Introduce yourself briefly:
Hi, I’m Padena! I’m a software engineering student in the class of 2026!
Waterloo Engineering in one word:
Fun!
I choose Waterloo Engineering because:
I chose Waterloo Engineering because I wanted to use my university experience to pursue a wide range of areas like entrepreneurship, research, and experiential learning, and I felt like Waterloo had a good mix of all of those! The strong sense of community and amazing co-op program also stood out to me when making my decision.
The best thing about my program is:
The cohort would have to be the best thing about Software Engineering. It’s great to have the chance to connect with so many bright people. It’s also amazing that we share all of our classes and are always helping each other out!
About my Co-op experience:
My co-op experience has been a great learning experience. I worked at TD Bank as a Software Developer Intern, and I was able to quickly familiarize myself with new frameworks, improve my development skills and contribute to multiple projects!
I wish I had known before I came:
I wish I had known that comparing myself to other students is not a healthy way to measure my success.
Outside the classroom, I’m involved with:
URA, Engineering Orientation, Engineering Ambassadors
One more thing about me:
Aside from all things computer related, I also really enjoy reading, and I’m involved with non-profit work related to creative writing!