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We recently caught up with Ira, a 13 year old student who participated in our virtual Engineering Experience course last month. Ira's journey began with their enrolment in the Smallpeice Trust virtual engineering course. "I had heard of this course through my school newsletter," Ira recalled, expressing her initial interest in the programme. The course provided a stimulating and engaging learning environment, offering hands-on experiences that complemented traditional classroom instruction. 

Key Takeaways and Skill Development 

One of the most significant takeaways for Ira was the opportunity to work on Scratch, a popular programming language. "While initially challenging, mastering Scratch proved to be a rewarding experience," Ira shared. Additionally, designing their own lunar rover presented a complex and demanding task, but ultimately led to valuable learning and growth.  

Inspiration from a Diverse Learning Environment 

Ira found inspiration in the collaborative nature of the course. "Having a team to rely on to try to give an answer to the query you have," Ira remarked, highlighting the importance of teamwork in the engineering field. "As in if I were to be an engineer, I won't have a teacher to tell me to do something. I would have a team to guide me." Ira also praised the role of their team member, Madiah, who "kept on asking the team to help with any queries on the chat." 

Summing Up the Course: 

When asked to summarise the course in three words, Ira chose "innovative," "fun," and "hard." These words encapsulate the dynamic and challenging nature of the program, which combined cutting-edge engineering concepts with enjoyable and engaging activities. 

Career Aspirations and Engineering Insight 

The course significantly impacted Ira's career aspirations. "Well, I always wanted to be an engineer, but it is just that I was never into cars that much," Ira explained. "I always thought engineers make cars (because of my father) as he is a mechanical engineer. All thanks to this Smallpeice Trust, I know that engineers don't just make cars; they also design code which is what I am into." 

Encouragement for Future Participants 

Ira offered strong encouragement to other students considering the Smallpeice Trust virtual engineering course. "I would say that if you want to become any type of engineer then you should totally go for Smallpeice as they will give you the right information and you will also get the experience of working in a team, which is highly crucial in the workspace nowadays," Ira advised. "If you don't know what you want to become then also, I would highly recommend this programme as you will get so much experience from this, that you might go away and say that I want to become an engineer." 

In conclusion, Ira's participation in the Smallpeice Trust virtual engineering course proved to be a transformative experience. Through hands-on projects, collaborative teamwork, and exposure to diverse engineering fields, Ira developed valuable skills and gained a deeper understanding of the engineering profession. The course's impact on Ira's career aspirations and their enthusiasm for encouraging future participation highlight its significance as a valuable educational opportunity.