Chloe K.

I graduated from John G. Diefenbaker High School in Calgary, AB. During my time there, I: - Co-founded a club that hand-knitted hats and scarves to donate to homeless shelters, contributing over 170 knitted items to non-profit organizations like Alpha House and Project Warmth. - Hosted a community food drive that aimed to raise awareness of local food waste and collect donations for the Calgary Food Bank. - Provided one-on-one support in various subject areas as a math tutor at my school and a coding program volunteer at my local library. - Graduated with a 97% average, scoring 7s in all my IB subjects (SL Physics, SL Math, HL Chemistry), and achieving 100% on the Physics, Biology, and Mathematics 30-1 diploma exams. These experiences catalyzed my personal growth in a way I will never forget. My involvement with these extracurriculars and dedication towards my academics was where I learned to value myself outside of my accomplishments, overcome my fear of connecting with new people, and approach life with greater compassion. My favourite and most fulfilling extracurricular was my volunteer work at the library, where I got to share my passion for coding as a mentor for kids aged 6-9. I found it incredibly rewarding to bond with them, watch their skills grow over the course of the program, and see all their hard work come together at the end.

Whether it’s through writing, crafting, programming, or simply piecing components together, I’ve always found joy in breathing ideas to life, which is what drew me to UCalgary’s engineering program. To me, engineering is the perfect fusion between my academic and creative interests, where I can learn how to turn abstract concepts into tangible realities. I’m most excited about resources available to me through the Makerspace that I’ve never had access to before, like welding equipment, soldering irons, laser cutters, and robots. I look forward to learning more about these tools and exploring the endless possibilities they open up. Throughout my undergraduate experience, I hope to gain valuable hands-on experience and collaborate on meaningful projects with my peers.

I recently rediscovered a passion for creating innovative solutions with software, and I plan to specialize in software engineering starting from my second year. Although I’m still exploring possibilities, I’m particularly drawn to areas where technology and creativity intersect. After graduation, I hope to develop software that addresses real-world challenges and has a lasting, positive impact on people’s lives. While I am open to working in a variety of fields, I look forward to developing a more focused interest over the course of my degree.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my high school teachers, whose passion for their subjects single-handedly shaped my perception of science and mathematics. I am forever grateful for their inspiring attitude and for believing in me.