It is hard to believe that my first year of electrical engineering at Laval University is already done! This semester was easier than the previous one because I was more adapted to my new environment.

Studying in electrical engineering is not something easy, but it is very incredible how much you can learn in just few months. I have good teachers because they care about our success by helping us as much as they can, which I appreciate a lot. Also, integrating what I have learned in my courses in my after school occupations is something very interesting because I am able to make connections between what I have learned in classes and what you can do with this knowledge in real projects.

For the summer to come, I have plenty of projects. In fact, I decided that I will do personal projects instead of finding an internship. I planned to do internships starting on the summer after my second year of studies. So, for this summer, I will do first an English immersion with the Explore program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. It is going to be on the spring session starting on May 19. I am going to improve my English having English classes and activities for five weeks. I am very glad to visit another part of our great country. And we don’t know, maybe I will be able to meet Schulich Leaders from UBC! After this five weeks English program, I will leave Vancouver to go to Green River, Utah to participate to the 10th Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition in June 2015. We will launch our rocket to 10,000 feet above the ground. As a member of the electronic division of our group, I have learned a bunch of technical things about electronics components that a rocket needs to have to work properly. I am so excited to be part of this experience with my teammates from the Groupe d’Aérospatial de l’Université Laval.

Everything I am going to do this summer, from improving my English to launch a rocket in the desert is possible because of the generosity of Mr. Schulich. I can’t thank him enough for giving me the opportunity of living all these incredible events. I am so grateful to be the recipient of the Schulich Leader bursary in engineering at Laval University for 2014. I can really tell you that if you believe in yourself, everything is possible.

Have a great summer to all of you!

Vincent Rocheleau

2014 Schulich Leader in engineering at Laval University