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Hi ShockSoc!👋
My name is Rachel, and I just finished my first year studying Computer Science here at Leeds! I absolutely love the crossover between code and hardware. Even though I'm still relatively new to the electrical engineering side of things, I've been spending my spare time building a fully functional remote-controlled car from scratch. I first discovered ShockSoc at a Robot Fighting League (RFL) event and I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. I knew right away that I had to get involved!

Over the past year, I've thrown myself into exploring different sides of our field. I've been fortunate enough to experience everything from massive professional environments - like attending the BCS Lovelace Conference in Bath, a specialized insight day at Cummins Huddersfield, and the Astbury Conversation right here at Leeds - to incredibly relaxed academic settings, like listening to PhD students discuss their research over drinks at The Library Pub.

Experiencing both industrial powerhouses and casual pub chats proved to me that academic and industrial networking doesn't have to be stiff, formal or intimidating to be incredibly valuable. I want to use the connections and insights I've built this year to bring those exact opportunities straight back to the society.

If elected as your Academic and Industrial Rep, my goals for us are:
- Casual Networking: I will bring more technology and engineering firms to campus for relaxed, low-pressure networking and engaging guest talks. You should be able to chat with industry professionals as comfortably as you would with a classmate.
- Exciting Site Visits: I will organize dedicated trips to major industrial environments, giving you a direct, behind-the-scenes look at how engineering works at scale.
- Early and Transparent Opportunities: Finding the right path shouldn't feel like a guessing game. Whether you are hunting for a competitive summer internship or trying to explore different academic pathways, I will ensure all placement and research opportunities are clearly shared as early as possible so nobody misses out.

Academic and career growth doesn't have to be boring - it just takes the right connections. Let's build some great ones together this year!

Vote for Rachel for Academic and Industrial Rep!