How I got engaged to Engineering…
March 12, 2016: finally the day I had been waiting for. The day of my calling as an Engineer.
Throughout my undergrad years, I have been hearing about the Iron Ring Ceremony from my fellow engineers. For the past four years, I have been looking at my professors wearing their iron rings on their pinky fingers. And now it was my day.
I arrived at the venue on campus, checked in with the registration and got my envelope, which had my ring and the Obligation (it’s not an oath, but a solemn expression of intention). Rudyard Kipling wrote the Obligation in the year 1922.
Since I am graduating this term, I was a successful candidate for the ceremony. The ceremony is quite private, so I didn’t know what to expect. Even though I’m writing a blog post about this secret event, I will skip the details of the ceremony, because first, I don’t want to spoil it for the other upcoming Engineers and second, I don’t know how much I am allowed to share.
I don’t have a photograph/video of the ceremony, as it wasn’t allowed. I was happy to be sitting among my fellow Engineers and friends who were part of this journey with me. There are 26 camps all across Canada; UVic comes under Camp 23 and now I am a part of that camp. The first ceremony took place in 1925 at the University of Toronto (Camp 1) and it has taken place continuously since then.
Seven wardens administer the ceremony. In the ceremony, we all read the Obligation and following that the ring was placed on the pinky finger of our working hand. The ring is a symbol and a reminder of the ethics, duties and responsibilities that we have as Engineers. All in all the ceremony is very cool. I loved everything about it.
Getting the iron ring is a big deal. You might skip your convocation but you don’t skip this ceremony. I mean, I am sure some people do for various reasons, but from the number of people present in the room, I am guessing everyone showed up at ours.
I have my ring placed firmly on my finger. I’m now excited for the next step, summer convocation or, as I like to call it, the day I get married to Engineering.
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