-secret joke that they had not been given a week to write the essay, but only the night before. I worked hard in class that first day to finish the essay while my friends guiltily enjoyed the ‘free time’ they had been given by opening a word document, saving it, and pushing their laptops aside so as not to disturb the circle they sat in, on the fluffy carpet we used to have in our class. Flashforward to the next day when I came to school with a finished essay, and without looking at it again, I joined my ring of friends, telling them, to their surprise, that I was done. Thus, I too was able to enjoy time with my friends after getting my work over and done with. Furthermore, I will confess I did find it amusing when the night before it was due, they came to me to proofread their papers. The thing is, my essay was not the best either. I wanted to finish it too quickly, and thoughtlessly used the first ideas that came to mind rather than reflecting and structuring the best ones before writing the essay. But, in any case, I was done, and at the time I thought reaching this finish line, and getting there first, was all that mattered. Quality? Nah, and not quantity eitherjust to be done was what I thought of as sufficient. So, it is funny that while
extreme procrastination led to a bad essay (as expected), the other extreme of rushing to finish my work as soon as possible also hindered my ability to write a good essay. All of us are familiar with the failure of last-second attempts to do anything. Since the beginning of high school, especially over this past year, I have also switched from being extremely opposed to procrastination, to becoming another who weakly succumbs to this tempting possibility over and over again. This is to my enormous shame. I would never go about promoting procrastination, and the misery I felt every time I saw the results of my putting work off. I am not here to tell you that extreme procrastination is good. However, I do want to draw attention to the negative connotation commonly associated with the term, and question people’s assumptions when they think about procrastination. One thing is for sure- It is not just me (and I am not sure if this is a comfort), but procrastination appears to simply be a part of human nature. No matter what, there will always be something we leave to do later. But, the real question stands: Is that so bad? To what extent do our procrastinatory tendencies (yes, that’s a term now) allow us to later excel? There has been research to indicate that the most successful of us tend to procrastinate a little (check out Adam Grant’s TEDtalk on the matter!), while others with zero or extreme procrastination tend not to be as successful… So clearly, there is hope for we who procrastinate! This is in part due to the fact that moderate procrastination leaves a bit of time between receiving and doing a task, and allows an idea to ‘settle’ a little in a
SIR ISAAC NEWTON. CREDIT: HSWSTATIC
person’s mind before they take action. Thus, ideas have the opportunity to mature and gain potential during this developmental period. In essence, hesitating a bit and leaving some work for later actually creates room for inspiration. Procrastinating a little and planning to return to work later actually allows for reflection, which can really help with developing the best ideas. The greatest and most innovative scientists did not come up with their ideas in a rush and on the spot. Nor did they completely and continually push off their desire to innovatean obvious fact when one considers how their accomplishments could not have occurred by accident and without any hard work, even if they did take breaks in between. Time to think was always essential to the greats, and even geniuses such as Newton took years to develop their most famous ideas- in this case, gravity and calculus. However, taking time off does not mean pushing off the activity, and it is not because they completely procrastinated until the last moment. Both rushing and continually procrastinating have the same net effect on a person: a forced neglect of deep thought and consideration. Great figures of history seem to
have found a way to balance urgency of work, and a need to go back and forth with ideas for a while. Newton is clearly an example of one who was very much accomplished, but even your average undergraduate engineering student could use knowledge of the benefits of moderate procrastination to their advantage. I know I could, and I do not doubt there are many others out there who share my pain in having procrastinated too much or too little. And yes, at this point, I believe we have made a solid case for the hindering properties of minimal procrastination; after all, how accurate would Newton have gotten with his exploration of gravity if he had not given it some thought and considered calculus? If he had rushed to a solution using the quick, convenient, and inaccurate answers of his predecessors, much knowledge and innovation would have been lost- or at the very least, Newton would have failed to be the one to discover it. Much in the same way, if we students attempt to rush through an assignment for the sake of finishing it early, the likelihood of us making simple mistakes increases by a large factor. Funny then, that though I used to think getting work done as early as possible was best, this is not exactly
the case. What happened in ninth grade reflects the two extremes — no procrastination on my part, and extreme procrastination on my friends’ part. Perhaps the best thing for all of us to have done was to let the topic of the essay sink in for a day and then to finish it in the next couple days. My wanting to finish it immediately left me no room for creative thoughts; my friends’ leaving the essay to the last minute left them no room for creative thought either. The most successful students with the best essays are not those who rush to finish or leave it to the last minute — they are the ones who first take a moment to think, then write it in good time. Thus, one may call this ‘limited’ or ‘moderate’ procrastination, but in any case, it has been the method that yields the most success in my experience. Procrastination is inevitable — that, we know. However, we can all work to limit the extreme version of procrastination by planning out our work, while at the same time realizing that there is value to be found in procrastinating just a little bit. That being said, don’t procrastinate too much — trying to find inspiration at 3:00 AM doesn’t work out well, trust me!
