Bio
Details: 18, from Shrewsbury, UK
Imperial Course: MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Previous Education: A-Levels (Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Economics)
Clubs and societies: String Ensemble, Dance Club, Electrical Engineering, Robotics
Inspiration: Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Tags: Home, UG, full-time, FoE, EEE, dyslexia, dyspraxia
Motivations and Frustrations
Motivations
Elena is studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering because she is fascinated by technology and electronics. She was diagnosed with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia when she was at school and one of her strengths is seeing how systems operate at a large scale and how different components relate to each other. This is also why she enjoys ensemble music and dance. She is unsure of what to pursue when she graduates, though she hopes to work in a field that allows her to explore new technological advancements.
Frustrations
Before starting at Imperial Elena declared her dyslexia and dyspraxia so assessment accommodations were put in place for her. However, she finds lectures frustrating as much of the content is presented in a style which she finds challenging to visualise. She is keeping up with her programme but is worried that, as it is a demanding course, she might fall behind. She is using the Introductory Maths Catalogue to help her find resources in different styles so she can prepare for upcoming modules.
Elena's Stories
Elena is a first-year student in EEE, she is dyslexic and dyspraxia which means she has some difficulties which are supported by the Disability Advisory Service. It also means she has strengths in areas such as big picture thinking and creativity. The Introductory Maths Catalogue helps Elena find resources that are more suited to the way she learns, like videos but it also helps her see the bigger picture and how the concepts she already knows link to her course.
Elena visited the Careers Service for help writing her CV to apply for part-time work. She now has two CVs. One General CV and one that is tailored for a specific role she found. Visit the Careers Service for more information on how to develop your CV and to explore how Elena’s two CVs are different.
Elena's dyslexia and dyspraxia makes processing dense materials and organizing her thoughts challenging. She uses Generative AI to summarize complex texts into clear points and to structure assignments when she starts to feel overwhelmed. The tool also helps her plan by breaking large tasks into smaller, manageable steps, easing the difficulties she faces with coordinating her thoughts. While Generative AI is a powerful aid, Elena sometimes finds it frustrating when responses are overly long, making it harder to focus. She’s also determined to ensure she doesn’t lose the ability to solve problems independently, so she uses AI as a guide rather than a crutch. By combining it with support from tutors, she is finding a balance that helps her grow while addressing her challenges. This way, Elena can focus on her strengths, like creativity and seeing the bigger picture.