Q&A with Erik Majthenyi

Erik is a student ambassador here to answer your questions. Click here to contact Erik.

What inspired you to choose engineering?

Throughout high school, I enjoyed and excelled at courses like physics, calculus, and chemistry. I also loved to tackle difficult problems and think critically in order to solve them. Wondering how all of this could transfer into a career, I decided on engineering. Engineers get to use creativity and innovation to solve problems every day and serve society. I was drawn to how it is such a hands-on profession, where you can see the physical results of your work and feel the satisfaction of making a difference in the world. Since engineering work can take you anywhere in the world, I knew it would also allow me to follow my passion for travelling and experiencing new cultures.

Why did you choose civil engineering?

The common first year that Western offers was incredibly useful in figuring out which stream of engineering I wanted to pursue. Although I already had a good feeling about studying civil engineering, being exposed to all variety of technical courses really helped determine my specific interests, what I excelled at, and what I really did not like. While I enjoyed all of my courses in first year, the ones that stood out to me were Statics, Physics, and Properties of Materials, which confirmed my interest in pursuing civil engineering.

Why Western Engineering?

When I attended Western Engineering’s Fall Preview Day as a high school student, it left such an exceptional impression on me. What really stood out to me was the incredible sense of community that exists not only at Western, but specifically within Western Engineering, and I knew that this was the school for me. There really is a sense of family among all the students and every new member of the family feels immediately welcomed. This feeling of community also extends to the staff, as there is a wide variety of support available and professors are always willing to help. As well, Western has a very strong and reputable engineering department, specifically in civil engineering. I was also attracted to the co-op and internship program that Western offers, where students have the option to enhance their learning with a work term before graduation.

Can you talk about your residence experience?

I was in Essex Hall in my first year and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I was drawn to Essex because it is a suite-style residence, where I would have my own bedroom and an apartment with a full kitchen to share with 3 others. This allowed me to have a choice between heading down to the cafeteria for a meal or cooking on my own. Essex was also very close to all the engineering buildings as well as the rec centre. I was not on the designated engineering floor, however, I did end up spending most of my time there studying and hanging out with others in my program. This provided a great sense of community since we all had the same class schedules, and we would always be helping each other with homework assignments or studying for exams. Overall, it was an invaluable experience and I gained lifelong friends.

How to succeed in university/engineering?

Stay organized. Having good organization can have a huge impact on your grades and makes it much less stressful when you get busy. There are lots of deadlines and lots to keep track of so get a planner, make a calendar, use sticky notes, whatever works for you.

Get ahead of the game. Don’t leave work until later – finish assignments ahead of time as soon as they are assigned. Your workload can pile up quickly and unexpectedly so staying on top of it will prevent you from having to cram and pull all-nighters.

Balance school and leisure. Schoolwork can definitely consume your schedule, but its important to make time for activities that you enjoy, especially ones that help you destress. On the other hand, university is a lot of fun and its easy to get caught up in it so don’t let your grades pay the price.

Do everything. University can provide you with so much more than just an education. There are so many opportunities to get involved, try something new, or create new experiences. Join clubs, play on intramural teams with friends, go to campus events, run for a student government position. When you look back on your time at university, you will remember all the great experiences and all the friends you made because of them.