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Blogs
Welcome
Being one of OLC's classic storytelling tools, blogs are crafted by SFU Community members which include the everyday student as well as expert voices. This is where we share touching stories, resourceful advice, and insightful knowledge with each other. In keeping with the OLC vision, the following blogs are created by and for students, so why not contribute to the OLC today?
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INTERNATIONAL
Third year Business student, Corina Inigo, shares about her co-op experience with Teach and Learn in Korea (TaLK). She discusses what TaLK is all about and also shares personal anecdotes from her teaching experience.
A profile on international student and third year psychology major, Rainy Yumeng Jiang, and how community engagement and volunteering has helped her adjust to Canadian culture.
There are a lot of things your international student friends have never told you. From depression to pressure to stereotypes - life isn't always easy when you are studying abroad. Read an international students take on life overseas.
Mario Fong travelled to Hong Kong to join the HSBC trainee program through International Co-op. Dropping everything to live in a new country provided him with personal and professional experiences he won't soon forget.
Nancy applied as an English instructor in South Korea with the intention of just adding another bulletpoint to their resume. However, the experiences they have gained from teaching and living abroad has made their co-op so much more meaningful than what can be written on paper. Read Nancy's story to learn more about Teach and Learn in Korea.
In this article, SFU Psychology graduate Ravi Bansal shares her experiences of participating in the Hellenic Studies Field School in Greece. Ravi’s travels encouraged her to become involved in the SFU community, opening up an opportunity to attend the Education without Borders conference in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Who doesn’t love travelling? Summer is just around the corner and with that comes the time to make our travel plans a reality. Have you ever thought about travelling as a way to boost your career?
Looking to maximize your time abroad and integrate with locals, but nervous to take the first few steps? Read on to learn how Kendra broke through their personal barriers, and the advice they have for future travellers to make the most of their work term overseas.
Jacky is a fourth year Business Student who spent his co-op in Beijing China. Read his interview to discover what his co-op abroad was like. Jacky covers preparing for the work term, work life, and living abroad.
Have you landed an International Co-op work-term and begun preparing for your semester abroad? Surely, you have done your research and are aware of the cultural differences and nuances between where you are going, and your home country? If you haven’t, have no fear! This article is meant to help you understand the basic tips and tricks to adjust to the cultural differences in your new workplace, making your transition much easier.
Coming to a new country thousands of miles from where you grew up and from everything you know is no easy journey. In this award-winning story, SFU Business student Ali Najaf reflects on the past four years since arriving in Canada from Pakistan in 2012, sharing both his challenges and truimphs.
Since its launch in 2005, the Students for Development (SFD) program has been supporting Canadian university students' participation in internships in developing countries and emerging economies. Isabel went on the SFD program in Summer 2011 where she worked with ICO (Instituto de Capacitacion del Oriente) in Bolivia.
As an undergraduate student, Spencer Chen excelled with a GPA of 4.21 and received numerous merit-based scholarships and awards. She also sought diverse research and community service opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the SFU community.
Learning how to effectively communicate in a new work environment can be difficult enough, but add a language barrier and things get even more complicated. Here are Julia's top tips for overcoming language barriers in the workplace.
Bachelor of Sciences graduand Charity Mudhikwa hit the ground running when she came to Canada in 2018 for university, dedicating her undergraduate degree helping SFU students and the community at large.
New to Vancouver? Discover 4 spots Lauretta discovered in her adventures around the city.
Job hunting is never easy. This is especially true when you are an international student with no Canadian experience. Follow Alireza's tips and tricks on how to navigate around this barrier in your search for meaningful work.
As an international student Ha Na had the reality of high tuition, no work experience and challenges in finding employment. She decided co-op was the solution to learn professional work search skills and gain related employment while attending university. She shares her challenges and successes along the way.
Morgan Karugaba shares his journey of how he overcame the challenges of uncertainty, by stepping out of his comfort zone.
The holidays are a time for fun and festivities, but the feeling of being homesick can also creep in during this time. Here are some steps to help you through it!
Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience
Working from home is a common reality for many Co-op students in the past year. Working from home while working for a Health Authority in the thick of the pandemic is a tremendous experience Kaylla went through last year. Take a look at how she learned to stay productive in these uncertain times.
The Latest
Creativity doesn't stop in the world of a technical writer. Emily reveals how writing "is often much more than imagery and metaphors" and that stepping out of your comfort zone might just reveal a whole new path.
Here are some tips on how to get some physical activity in while at the Burnaby, Vancouver, or Surrey campus.
