First and foremost, I would like to agree with everyone who suggested that getting that internship/co-op, doing research, and attending events and seminars would be exceptionally beneficial for a BME student trying to begin his or her career after graduating. However, I’ve found that there is much more that goes into developing a career than just what’s on your resume. Being able to develop connections and succeed in most interviews is highly dictated by your character and the unique experiences that you can share. While you’re deep in the books and spending countless hours in libraries and coffee shops stressing over your exams, it is equally important to remember to enjoy your time as a student. Spending leisure time with others, joining clubs, and having a hobby are such crucial factors in the development of your character. For the most part, we will all have very similar resumes. Yes, maybe some will have better GPAs, or better internships/research experience, but its the experiences and unique skills that you grow from enjoying your life that really helps in standing out in the crowd.

Personally, I could not attain an internship or co-op before graduating with the GPA I had and I am still grateful for the things that occasionally kept me away from school. The events I could have skipped so I could get that last 0.1% in Thermodynamics to get an A. The hobbies I could have pushed off to the side so I had the time and focus to at least remember the homeworks I’ve missed. It was because of the eventful experiences I have that helped me attain the current job I have now and I couldn’t be happier.