Allan Santana
Second-year civil engineering student
Showcase
Eng 2003 Assignment #1
During my participation in Eng 2003, I was given the opportunity to demonstrate my skills in writing a cover letter directed to a job ad regarding structural engineering. I selected this assignment to showcase as I believe it was one of the best cover letters, I've ever written. Not only is the cover letter visually pleasing but I believe it is well organized and demonstrates my development as a communicator by expressing my skills in the form of written text. Although the assignment did not push me outside my comfort zone, it pushed me to explore different formatting options.
Showcase
Eng 2003 Assignment #3
During my participation in Eng 2003, I created two brochures on the topic of the 50 grand challenges, targeting high school students and experts in the field respectively. This assignment allowed me to showcase my visual presentation skills and expand my communication skills beyond written text. Despite being outside of my comfort zone, I am proud of my work as it demonstrated my ability to create visually appealing and informative content while pushing my boundaries as a communicator.
Showcase
Eng 2003 Assignment #4
During my participation in Eng 2003, I was honored to participate in a group presentation related to the topic of energy crises in cities. I selected this project to showcase as I am very proud of the final product. Making the presentation definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone as my group and I decided to create the presentation on PowerPoint instead of Google Slides which was uncomfortable as I have more experience with Google Slides than I do with PowerPoint. The presentation slides I created were able to express my development as a communicator as I was able to quickly adapt to a new platform and still provide the reader with one of my best presentations.
Showcase
Introduction to Environmental Engineering Presentation
I decided to showcase my presentation about the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment for Water because I believe this is an important topic of discussion. The presentation describes my development as a communicator as it tested my oral communication skills while presenting in front of the whole class. The presentation pushed me outside of my comfort zone as It's been a while since I presented a presentation in person. Although this presentation was not my best work, I still consider it to be well-made and a good representation of my organization and oral communication skills.
Reflection (ENG2003)
ENG2003 was a pleasant surprise for me, as it offered a wealth of practical information, techniques, and abilities to enhance our real-world preparedness. The course covered cover letter and resume writing, oral and written communication, and interview practices and tips.
The most helpful aspect of the course was the focus on oral communication, which is a critical skill that can benefit anyone in presenting themselves effectively. We learned about effective body language, tone modulation, and clear and concise speech. The course also taught us about the various formats and styles of written communication, helping us understand the importance of communicating effectively in writing.
Mock interview sessions were another valuable component of the course during the tutorials. We gained hands-on experience with the interview process, learning about the importance of preparation, confidence, and responding to challenging questions. The feedback provided by the instructor and peers helped us identify areas of improvement.
Finally, the course provided several examples of well-written cover letters and resumes, enabling us to identify the essential components of an effective job application. It also taught us how to customize resumes and cover letters to cater to the needs of the company and the job position.
In conclusion, ENG2003 was a valuable course that helped me develop critical skills that will be useful in my career. The practical content and interactive sessions made me feel much more confident in my ability to present myself and communicate effectively. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to enhance their job search and communication skills.
Reflection (Personal)
Prior to ENG2003, my communication skills were at a beginner level, and I struggled to stand out from the crowd. My communication was very basic and did not effectively convey my ideas. However, after completing the course, I can confidently say that I have developed into a much more effective communicator.
The course provided me with valuable communication skills and tips, such as the 7 C's method, which has helped me to create clear and concise messages in various formats, including PowerPoint presentations. These skills have allowed me to better convey my ideas and communicate effectively with others.
Despite these improvements, I still recognize that my oral communication skills require further development. Throughout the course, I realized that I sometimes struggle to speak clearly enough for people to understand me. To address this issue, I am currently undergoing speech therapy, which is helping me to practice carefully pronouncing every word correctly.
Overall, ENG2003 has been a transformative experience for me. The course has changed the way I approach my other engineering courses by teaching me how to effectively communicate with my TA's and professors through emails. I am now better equipped to convey my ideas and collaborate effectively with others in both academic and professional settings.
In conclusion, I am grateful for the skills and knowledge that I have gained through ENG2003, and I am excited to continue developing my communication skills. I believe that effective communication is a critical component of success, and I am confident that the skills I have learned in this course will serve me well in my future endeavors.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-santana-soto-48a089227/
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My LinkedIn page, which lists you as a second-year York University civil engineering student, highlights my academic success and professional experience. With my prior experience as a barman and media support, I have proven my capacity to operate under pressure and multitask well. My excellent people skills have helped me succeed in these positions, and my concentration on precision and attention to detail have helped me succeed in my academic endeavors. My involvement in the popsicle stick bridge project demonstrates my creative problem-solving abilities and capacity for teamwork. My LinkedIn profile showcases my expertise, accomplishments, and wide set of skills and competencies, as well as my enthusiasm for civil engineering.
Passion Project
Popsicle Stick Bridge
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My passion project originated by taking the Civil Engineering Materials (CIVL2120) course. Making a popsicle stick bridge that complied with certain physical specifications was one of the tasks we had to do. I'm pleased to report that my bridge not only met all the specifications but could also support 180 pounds of weight.
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I had the chance to discuss the physical and chemical elements that led to the success of my bridge during the presentation we had to make after finishing the project. I discussed the characteristics of the popsicle sticks I used, the bridge's design, and the techniques I utilized to build it. I was able to better express my subject-matter expertise thanks to this.
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I included the technical information as well as the lessons I discovered while working on the project. I emphasized the benefits of thorough planning, teamwork, and the significance of being aware of physical features and how they apply to engineer projects. I think that by sharing my knowledge, I might encourage others to work on related endeavors and further my own education.
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I'm quite pleased with my passion project and the excellent score I got for it. It's a wonderful chance to demonstrate my abilities, expertise, and creativity. I hope that my presentation will inspire my audience to take on similar tasks in addition to impressing them.
