It was crazy and the experience of a lifetime.

Sask Polytech electronics student Ryan Folk has returned from the WorldSkills competition in Russia.

Folk advanced from provincial and national championships to qualify for the bi-annual international event.

He says it was just like the Olympics with a competitors’ village where technical students from around the world interacted socially and learned about different cultures.

Folk says he also got to work with different equipment in Russia while competing against peers from 39 other countries.

He credits the international event for challenging his skillset and pushing him to be better in addition to making life-long friendships throughout the competitive process from provincials all the way to the international scene.

Welding student Adam Sebastien also represented Sask Polytech.

Sebastien says the journey to WorldSkills is the most rewarding of his life having traveled the world while working with amazing people.

He is proud to say he is a better welder and a better person as a result.