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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
“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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Are you an international student that feels like there is a wall that stops you from moving forward? Are you trying to improve your language level, but feel embarrassed communicating in English? You're not the only one. But there are people who are reaching their goals. Find your inspiration and become one of them.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Morgan Karugaba shares his journey of how he overcame the challenges of uncertainty, by stepping out of his comfort zone.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
"Can an office be "too quiet"? Is that even a thing?" Certified extrovert Sonya shares advice for adjusting to a new workplace and explains how to conduct a thorough 'me-search'.
My university experience has been a roller coaster to say the least. From moving to a brand-new city without knowing anyone to embarking on multiple co-ops in finance related roles, I discovered who I wanted to become and the path I needed to take to get there.
Read on to learn about Jacky's valuable co-op experience that transformed his self-doubt into professional development at Telus!
So maybe you did not land your dream co-op job. Don't despair - Rutendo explains how an unexpected position might just be a huge blessing in disguise.
Mechatronic Systems Engineering student, Ryan Threlfall travelled across the world to build a sleep-wearable that will help millions of habitual snorers.
Mechatronic Systems Engineering student Guninder Malhi, shares how experience gained through an SFU research position allowed him to build the skills necessary to kick start a career.
How do you want to live at the end of your life? Seerit Hara shares her interview with her co-op supervisor at Langley Memorial Hospital about the importance of advance care planning.
Engaging with our communities provides opportunities to connect, grow, and give back. Jasleen shares how her co-op with the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue lived up to SFU's reputation as Canada's most engaged university.
Do you look into the future and see a thousand different paths after graduation? Juliette reflects on her time at Careers in Communications and reveals the benefits of figuring out what you hate before deciding what you love.
Tony Cheng's experience with CanCap Pharmaceutical served as a reminder that personal growth is often about taking initiative, having gratitude, and getting out of your comfort zone.
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.