Errol Bowman
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I did a 16-month co-op placement after my third year of undergrad and did not have the experience I was expecting to have. I did not understand the management team's objectives and did not feel like I had the skills and knowledge to direct my own work, making the experience boring. After that experience, I decided I would try something different before entering the workforce again. A master's degree seemed like a good option that would allow me to build confidence in the skills I developed in undergrad, gain experience and allow me to get a taste of graduate school before committing a large amount of time to a PhD.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
I love exploring, skiing, rock climbing and many other sports, and British Columbia is a great place to do all those things. Luckily, UBC also exists in British Columbia and has a strong academic reputation, so it seemed like a good choice for my interests.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
I got an undergraduate degree in engineering and decided I wanted to try something new in graduate school and see what happens in the closely related world of science.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
I was surprised by how good the bicycle infrastructure is in the city. There are lots of bike lanes and small streets which make it easy to commute by bike around the city.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
My undergraduate degree gave me a strong background in electronics which has been useful for lab work, but I would say that nothing in particular has prepared me specifically for graduate school. The desire to be here and a strong work ethic have helped me survive the theory courses I have had to take.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Don't be afraid to speak up and try new things; it's okay to make mistakes and learn from them.