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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
Ever wonder how it would feel like being an international student in Vancouver? Talk about a reason to party, well coming from a Punjabi family we hardly need a reason to party but if there was ever a decent one, this was it. Read more to find out about Max Shyngs experience!
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.
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.
Being an international student at SFU is not easy as there aren't many opportunities to meet other students. The Global Student Centre welcomes all, hosting events that bring students together to celebrate diversity and create intercultural awareness.
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.
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.
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.
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!
New to Vancouver? Discover 4 spots Lauretta discovered in her adventures around the city.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Morgan Karugaba shares his journey of how he overcame the challenges of uncertainty, by stepping out of his comfort zone.
“Gosh Roop! Are you really an international student? But you do not speak with an accent. Wow, I would have never guessed that.” Through anecdotes and introspection, Roop shares a compelling narrative of the struggles of why International students face challenges due to language barriers and biases.
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.
Still not sure if co-op is for you? Chetachi explains why co-op was such a valuable experience for her and what it was like to work in the corporate world during her Economics co-op work term.
"There's a phrase in Israel, "buckle up your elbows" which means that it's time to hustle. This is exactly what brought me to the place where I'm writing to you right now." -- read Kim's story and learn how you can achieve anything with enough courage and motivation.
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.
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
SFU Communication student Clayton Wong reflects on his co-op journey and how his co-ops at Tesla, Snapchat, and YVR Airport shaped his career path.
Everyone's fitness journey is different! Read about SFU Recreation's Audrey Heath journey with fitness!
It’s easy to feel burnt out and demoralized when looking around at your peers and contemporaries, but following your path comes with success that feels uniquely yours.
The last couple of semesters of university can feel like forever, especially when you’re losing motivation to continue the journey. Here are some of my tips on how to stay focused and inspired before graduation.
Today we’re talking to Rifayat Raisa, who graduated in April 2021 from the MA Economics program. During her time at SFU she was able to complete a co-op with Policy Reporter as a Research and Reporting Assistant. With this role she was able to break into the health economics industry and is still with the company today. Continue reading to have a look into her experience with co-op and what she’s learned along the way.
Finding community in your workplace is just one way to enrich your overall working and learning experience. Creating relationships with colleagues, and friendships in the community not only benefits your work life but can reflect a positive personal life as well. Whether this looks like sharing inside jokes with a co-worker, a meaningful conversation with a peer, or a meal with community, these are just some ways to grow your social circle.
The software industry can be intimidating for your first co-op but it can also be a great way to gain a wide skill set that can be applied throughout many industries.
Today we’re talking with Masood Abdinejad, a master of economics student in his second year, who’s currently doing a co-op work term at Natural Resources Canada. Learn about his co-op experience as an international student working in a federal government role.
The OLC loves its co-op students! Nazanin, our Tech Co-op student, reflects on her time here and what her strategies for success were.
Working from home the last few years has had a steep learning curve. Read on to see how Victoria, a Master's student at SFU, spent her online co-op term and the pros and cons of remote work.
After entering the workforce eight years ago, how did I just find out that non-for-profits provide the best learning opportunities for students and professionals looking to diversify their skills? Overtime, I have worked for family businesses, not-for-profits, and corporations, but I always found myself growing and learning more while working for a not-for-profit.
Must shoot your own headshot? Don’t fret! These tips from a professional photographer will make finding a location, picking good lighting, and shooting a photo a breeze.
The day before an interview tends to be the most anxiety-inducing, especially as a Co-op student. Maybe it’s because you really want that specific position, have little professional experience or generally have social anxiety in new and uncomfortable situations. With a little reflection on my interview process, I came up with three tips to hopefully calm your nerves before, during and after your next interview.
Whether you’re like me and have been doing Co-op for a while now, or just have had your fair share of job interviews, then you probably think you know everything there is to be prepared for one. However, I will tell you right now that, unless you have actually conducted a job interview, you most likely do not. Continue reading for some insider tips on Co-op interviews that I feel everyone should know.
Sharing tips for good mental health practices is essential for building both a helpful community and a better future for yourself. Read SFU Health and Counselling's tips for being more present in the moment.
Want a little more out of your university experience? Here’s why studying at the library is the best way to make the most out of your time at SFU academically and socially.
Running is a drag. Here’s some ways to keep yourself motivated and healhy as you continue on your New Year’s resolutions.
Your path to discovering your career won’t look like someone else’s. This is an important lesson that I've learned during my Co-op journey that has motivated me to explore all the possibilities of what a future career could entail. Keep reading to learn about how I've continued my Co-op journey and more about how I've continued to learn about myself during this experience.
So you or someone you've been in contact with has been exposed to COVID. Here are a couple of ways to pass the five-day quarantine and not go out of your mind during it.
Counselling has a lot of benefits, but it is a human relationship, and sometimes a counsellor you meet may not be the right fit - and that's okay.
A tiny step in learning and building a balanced work-personal life is a big step in your growth and accomplishments.
We all wish we could sleep in longer than we need to every morning when our alarm rings. Here’s an argument for why you should listen to that alarm and even set it back a couple of hours if possible.
How do you re-enter a social world after spending most of your time behind a computer screen? Here are some tips that helped me navigate the uncharted seas of post-pandemic socialization.
Having self-confidence has consistently been a goal of mine to achieve. And for a long time, I would get scared at the thought of pursuing Co-op positions as I thought that it would surely make me feel less confident about myself. But little did I know, my experiences in Co-op have been one of the biggest factors in building my self-confidence.
Whether it’s an intimate meeting or a large crowd, speaking publicly in front of others can be difficult and intimidating. Follow along to hear some of the best tips for making sure you are prepared and present your most confident self!
Being a visually-impaired person on a university campus has its own unique difficulties on top of being a university student. Read Jillian's experience on what makes the campus accessible for her, and what resources she uses to make the most of her university career.
Close to graduating or just want to know what the transition from being a student to working full-time is like? Check out Simran’s post about some of the challenges she faced due to her student habits and how she overcame them!
Moving out during COVID was a daunting prospect, but taking that leap of faith has led me to having the best semester since before the pandemic. The skills I learned from this experience have helped me find balance even when life throws challenges my way.
Stepping out of your personal development comfort zone is a scary thought, but many good things can await on the other side if you take the first step.
Need a practical look at how communication studies are found in real life? These video essays may give you an idea to how media and culture are intertwined with communication through practical examples.