Attending a Conference can be a remarkable experience- that is if you plan to make it that way. Ali shares six tips to prepare for a conference so you can make sure it’s worth your while.
Are you interested in pursuing a career in health care? Kelly looks into how volunteering can help get you there!
You start a new job next week, but you have no idea what to wear, and what does business casual mean anyway? Pretty sure that's an oxymoron. While I can't take you shopping, I can help you decide what's appropriate - and what's not.
The end of the Fall semester, and 2012, is coming to a close. Some people believe in making new years’ resolutions with goals of bettering themselves, while some people are content with just letting the new year roll in. Instead of focusing on making future goals, why not reflect on everything that you have done this year?
Mimi's co-op as a UX Designer at the City of Surrey provided opportunities to improve user experience by creating digital solutions for city services through user-centered design. Read her story, here.
"Have you ever asked yourself these questions – Why should I volunteer? Is stepping out of my comfort zone really going to benefit me? If you have, then you are on the right page!"
There are a lot of things your international student friends have never told you. From depression to pressure to stereotypes - life isn't always easy when you are studying abroad. Read an international students take on life overseas.
When Taylor Nguyen imagined working at a large bank, she pictured cubicles, formal attire, and stacks of documents. What she found instead were opportunities to learn and create in a fun and collaborative environment.
Fahad Faruque discusses highlights from his co-op semester in quality assurance at PepsiCo.
Beedie Business student, Christopher Pun shares what he's learned about the art of giving and receiving feedback in the workplace.
An unexpected offer to extend a stay in San Fransisco for co-op turned into the experience of a lifetime for health sciences students, Yasmin Khalili. Read about her incredible summer in sunny California.
Sometimes self-doubt can get the better of us. Read Alyssa's article to find out how they were able to overcome feelings of doubt and transform them into self-confidence.
Here are 5 common thoughts paired with affirmations to combat those negative, self-deprecating feelings so you can succeed and reach your full potential. Because these pesky thoughts are only holding you back!
On placement with Partnership for Sustainable Development in Kathmandu, Nepal, Health Sciences students Isabelle and Elisabeth decided to extend their contribution to a community in need and enrich their learning experience, by raising resources for a Free Health Camp.
It is not hard to produce a perfect car. The difficulty lies in manufacturing 100,000 cars exactly alike. Read about the challenges Ryan learned about while working at Tesla, helping to manufacture modern luxury vehicles.
Venturing out into adulthood can be a challenging experience. At the same time, it can be very eye-opening. For Emily, completing a co-op term in Toronto was the perfect opportunity for independence and adventure.
Of the many career paths to try, research is an opportunity to apply lessons learned in the classroom to the real world. Matthew Malinab shares how a co-op with FAISAL opened his eyes to new career possibilities.
Moving away from home and starting a new job is both exciting and scary. This fall, Hannah began her first co-op term in Ottawa. Here she shares the ups and downs and why she would do it again in a heartbeat.
Patients across BC should expect to receive excellent care from our health system, and it usually delivers. Rasha Syed shares why the best way to assess the healthcare system is to hear patient experiences.
Disclosing a disability to an employer can be daunting at any point in your career but particularily as a student new to the workplace. Gloria Cheung, shares how she was able to not just survive but thrive with a little bit of support from her employer.
When Sara began her co-op search she was set on Silicon Valley but soon realized a little local experience was needed. A semester working for International Services for Students at SFU gave her the skills and experience to more confidently pursue her dreams.
Mental health issues don't just disappear in the workplace. Nelson urges us to "end the stigma, talk about mental health, form dialogues and accept that we are not alone".
From concept to implementation, launching a start-up can be both exhilarating and demanding. Mechatronic System Engineering students, Hitesh and Devpreet share their start-up journey with Venture Connections and TechE@SFU.
From concept to implementation, launching a start-up can be both exhilarating and demanding. Mechatronic System Engineering students, Hitesh and Devpreet share their start-up journey with Venture Connections and TechE@SFU.
Bored already? Hitting a plateau at work can be discouraging – but it doesn’t have to be. Follow Lauren’s experience of turning a roadblock into an opportunity for growth.
Searching for and adapting to your first co-op work term can be tough and quite unexpected. Jordan reveals five tested practices for boosting your resume and building confidence.
Interested in a career with the federal government? Kate McMurchy shares tips on building new connections and making the most of your co-op.
Getting a great job without experience can be tough. Business Co-op Program Manager, Tanya Behrisch explains how to graduate with not just work experience but more than a year of relevant experience, all while completing your degree.