cannon.skule.ca
SEPTEMBER 2018
• 11
The F!rosh Survival Guide to Engineering HARRY KHACHATRIAN Cannon Contributor As the summer draws to its inevitable close, you look back in reproach, at the end of your halcyon high school days. You are officially a first-year engineering student. And, if you are anything like me, you are inundated with both excitement and apprehension. For those of you who have been admonished of the difficulties of engineering, I hope to quell those fears with some suggestions I wish I had when I was in first-year. Forgot High School Calculus? Don’t Sweat It There is always a coterie of Frosh students flushed with anxiety at the thought of walking into first-year math with the “everything-I-learned-inhigh-school” part of their brains scrubbed spotless like a Dexter crime scene. If this sounds like you, you might even be thinking, “Who needs Frosh week? I better spend this week pouring over old calculus textbooks, and maybe even read ahead.” Stop right there. Your first year professors are not expecting you to remember every nuanced vagary of twelfth-grade math. On the contrary, they assume you spent your summer like any 18-yearold who just graduated from high school and forgot everything. They teach you exactly what you need to know (and how to do it) from scratch, which brings us to the second point.
rule one. In engineering, the rule to follow is, do not fall behind. You can extrapolate number two. Just because your professor starts the semester in first gear, do not be fooled into thinking you will be coasting into final exams. If you think the class is moving too slowly, miss lectures at your own risk – speaking from experience, skipping lectures by telling yourself you already know everything is a sure way to place yourself in academic peril. Sure, today you are sleeping through an introduction to limits, but within a week the chalkboards look like the set-pieces from Good Will Hunting. Be Resourceful! Most students, at one point or another, in pursuit of their iron ring will wallow in frustration, and angst, thinking “How on earth am I going to pass this?”. Not to worry! At UofT (and, university more broadly) there are a plethora of resources made available to you. Here are some I’ve found most useful.
Professor’s office hours: The one thing all your first lectures will have in common is the fact that the professor will start by writing down his or her office location and hours of availability. Despite what you might be thinking, it’s not just to decorate the chalkboard. It is for you. If something is not clear in a subsequent lecture, in your problem sets, etc. do not hesitate to drop by and ask the professor Don’t Fall Behind (just be sure to attempt Warren Buffet has two understanding it yourself rules when it comes to first). That $17,000 check investing. The first is you wrote the university never lose money, and for your tuition pays your the second is never forget professor’s salary. So make
BELEIVE IT OR NOT, YOU WILL LEARN EVERYTHING ON THIS BOARD IN FIRST YEAR CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK
them work for it; there’s no reason not to. TAs: Whatever the course, the TAs, or teaching assistants, will most likely be graduate students who have taken it before. This means they have marked assignments, exams, and seen where students tend to struggle and helped them overcome hardships. They are an invaluable resource that your tuition also goes towards. Your TAs are engineering veterans – they are like Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan. And you are Ryan. So, ask questions and let them save you. courses.skule.ca: You may or may not have heard about it yet, but aside from Quercus, formerly Blackboard, (and Stack Overflow for you ECEs) the most useful website during your time here is courses.skule.ca. This website contains past years’ final exams and midterms – many of which contain solutions
– for nearly every course you will be taking in your undergrad. It is a vital resource, not just in studying for exams, but also gauging the course itself as it progresses. How do you know which lectures are most important? Which topics to pay more attention to? You can find out all this by simply glancing over old midterms and exams for the course. Based on the types of questions your professor tends to ask, you should have a much better assessment of how you are doing in the course even before the midterm approaches. Make Friends, They’ll Motivate You to Study You are entering a program with hundreds of classmates where you know maybe a handful of people (or none!). But fear not, making friends at Skule TM is literally the easiest thing you will do here. Frosh week is a great opportunity to get to know
your future peers. So, be sure to socialize. The person sitting next to you in orientation may be the person you will be asking for help with a problem set in a few weeks. Before you go to the professor’s office hour, before emailing the TA, the first best way to tackle a challenge is sitting down in one of the many large libraries on campus with a study group. The key takeaway is you should not worry. Sure, engineering is a challenging program, but you probably did not come here because it was going to be easy. You wanted a challenge -- and a job, upon graduation. But before all that, put your worries aside and enjoy Frosh week! You are now part of a community of purple dyed students that can chant gleeful engineering cheers. And in these paeans to pilsner (for those of you with early birthdays) commence the next chapter of your academic lives.
