Officers at the Engineering Club meeting on Jan. 23 taught club members how to construct laser circuits from scratch while they explored the real world implications of lasers. They encouraged collaborative work that would be imperative to succeed in the STEM field.

Over 15 members experimented with circuitry, preparing students to create laser mazes for their following Jan. 30 meeting. A laser maze is a challenge where participants use mirrors to design a maze that must then be navigated without triggering the lasers.

Research lead and a senior Nicolas Jan hopes to major in electrical engineering. It is his responsibility to set up the labs, and create the examples, such as the circut that was used in the lab. Jan uses the club as a way to further his knowledge of microcontrollers and to deepen his understanding of engineering in a more hands-on way.

“Being an officer in this club has allowed me to feel responsible for many of the developments of projects since I am in charge of researching about the topic beforehand,” Jan said. “ Engineering Club strives to provide students with knowledge by spreading our passion for engineering and ingenuity.”

Jan’s goal is to spread his passion throughout the STEM community through activities he helps design. He designed the circuit that the members constructed at the end of the meeting.

“It was great seeing so many people understand and make something I designed,” Jan said. “Eventually, with this laser project, we will be able to make an obstacle course maze using mirrors and a fog machine.”

Senior Lillian Snell uses the engineering club as a window into the world of STEM, discovering her passion for engineering that she will pursue in college.

“I joined Engineering Club because I wanted that opportunity to see if it was something I was interested in or not,” Snell said. “My life has been more social and sports oriented instead of STEM, but I really wanted to give it a try, and Engineering Club was the perfect opportunity for me to do so. ”

Snell is currently committed to Texas A&M University for engineering. She was previously the media lead for Engineering Club, but stepped back from her position to prioritize gaining confidence at meetings.

“I have been able to gain confidence through being a member of Engineering Club,” Snell said. “I want to be more comfortable with trying new things, and it’s so nice to work collaboratively with my friends and other more experienced officers to build my confidence.”

Safety and Inventory Lead and senior Kevin Yan, has been a part of the club since his sophomore year, and believes collaborative work is a fundamental part of excelling in the STEM field. As inventory lead, it is his responsibility to control the materials for labs.

“The STEM field is very vast,” Yan said. “There’s a lot of subjects you need to cover to be successful, and it’s difficult to understand everything yourself. So, collaboration is important so that someone can pick up the slack.We had a very limited amount of time during the meeting, so collaboration was essential to finish on time.”

Yan has a specific interest in circuitry, which was the topic of the meeting’s lab. Collaboration with experts in the field have helped him polish his interests. In his Junior year, the club went to an Ion prototyping lab that was hosted downtown. The club got to see the machines, 3D printers and projects, and get help on our personal projects.

“The lab demonstrated the many parts and applications of the STEM field,” Yan said. “Being able to work there helped us get insight on what to do and what to avoid to benefit the club.”

Engineering Club plans to explore robot racing and incorporating drone use, a project Yan is “really looking forward to.”

Pre-AP Biology teacher and sponsor of Engineering Club Suvidha Samant is impressed with the member’s and officer’s abilities to ask questions and discover answers. Samant hopes that the club members will continue to refine their skills for the future.

“The members are a highly organized, knowledgeable and skilled group of students who demonstrate maturity beyond their grade level,” Samant said. “My hope is that the Engineering Club continues to be a space where students feel confident about experimenting, asking questions and taking intellectual risks. I hope they leave with stronger problem-solving skills, confidence in their abilities and a curiosity that extends beyond the classroom.”

Samant believes that the collaboration she sees within the club is a fundamental part of success within the STEM field. She is consistently inspired by the collaboration of the members, as well as their ability to learn and grow from each other.

“Seeing students exchange ideas, learn from their mistakes, and support one another during club activities highlights real growth, not just academically, but as confident thinkers and emerging leaders,” Samant said. “Those moments are often where the actual learning happens.”

Follow Engineering Club’s activities at @engineeringclub.bhs and attend their meetings every Friday in Room 2603.