Testimonials

For me SDC was more than a pleasant experience, more than a simple student competition. It was a gateway to a domain that fascinated me, and motivated me to work and learn new things, it was like a springboard to seismic engineering field. Certainly this competition contributed decisively to the path that I follow since I was accepted to a master's program in Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology in France and Italy, and now I have the opportunity to explore in more details what I have discovered in the seismic design competition. Teamwork, the joy of a successful project, the feeling it was worth all the effort and the idea that without this opportunity to participate in the competition I probably would not be here, make the Seismic Design Competition the most beautiful experience of a student's life. I conclude by thanking the professors who guided us and I wish best of luck to the upcoming teams.

Participating last year at the USDC has left a major impact upon my view on working in teams with partners of mutual interests, helping me notice the importance of commitment from all team members in order to achieve a common goal. Also, this experience has convinced me, that multinational groups have different perspectives on the same field, competitions such as these helping to achieve problem solving ideas faster, such as structural efficiency. Such competitions do not only empower career opportunities, but also offer the individual, in this case, me, the framework to use his full potential.

Seismic Design Competition was one of the biggest opportunities of my life from an educational, social and cultural point of view. When I applied I knew it was going to be an interesting experience but I never imagined what impact it would have on me. One of the major things I learned is actually how little I know, not just about earthquake engineering but about engineering itself, hence the need to better myself. That “simple” balsa structure made me and my colleagues feel helpless more than once, when dealing with the challenges that it presented to us. From our many deadlines I found out that I can achieve a great deal of things in a limited amount of time, how to better manage my schedule, and that in order to win some you must lose some. Team work has taught me a very important lesson, mostly things that I need to change about myself, a lesson about friendship and acceptance despite different opinions and the occasional arguments. This competition was the starting point for getting a job at one of the biggest companies in the world, where this kind of work is appreciated and rewarded. I am very thankful for the chance I was given and for the amazing memories I created.