12 • THE CANNON
SEPTEMBER 2018
TWO GREAT PAID WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS TO MEET YOUR PROFESSIONAL NEEDS
A 4 month summer co-op experience open to years 2 + 3 An immersive 12-16 month position open to years 2 + 3
TEST DRIVE YOUR CAREER MAKE INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS EARN WHILE YOU LEARN
cannon.skule.ca
SEPTEMBER 2018
• 13
Mythbusters: UofT Engineering Edition
THE CANNON STAFF Various A few weeks ago, we asked the 2T2’s if they had any questions about university, and so, the Cannon answered them based on our own experiences. Where can I find the best burrito on campus? Best shawarma? Fat Bastard Burritos on college street is good for burritos. They have good sizes too so it’s pretty filling. They also have vegetarian options. Everyone’s got their own preference on shawarmas. There’s a food cart that hangs out outside Bahen that does good shawarmas. Quick Pita is a little shop on college street that also has shawarmas, other forms of Mediterranean cuisine and also some south Asian food (all Halal). You should also ask Professor Veneris for recommendations on shawarmas. Are there any tips you have for commuting? Commuting may seem brutal for the first days. But, you will get used to it and you’ll find ways to use that time productively. Some people use their commute time to catch up on readings and other people use it as their break
and listen to music or read a book. If you can, try to avoid getting on the transit system during rush hour. A lot of us stay back on campus after classes and get some work done, or join clubs, and end up going home later, around 7 or 8 pm, when the subway is less packed.
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both of which are entirely student run. Ask the students working there for more information if you are curious. They’re all super friendly and would love to help!
will never be like living at home with guaranteed privacy (even with your parents poking around every couple of hours), but it’s possible to have a great roommate experience, and possibly gain a new friend. What’s it like living in a For everything else, dorm? How much privacy your privacy will be are you given? respected by people in Depends on the dorm. other rooms. If you have For most of you, you’ll be any trouble, asking and sharing with a roommate explaining your situation
It’s not a wise decision to stay up late the night before a test. It never ends well.
What are some easy jobs on campus? There are several work-study opportunities available all over the university. In work-study positions, you can work for a maximum of 15 hours per week. The positions vary from helping out with administrative tasks to assisting in theatre productions. The application period ends September 21st, so be sure to check out the Career Learning Network for more information. Aside from that, there are also opportunities to work at the Hard Hat Café or the Engineering Stores,
in Chestnut or a college dorm. There can be potential conflicts with your roommate bringing unwanted guests while you’re studying/chilling. Or maybe your roommate is eating oranges at 11pm and the smell is getting to you. Or maybe your roommate is a slob. Living in a dorm and having a roommate is all about being considerate to each other’s situations and habits. The best way is to clearly outline the rules on the first day, for all situations, including situations you may never imagine coming up. Living with a roommate
to your don is a good idea as they are always helpful in solving any issues you may have, or giving you free pizza. Should I be concerned about the lack of sleep? First things first, you never really need to stay up too late unless you procrastinate too much and leave everything for the last minute. From time to time, things happen that are out of your control and you may need to pull an all-nighter to get things in on time. On days like that, you really need to ask yourself how much this is worth. If it’s an assignment
that’s not worth too much, it may be a better idea to just go to sleep. If you manage your time well, you should be able get eight hours of sleep each night. Keep in mind that some people can function on less sleep than that and so they don’t try to get more than five hours of sleep. Don’t think you need to start sleeping less too. They’re just doing what works for them and you should do what works for you. It’s not a wise decision to stay up late the night before a test. It never ends well. Is working a part time job during the semester sustainable in first year? It depends on how many hours you’re working and how much it takes out of you. Anything over ten hours is not recommended. You also need to factor in what else you’ll be doing during the year, like commuting, hours of class, extracurriculars, etc. Working a part-time job is sustainable. You’ll just have to use your ‘party time’ on work instead, but it will be rewarding. But, again, everyone is different and you need to make sure you’re not overwhelming yourself.
