my waterloo eng first term experience

i chased the 4.0 so much that i lost myself in the process. comparison made me insecure and lonely.
tried out voice over and did more color grading than usual.
if y'all grade 12s want a deadass video on the program, i can make it.
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[@humphryshan9494]

too many women, they thought they could fool me with the loo propaganda

[@simonvutov7575]

Hey, I got into UW Computer Eng, this video seems really relatable. I've been on the academic grind along with my freinds for the past few years, tmr I have a physics test, and all these vibes in the video are really common for me. Make sure you take some time to enjoy life! You've worked hard to get into waterloo, enjoy the process.

[@KaleaJakic]

i get u.. waterloo is ridiclousy draining despite being on top at the start or so ahead

[@nguyenleon1]

Subbed. This video was extremely well-made.

[@Ouisrishti]

Ray ! Amazing vlog ! The reflection and your feelings really came across. Thank you for sharing! Hope the experience gets better for you as the next 4 years roll.

[@sleepykira]

know that you'll always have supporters behind you man, keep pushing forward. all love. one stranger to another.

[@aminakay8]

I feel like burnout isn't talked about properly before entering uni for the first time. I ended up losing myself in my first year, but somehow I'm still going. To anyone struggling, make sure you reach out and start focusing more on your health. Your degree is not worth it if you end up ruining your health. And with time, it does get better. Be kind to yourself. You will be okay 💗

[@kyliemorganyt]

This was relatable to another level as I'm a UW Computer eng student, same term, and lived at same res the same time as you. I posted a semester recap with most of the positive memories from 1A, so it's bittersweet to relate to the not so fun experiences you portrayed so well in the vid.

[@rayrui]

CE sounds rough .. let's hope 1b is better

[@ClimbClear]

This is going to help a lot of people.

[@catherinevelarde5272]

you’re so cool raymond

[@faith2035]

Cool video! First year engg at the UofR n totally relatable. I hope the lonely feeling gets better, ive met a lot of great friends who helped me through it. Although starting the 2nd term is a bit- idk- im getting used to it ig. A lot of studying, it's getting kinda fun though. Hope to see you in some conferences down the line! We'll make it through

[@JetersEK]

Great video man! As a grade 12 student trying to get into uw engineering, I think I've already started feeling like you. But I'm hopeful that I'll be able to get through it and you should be too. Good luck with your studies!

[@rayrui]

Grade 12 is really rough, I can't lie. I think a lot of the grind - related feelings were the same for me in sem 1 of grade 12. But sem 2 is really fun, and so I hope you have fun! Thanks for the good wishes

[@JetersEK]

Thanks for the motivation, I really appreciate the reply. Have a great time abroad!

[@toxicdubz3841]

sem 2 has been feeling a lot worse than 1 for me, but can you make a vid on the program, desperately seeking any video on uw is kinda what I've been doing when i feel anxious@@rayrui

[@BrianZhang11]

hey! how'd it go? you going to uw this fall?

[@JetersEK]

Thanks for asking man, it's not looking too hot. I struggle with English (IEP and such), and I ended up getting a 72 at midterms 🙃 that dropped my avg down to 92%, so im kinda screwed.

[@Trollermaner]

Legit summarizes wloo eng lol. Good video keep it up

[@anythingandeverything6151]

Respectfully your first term was way better than it was portrayed to be. Burnout is normal, everyone goes through it. You care so much that at some point you just don't care anymore, in a way. But I have to ask, are you truly lonely? You're studying, eating, partying with friends. More friends in 1A than I ever knew in the entire time I was at UW. I was also consumed by academics and the comparison rat race, and I made it out, but at the cost of being truly alienated. At graduation, I only spoke with one person (the only person I knew well), and now every day blends together. I work alone at home or in the office in the 9-5, come back home alone, do weightlifting alone, and eat alone. Everyone I know has work elsewhere or pursued further education somewhere else. The grass is not greener on the corporate side. Sure, I have a 'normal' life, but I feel so stagnant and stuck in a way of life that I can't get out of. I wish I did literally anything differently in the time I was at UW. Fortunately you have four more years to do what I did not do, and live in the moment. Obviously, don't fuck around at exam time, but say yes to those spontaneous 4am McDonald runs. Treat your friends with a meal or something. Start to get into exercise. Be happy with yourself and how you look and feel. The future starts today, not tomorrow.

[@rayrui]

I'm sorry to hear that. This video wasn't meant to diminish anyone's experience, and so I'm sorry if it felt a little annoying. With that said, I was not trying to sensationalize or dramatize what happened with me so I could get more views. I did genuinely feel lonely, and that meant eating meals alone, dragging myself to parties because I felt like I should go, and I never studied with friends. Much of the footage happens to reflect how I typically document, which means shooting when I'm doing something I think is "worth" filming - usually with friends. I hope things get better for you, and I trust that you are capable of taking the positive steps you need to get out.

