Q&A with Mayuri Sothynathan

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

Why did you choose Western Engineering?

In high school, I loved learning about maths and sciences. I felt that engineering was a field in which I could apply my knowledge in these subjects to creatively solve real-world problems. I chose Western because of the strong sense of community and the general first year. When I entered first year, I thought that I would pursue a degree in chemical engineering. However, after being exposed to various subjects in engineering, I realized that a degree in electrical engineering would better suit my interests.

Favourite study spot on campus?

My favourite spot to study on campus is the Amit Chakma Engineering Building because it exemplifies Western Engineering’s sense of community. You will never feel alone in your struggles because of the support Western’s engineering community has to offer. Furthermore, we also benefit from giving help to others. Teaching someone a tough concept or how to approach a difficult homework problem is one of the best ways to learn and understand it. If you can teach something to someone, you shouldn’t have any issues with it on an evaluation.

Study Tips?

It is very important to understand the concepts before they can be applied. I often reach out to my textbooks, Youtube, and/or my peers when I need extra clarification on concepts. I will often summarize all I have learned onto one sheet. I strongly believe in trying all the homework problems. Perhaps, this is a waste of time for some, but this is the best way for me to practice the skills I learned in lecture so I can perform well on evaluations.

It is important to note that the best way to study is highly subjective. The best advice I can give you is to learn about how you learn. This is a continuous journey, but if you know what works best for you, you can do great things!

Time Management vs. Energy Management

Funnily enough, the most important thing I learned from my business class had nothing to do with the course content! One day, my professor spoke about how “energy management” is a much more valuable practice than “time management.” Often, when we are focussed on managing our time to ensure that we meet both short-term and long-term goals, we make sacrifices to our energy levels. He suggested that during “high-energy times,” we attempt to accomplish “high-energy” tasks, while we do the opposite during “low-energy times.” Managing energy levels in this fashion, allows us to accomplish tasks more productively, and free up more time. Furthermore, it ties various aspects of a healthy lifestyle (i.e. eating, sleeping, exercising, socializing) that allow you to lead a healthy and balanced life.

Although I still keep myself organized using a calendar app that is synchronized to all my devices and a “to-do list” summarizing my long-term and short-term goals, this approach has changed the way in which I approach academics entirely.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I enjoy seeing friends, playing the piano, singing, and working out at Western’s Recreation Centre. For as long as I can remember, music has played an important role in my life. I joke that for an engineering student, I spend a lot of time in the music practice rooms in Talbot College. Despite how busy the school year gets, I insist that it is important that you find at least one thing that you enjoy that you do solely for yourself. Having this in my life allows me to manage stress because it allows me to lead a healthy, balanced life. While it may sometimes feel like I don’t have enough time to fit this into my busy schedule, it has a direct correlation with my academic performance.