My story

My name is Che Lorde, I am a motivated mechanical engineering student at York University pursuing a Bachelors in Engineering. I am passionate about tech-stewardship and design engineering, and my hope is to  become a Mechanical Design Engineer whose solutions push the boundaries of innovation, and create designs that promote inclusivity.  ​I have always loved creating things - even at a small age. Back when I was four, I drew my own paper  action figures , cut them out, and even folded the the figures' arms and legs to mimic joints. That moment marked the beginning of discovering my desire to design features and create products people would enjoy. Although I enjoyed being creative with my designs and did well in physics and math, I was unsure of which path I wanted to pursue. ​Ultimately, it was my aunt who guided me towards the profession of mechanical engineering, and introduced me to York's engineering program at Lassonde, which included a co-op program. This opportunity piqued my interest, as it seemed like the perfect way to combine my artistic and technical skills in a practical way that could be used to help others. 

 

Throughout my university experience, I have had the opportunity to work on engaging projects that have pushed me to innovate more and think critically. However, none was more impactful than when I had the incredible opportunity to work at HandiFuel, a startup within Lassonde's BEST program. During my time there, I designed and constructed a robotic arm to refuel cars for those with physical disabilities. This experience allowed me to transition from making simple projects to crafting moving electronic mechanisms. ​Since then, I have been learning new skills to become a mechanical design engineer by teaching myself how to code, program hardware, machining, and 3D model on different software. Outside of class, I am a Senior Member for the Mechanical team of YURS Rover team where I leverage my knowledge of AutoCAD and machining to help the team with advanced tasks such as building more complex rover parts. Furthermore, I host workshops to pass on my seasoned technical skills to junior members.​

 

Many people have contributed to helping me become the person I am today, and a significant influence in my life was my 6th-grade homeroom teacher, Mr. Lantz, who not only encouraged me to surpass the minimum but also noticed when my progress plateaued. Mr. Lantz motivated me to invest maximum effort into every assignment, instilling in me the value of never settling for anything less than 110%. Recognizing my potential, Mr. Lantz inspired me to strive for the best version of myself, always exerting maximum effort and avoiding the easy path. This lesson has accompanied me throughout my academic and professional journey, and has driven me to actively acquire skills independently. ​Now, I am a mechanical engineer undergrad at York University who is a team player and has a passion for design, as evidenced by my extracurricular activities with York University’s robotics team, performance at hackathons, and work experience. I continue to push myself to learn new skills and think creatively so that I can leverage that knowledge to solve complex problems both in school and in the workplace.​