Abdullah Jassim (AJ) Alkhamees — Perseverance Award
Post-graduation plans: pursue an MS in architectural engineering at ƷSMӰƬ.
This award recognizes undergraduates students who persevere despite hardship.
What is your favorite memory from your time at ƷSMӰƬ?
My favorite memory at ƷSMӰƬ was joining campus clubs and organizations and the people I met through them. The people I met through the CU Car Club, along with those I met from working on campus turned out to be the best people I have ever met.
What accomplishment are you most proud of, either academically or personally?
I am proud of myself for being able to bounce back after the pandemic reached its peak. It helped me become a stronger person mentally. I am proud of myself for being able to establish a healthy relationship with myself, which I did not previously realize how important that would be.
Tell us about a moment (or moments) when you felt like you hit your stride or felt like you were “officially” an engineer.
After attending the AEI (Architectural Engineering Institute) conference in April, I felt like I was an engineer. While sitting at the table of a policy-oriented workshop with other architectural engineering undergraduates, I led my cohort with solving the problems presented by the guest speaker.
What was the biggest challenge for you during your engineering education? What did you learn from it?
Balancing my social life and my education was the biggest challenge I have faced. Thankfully, I was able to find that balance in 2022 when I learned the importance of discipline and self-talk. In the long run, having such discipline is important as it reduces the probability of burnout. I have burned out in the past from working too hard, which kept me from participating in other activities.
What is your advice for incoming engineering students?
The transition from high school to college is challenging, but you are not alone. My biggest piece of advice is to get involved with on-campus activities as soon as possible. I remember ignoring this type of advice from previous seniors, only to later regret it. Spend as much time as you can making friends, interacting with them and studying with them. Friends within your major are ideal as you will see them in class, however don't be afraid to branch out. Remember, your self and your well-being comes first, no matter how stressful or challenging school can be. Stay healthy, get sleep, engage in physical activity and most importantly remember to have fun!