Q&A with Sierra Boudreau

I didn't know much about Engineering at first, but the longer I've been here, the more I've realized I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

Sierra Boudreau

Fourth Year Chemical Engineering and Artificial Intelligence Systems Engineering

 

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

Why Western Engineering?

I originally chose Western because it had the perfect balance of strong academics and a fun student experience. The beautiful campus and walkable downtown made it feel like somewhere I could truly enjoy living. I didn't know much about Engineering at first, but the longer I've been here, the more I've realized I'm exactly where I'm meant to be. I also love that Western lets you explore first year before committing to a discipline or dual-degree program at the end of first year.

What do you do in your spare time?

I spend a lot of my free time thrifting, hiking, or hanging out at the beach with friends. On the flip side, I'm also a huge gamer and love working on my own little projects, whether that's building an app, learning a new skill, or just seeing if I can bring a random idea to life. I like having a mix of getting outside and being creative on my computer.

Can you talk about your extracurricular activities at Western?

I've been involved with EngSoc and UES, the Big Sister Little Sister mentorship program, and I love going to engineering conferences whenever I can. I'm also President of Chem-E-Car, where we're bringing Western's only Chemical Engineering design team back to life. I'd tell every student to say yes to opportunities. You never know what you'll enjoy or who you'll meet, and that's honestly one of the best parts of the engineering community at Western that sets it apart from other universities.

Why did you choose your specific stream of engineering?

I chose Chemical Engineering because I loved chemistry in high school and was always curious about what makes up the world around us. I actually didn't know about the AI Systems Engineering dual degree until first year. Once I learned I could combine my interest in technology and software with Chemical Engineering, it just felt like the perfect fit.

What is your favourite book, movie, or TV show?

I'm not much of a reader, but I love listening to podcasts while I work or study. My favourite is a true crim podcast called "Rotten Mango". As for movies, you can never go wrong with a sparkly pink early 2000s girly flick. Some of my all time favourites are "Mean girls", "Clueless", and "Legally Blonde".

Who do you look up to/admire and why?

I really admire the women in STEM who fought to have their work recognized when they weren't taken seriously. As I mentioned, Legally Blonde is one of my favourite movies, and I love the message that femininity and intelligence can go hand in hand. I hope more girls grow up knowing they never have to choose between loving pink and being taken seriously as engineers.