14 • THE CANNON
Life After Graduation
SEPTEMBER 2018
By: Nadya Abdullah
cannon.skule.ca
SEPTEMBER 2018
• 15
The Cannon Crossword: SKULETM Edition DIANA LI Cannon Layout Contributor ACROSS 7. The official serious newspaper of University of Toronto engineering 9. Humourous Newspaper 10. I spy the Duke of SkuleTM sitting in the Sandford Fleming Pub 12. WHO ARE WE? 13. Lady Godiva Memorial ____ 14. Hunting down/scavenging for stuff to bribe the judges 17. On what did you swear your oath? 18. The colour of engineering that is neither red nor blue but both 19. SkuleTM mascot.
SOLUTIONS 1. Matriculation 2. BFC 3. Toiking 4. F!rosh 5. Godiva’s Hymm 6. Iron Ring 7. The Cannon 8. Cannonball 9. Toike Oike
10. Skule Nite (Down) 10. SUDS (Across) 11. Skulehouse 12. Engineer 13. Bnad 14. Havenger Scunt 15. The Pit 16. SKULETM
17. Hard Hat 18. Purple 19. Cannon
DOWN 1. The first event during Frosh week 2. Floating hardhats 3. Ruining someones face with a newspaper 4. First year engineers are called __ 5. We are, we are, we are, we are, we are the Engineers 6. What goes on your pinky and always reminds your duty 8. The engineering ball at the end of Godiva week 10. A world-famous engineering musical and sketch comedy revue 11. School of Practical Science also known as the Little Red ________ 15. Sandford Fleming basement 16. EngSoc is the official governing body of...
16 • THE CANNON
SEPTEMBER 2018
From Distress to De-Stress HANNAH ENG Mental Wellness Director You’ve heard it by now, engineering can be hard. Engineering at UofT can be hard. And it’s one thing to hear it, but another thing to know it. I bet you any sum of money that if you were to ask any Skuligan, a student in Engineering at this university, about a time they were stressed, they would have a story for you. Staying up all night to finish their code/project or being anxious about the upcoming midterm and the sheer amount of information they needed to study. However, they will also tell you how they were able to overcome that stressful situation. If you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed, stressed, insufficient, anxious or anything else, know that it is okay. You are going to be okay. Countless people in Engineering have felt that way but they have all gotten through it with the help of friends, family, and resources, and you will too. Furthermore, there are so many people who want to help you get out of that bad place. The following is a list of just some of the resources, that you can reach out to when the going gets tough. Did you know that Snapchat has a QR Reader? Try it with the QR codes on the far right of this page to access even more resources! Family and Friends Talking through a stressful situation can help you identify what is causing your stressful feelings and what you can do to eliminate or lessen them. Family members and/or friends that you feel comfortable talking to about how you are feeling can be an amazing resource for helping you reduce stress! Because they are the most likely to know you and your situation, they can offer you help that is most tailored to you. A good practice is to schedule regular time (e.g. a certain hour every
week) to check in with family/ friends, especially if you are an international student. A simple, yet honest, “How are you? What’s going on in your life?” can make all the difference between a good day and a bad day for the both of you! Wanting to build up your close circle of friends? Joining a club or activity you’re interested in is a great way to do so. SkuleTM itself has many, many, many opportunities for you to explore. Academic Counsellors, First Year Office, and Registrar Every discipline (and the First Year Office for specifically you 2T2s!) has academic counsellors designated to help you balance your academics and your well-being. For example, they can help you with discerning if you need to speak with a professional about your health and/or making changes to your courses at the Registrar. The engineering academic workload is rigorous. Be honest with yourself if it is putting too much stress on yourself. A lighter course load may be what it takes for you to be successful!
stressed or overwhelmed. You can contact the folks at Good2-Talk anytime, from when you are extremely stressed to when you just want to chat. No reason is too small to reach out.
