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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
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed in a new workplace. School of Interactive Art and Technology student, Jimmy Phung shares his tips for rocking at work, without hitting rock bottom.
We deserve more and so do our Indigenous youth. The justification of our suffering needs to stop.
As we all know, Communication classes can be quite heavy on the theory side, and unfortunately, it’s probably never the best idea to whoop out your extensive knowledge of semiotics and Marxism in a job interview. So how do you bridge the gap between academia and industry?
Master's of Communication student, Sugandha Agarwal shares her tips for time-management and workplace productivity.
An incredible co-op term with Goldcorp taught Joselyn Hernandez to be open minded when searching for co-op opportunities. You never know which organization, industry or position you might end up liking until you try.
As she puts it, grad student Srijani Datta has been a student for most of her life. To support her love of academia she has worked as a reporter, tutor, translator, transcriber, and content writer. Develop your own side-hustle with her tips.
Interactive Arts & Technology student, Fahad Hasany shares how co-op taught him to be confident learning the tools of the trade with the City of Surrey.
Frankly, I am terrible at saying “no.” Maybe it’s a strong work ethic that has been etched into my existence since I was a child. Maybe it’s not wanting to appear incompetent to the people who could potentially hire me back into a full-time role. Whatever it was, it seemed like my plate was packed to the brim
Each semester, thousands of students transfer to SFU from colleges and universities across the Lower Mainland. Communication student Alex Caw reflects on his experience learning to navigate bigger classes and a bigger campus, as well as his advice for prospective students thinking of making the leap.
Bouncing back from hurdles and setbacks is an important part of career building. Environmental Science student, Ria Yao shares how she developed resilience and patience in the face of rejection.
Derek Woo travelled to Hong Kong for his co-op with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. To keep in touch, he sent postcards home, sharing each leg of his journey as he traversed one of the world's most bustling cities.
Are you an aspiring UX Researcher? Fourth-year SIAT student and UX Researcher at Samsung, Alireza Mogharrab, shares key tips for creating effective usability studies.
It is 2018 and Canada has not yet implemented adequate protection and legislation for people with disabilities. When it comes to equality for all, Canada is falling far behind. In this article, Jien discusses the research and reality of why Canada needs a Disabilities Act.
For a lot of us who are natural creatives, what more of a dream would it be to do what we love? Working in design might seem like the best of both worlds, but the reality of combining work and play isn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Surviving in a trading fort in the wild west now known as British Columbia was tough in the 1800s. A time when 9 out of 10 of your meals would have been salmon and potatoes and grocery shopping would mean bringing a musket into the woods. Alexis, shares what she learned about surviving the 1800s.
It is easy to become stressed in an unfamiliar and fast-pace working environment, no matter which field you are in, but good strategies can help you reduce stress and learn to work more efficiently. Mi Zhou shares her tips from her co-op with OSI Maritime Systems.
It isn’t always easy to get your first local job as an international student. However, there may be some short-cuts that you didn’t know about. Siyu Liu, a fourth-year business student, has advice for fellow international students on how to build local work experience
From a young age, Ashley Fraser loved telling stories. While studying communications at SFU she began to realise that journalism might be her future career and the CBC Peter Gzwoski internship opportunity was the perfect way to get her start.
What one fourth-year student discovered while wandering through the Ridiculous Darkness, searching for the right path in life, theatre, and the pursuit of happiness.
When people think about social justice, they think of things like protests or hunger strikes, but the options don’t end there. These volunteer organizations can help you satisfy your inner activist.
It is easy to become stressed in an unfamiliar and fast-pace working environment, no matter which field you are in. Good strategies not only help you reduce your uncomfortable feeling, but also lead you to learn faster and work efficiently. I spent one year in OSI Maritime Systems as a mechanical engineering co-op student, and I have concluded 4 tips that are essential for anyone who struggling with stress at work!
I used to be afraid of applying for software related co-ops, let alone working in software development/testing environments. In this article, I am going over my journey about how I overcame that fear and got into a software co-op.
In this article, Jien discusses volunteerism through Tony Botelho and Albert Fung of SFU’s Career and Volunteer Services. Read more to explore the benefits of volunteering for students with and without disabilities.
A panel of alumni visited the CMNS 110 class recently to share their insights and advice. Ranging from a variety of industries – health, government, public relations, broadcasting, tech and education
Ever had a business idea and thought it was worth a shot? These resources can help you transform your business idea into reality.
Join Yee Ting on an adventure into the wilderness as they take us on an armchair journey into working with the INAC’s Resource and Land Management team. Read on to find out what Yee Ting's co-op position entails and how they gained real life experience in the field.
Keeping up with the pressures of social media can be mentally draining. In this article, I share with you how social media can affect your mental health and tips on how to minimize these effects.
Ever wondered what there is to gain from volunteering? Check out my blog post and discover all that volunteering has to offer.
Criminology student, Tylor Mason, enjoyed his co-op with British Columbia's Employment Standards Branch so much that a four-month placement quickly turned into one year. Find out why, here.
Embarking on your first Co-op placement? Thinking of applying to the Co-op program? In this comic guide, Linnea offers five tips that will give you a fresh outlook on how to update your resume, build up the confidence to go on interviews, and set yourself up for success. You’ve got this!