[@anythingandeverything6151]

@@rayrui That makes sense, it is a bit boring to film yourself staring at a screen 12 hours a day for multiple days I was not annoyed at all honestly... I want to apologize if it sounds like I was making a sob story about myself. I was overcome with a wave of regret when I saw the experiences you filmed in only your first semester and what I missed out on. My experience is something that I want other people to know could be a possibility if you don't live for today and if you constantly obsess about the future.

[@rayrui]

Okay, well, thanks for your comment, I am feeling more optimistic about the future. Though I hate it when people give me advice that I think I already know, it seems like you can also be agentic in creating the type of life you want, and you definitely know this. Your story doesn't have to be a cautionary tale either, despite the time at uw being mid. Maybe you could talk to someone when you're working in with them on the bench, or, and I don't know your working conditions, you could arrange to work remotely and become a digital nomad, or just backpack around South America for 3 months or something.

[@lilycheng412]

wow this was fire

[@Riaa31]

well made video bro. its interesting to have like an early look into what that kinda environment is like (I was thinking abt going there (Im in 11th tho) ). Can't say I'm not scared, but i think we'll make it :p

[@rayrui]

Thanks! I'm not really one to give advice, but it's good to think ahead, and it's also good to explore more of what you want. I mean grinding for high grades for more choices, and exploring other interests are both things that must be done if you want a fulfilling life, but its easy to forget the latter. Life probably feels more or less the same wherever you go, and, I realize, individuals have a lot more control in shaping their own experience, so keep that in mind when thinking about university. I might've portrayed uw as being isolating, but I'm starting to feel like I would've probably acted in a similar manner in any pre-professional kind of STEM / business degree.

[@lucasli3273]

The algorithms feeding me content right from my home town and I'm loving it

[@rayrui]

ur from markham or uw?

[@lucasli3273]

@@rayrui I'm from Waterloo but not in uni yet

[@rayrui]

okay valid

[@gayeunbella]

WHAT THE HECK LUCAS LI! WE ENDED UP ON THE SAME VIDEO🤯🤯🤯

[@lucasli3273]

@@gayeunbella WOWOWOW SO CREZY!

[@nicholas.chen__]

bixby is so fire

[@jsimmonstheman]

Nice video! No Surya though... 😢😭💔

[@edwardslauren]

woah such a cool vid

[@sajeevviegas2755]

Great video. I hope that you have a great time in Uganda and the next 4 years are bright. May you please make a video about the program? (Course content, what it is, what you can go into)? Thanks, and all the best.

[@rayrui]

yeah sure i can work on it

[@BrianZhang11]

wow, I'm enrolling in UW eng this fall, im so glad you made this video :)

[@JetersEK]

How did enrolling go for you?

[@BrianZhang11]

@@JetersEK hey! I got an offer last week for UW eng so I'm really excited for this fall :)) I think there's definitely a lot of luck involved in the application process which is really unfortunate but impossible to avoid with how grade inflation is nowadays.

[@JetersEK]

@@BrianZhang11 great gob man! Enjoy 👍

[@BrianZhang11]

@@JetersEK thanks!

[@ggggg9070]

So deep. I am changed

[@Limeglow.]

holy fuck this hits hard

[@embermist6279]

aaa this was so cool and unfortunately so real :( gotta ask what equipment/editing software do you use? your shots are cinematographic

[@rayrui]

thanks! Most of my shots are with a Sony A7S on PP7, and I color grade and edit in DaVinci Resolve. Some shots are with iPhone 14, though

[@hayden8941]

thats why hes the goat

[@rayrui]

yessir

[@derekgonzalez4800]

mf goes to uw and I still got a feature lets gooooooooooo

[@rayrui]

oo bet

[@SigilWen]

Pog

[@yashandryangame2506]

wow

[@jaydenchan999]

hi raymie

[@samzhang4211]

W video

[@KaleaJakic]

also what camera gear do u use?? tripod etc

[@rayrui]

i mainly shot it on iphone or sony a7s and for tripod it was just some random one from amazon

[@jackeyemean]

w mans

[@loganflips3959]

cinematic

[@rayrui]

the goat himself

[@bobk3881]

wait, markham? i live here lol

[@rachparis]

omg this is blowing up raymond

[@rayrui]

you were right when you said i had to wait to become a uni youtuber

[@rachparis]

LOOL I TOLD YOU

[@toxicdubz3841]

wait you're moving to uganda?

[@rayrui]

I'm in Uganda lol

[@toxicdubz3841]

why did you move?@@rayrui

[@calmluhchannel]

Bro just do molly.

[@rayrui]

ong

[@lilycheng412]