Reflection

The Grand Challenges Program at Mines drove me to engage in meaningful activities and push myself to grow in areas relating to the engineering grand challenges. Until I really began knocking out the pillars of the program, my goal of working on any of the challenges was out of my ability. Now, I am confident in my skills that will allow me to someday help optimize complex infrastructure and reach efficient use of our natural resources. 

        Each task I was part of during college contributed to my growth. Mines without Borders taught me how to communicate with those across the world and to teach others to do the same. Designing a community informational website tool for a future Canadian town is the future of community engagement as my professor and industry client told my team. Advising young college students strengthened my people skills, and volunteering gave me other paths to use them. Underground environmental research taught me patience and flexibility and made me accept lots of step backs. Proposing a tiny house community taught me to be confident in my and my team's ideas. And finally learning about engineering from my professors add deeper perspectives to all of it.

        I feel like I am now ready to tackle huge problems like struggling urban infrastructure and depleting water stores, both exacerbated by increasing populations. There is still much for me to learn, both skills and processes, but I am confident that I can make a difference on some of the grand challenges now whether by myself or as part of a large team. Because of my engagement in the grand challenges program, I have so many real-life applicable skills that I plan on using throughout my time after college.