Health and Wellness Center (Koffler Center--where the UofT Bookstore is) Your mental and physical wellbeing are interrelated and may both be causes of why you are feeling unwell. It can be difficult to discern what is the exact cause, and it may be worth speaking with a professional. You can make appointments to do so at the Health and Wellness Center. It may take some time to get availability for an appointment , but it is worth it if it will help you.
SkuleTM Mental Health and Wellness--wait, that’s me! You will find that the UofT colleges have designated wellness studentrepresentatives; so does SkuleTM! My name is Hannah Eng (yes, that really is my last name) and I am SkuleTM’s Mental Health and Wellness Director 1T8-1T9! My team and I are here to promote the wellbeing for the students of SkuleTM. In the past we’ve held events in the Pit, held forums to discuss our mental health experiences, and provided de-stressing resources-everything from points of contact to bubble wrap. The past director has also created a Mental Health and Wellness Handbook which is chalk-full of resources and tips specific to SkuleTM. Please note, that some of the information is out-ofdate. This year’s team and I are working to update it. In addition, one of our main goals for the year is to increase the knowledge and accessibility of proactive mental health practices and resources at UofT. If you want to give yourself a headstart, give us a follow on Facebook (@SkuleMHW) and Instagram (@skulementalwellness)! The team can also be reached over email (mentalwellness@ skule.ca). Feel free to send us questions, feedback, ideas, or anything that is on your mind. We all took this position to help our fellow students!
“Feeling Distressed?” You will find this on several UofT sites and at the end of mass emails. This will take you to a list of hotlines you can call, designated online chat rooms, and other resources to use when you feel
Wellness Tips for Anywhere, Anytime Much like washing your hands or eating healthy can prevent you from catching a cold, there are daily practices and good habits to help you stay mentally healthy. Here
are just three: 1. Take Mindful Deep Breaths: Key-word here being mindful. There are several developed methods to breathing, such as breathe in for four seconds, hold for seven and breathe out for eight. My personal favorite is the breathe in for four, out for two. However, simply being aware of your breathing will help you slow down, be more in tune with your body and how it’s feeling, and generally remove you from immediate stressors and refocus you. 2. Regularly drink small sips of water. Drink water is like the mantra of health gurus, but why? Because your body uses up the water to regulate your body temperature, breathe, digest, i.e. survive. An hour of intense mental activity, such as studying or cramming for an upcoming midterm, can deplete 2% of your water storage. It only takes losing 1% to start feeling dehydrated. So does this means I have to drink “8 cups of water a day”? Not necessarily. It’s actually better to take small sips of water throughout the day, rather than large gulps in one sitting. 3. Take time to move every hour. Your body is designed to move! Give your brain a break by taking the time to stretch, walk around, or exercise. A rule of thumb is to move around for five minutes at the end of every hour. This can be as simple as rolling your shoulders, wrists, and ankles, trying to touch your toes or walking in place. You would be surprised by how refreshed and refocused you feel. There are a lot of resources to help you and your wellbeing. This article is just one scratch of the iceberg. However, the best piece of advice I believe I can impart to you is you do you. Everyone has mental health, and much like people have different dietary preferences, everyone has their own way to
best take care of their mental health. You may find some of these resources helpful, or you may not like any of these. I encourage you to find what works for you to help you. My challenge to you is to do one thing for yourself for ten minutes everyday, whether it is reading, listening to music, or having a cup of tea. Little things may not change the fact that all your midterms have been scheduled in the same week. But, they can change how you are able to handle the stress load and perform to the best of your ability. Yes, being an engineering student is hard, but that does not mean you have to be hard on yourself too. QR codes to mental health resources
List of SkuleTM clubs
Academic Advisors
Health and Wellness Centre
Resources compiled by the faculty
Mental Health and Wellness Handbook.