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SPRING CLEANING!

Our team is doing some spring cleaning starting with user accounts. Login using your CAS credentials for instructions. We appreciate your speedy action so we can move onto other new and exciting initiatives over the summer.

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OLC!

BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS

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Join the community using your SFU CAS account. Then, complete your registration by clicking on your name located in the top right corner of the page.

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Share Your SFU Story 

Have a story to share about your time at SFU? Add your voice to the ever-expanding gallery of community stories on our SFU Stories page! Take about 15 minutes to reflect on your experiences at SFU, including, but not limited to, involvement in clubs, student unions, peer mentorship, and work opportunities. Share your story to educate, inspire, and connect the SFU community. Submissions are welcome year-round, from all years and faculties.

Everyone has a story! What's yours?

SUBMIT

NEW VIDEO SERIES

Multilingual SFU

SFU students (graduate and undergraduate,) staff and faculty share their multilingual experience and welcome you to multilingual week at SFU. Do you have a multilingual story to share? Add it to the OLC.

Watch

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Share Your SFU Story 

Have a story to share about your time at SFU? Add your voice to the ever-expanding gallery of community stories on our SFU Stories page! Take about 15 minutes to reflect on your experiences at SFU, including, but not limited to, involvement in clubs, student unions, peer mentorship, and work opportunities. Share your story to educate, inspire, and connect the SFU community. Submissions are welcome year-round, from all years and faculties.

Everyone has a story! What's yours?

SUBMIT

Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience

 

Image of Priyanka Das
Blog
Discover Your True Self: 7 Tips to Develop Unwavering Self-Belief and Authenticity
Digital Resource Assistant

Take chances as you never know what opportunities may arise. Meet Priyanka Das, a Beedie Co-op student who’s working with SFU’s Communication and Marketing department as a Digital Resource Assistant. Learn more about how she landed her current co-op and other opportunities such as the CEOx1Day finalist by being authentic and believing in their abilities.

VOLUNTEER STORIES

 

FEATURED

Chinmayee's Picks

Chinmayee's Picks

OLC has things to help students go pro. Having been part of the OLC's technical team and coming from a tech background myself, I tend to skim through tech-related articles first, diving deeper into the ones that pique my interest. I've compiled a list of my favourite finds from the OLC website, considering them valuable assets for fellow students.

Jared's Picks

Jared's Picks

Working as an editor for the OLC has been such a positive learning experience and has help me connect with so many unique and engaging stories. I would like to share some of my favourite pieces that I had the pleasure of working on. Yes, their grammar and spelling is great and their writing voice is very personal but each of these had something special.

Serena's Picks

Serena's Picks

It's been an amazing four months as a Copy Editor here at the OLC. I've had the chance to work on a variety of content, and it's been quite a journey. The OLC is a unique space where students can explore and contribute to a wide range of topics. Choosing my top picks was tough with so much good stuff, but here are three pieces that really stood out to me.

FEATURED

Hustle Culture

Hustle Culture

When should you stop and take a break? How much work is too much work? In this episode of Diving Into the Everyday, join us as we explore what is hustle culture, looking at its rise in exposure, and why a person may feel this pressure to participate.

Experiencing A New Culture In Mexico

Experiencing A New Culture In Mexico

I learned a lot more about myself – new interests, being more adaptable, future ambitions, etc. It was one of the most unique and remarkable experiences in my lifetime.

7 Ways to Have a Successful Meeting With Your Supervisor or Team

7 Ways to Have a Successful Meeting With Your Supervisor or Team

If you are struggling to facilitate or actively participate in meetings, you are not alone, as many students share the same struggle in school projects, student clubs and the workplace.

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NEW VIDEO SERIES

Job Search in a Pandemic

New episodes of Career Conversations from SFU Career and Volunteer Services are released every Tuesday on the OLC. Tune in see your most burning questions about the world of work, volunteering, and career exploration answered by guests from diverse professional backgrounds and organizations across Canada.

Episode 3 features Kristina Lee, Director of the IT Division at Impact Recruitment. You don't want to miss her expert tips for job searching during the pandemic and how you can best show off your soft skills to employers.

Watch
person laughing

NEW VIDEO SERIES

Job Search in a Pandemic

New episodes of Career Conversations from SFU Career and Volunteer Services are released every Tuesday on the OLC. Tune in see your most burning questions about the world of work, volunteering, and career exploration answered by guests from diverse professional backgrounds and organizations across Canada.

Episode 3 features Kristina Lee, Director of the IT Division at Impact Recruitment. You don't want to miss her expert tips for job searching during the pandemic and how you can best show off your soft skills to employers.

Watch

NEW POST

Activism Burnout: An Interview with Registered Clinical Counsellors

In light of the increased visibility of injustices around the world, taking a stand and contributing to social justice is becoming more prominent in our everyday lives. As you learn and advocate about different injustices, you may experience activism burnout with added stressors such as balancing work, personal life, school, and extracurricular activities. SFU Health Peers interview Counsellors at Health and Counselling Services for advice.

Read

NEW POST

Why You Should Consider Submitting an SFU Story to the OLC

SFU Stories on the OLC are short-form, Instagram-style, narrative stories that help to build a welcoming SFU community. No matter how big or small, every story has something to offer. Share your story today!

Read

NEW POST

I’m Starting a Minor Late Into My Degree... Now What?

One of our OLC team members, Brianna Tsang, shares her experience of deciding her minor in her 3rd year at SFU. "The knowledge and genuine connections made throughout this process has been an amazing experience and opportunity to have."

Read

NEW POST

Social Media Addiction & Screen Fatigue: A Survival Guide for Jobs in Social Media

When it comes to social media and digital marketing positions, it’s easy to be blinded by the positives. After all, many Communication majors are fascinated by digital marketing and algorithms— and if you’re a digital native, creating social media content might already be second nature to you. Whether you manage social media for your organization or create external content, there are a few bonuses to consider.

Read

NEW STUDENT PODCAST

On the Spot with the OLC

The OLC team is extremely excited to introduce a brand new podcast titled On the Spot with the OLC. Your hosts, Mehtaab and Terae, discuss important topics revolving around community, engagement, education and overall life advice! Within these 12 episodes, your hosts aim to bring a well rounded perspective to a variety of topics as they believe they can provide insightful knowledge about what it's like to be an SFU student. Please make sure to have a listen!

Listen to Episode 1: Creating Community at SFU

NEW PODCAST ON THE OLC

StudioBytes

Welcome to Studio Bytes! A podcast inspired by the energy of the SIAT Studios and the memories students make in those spaces. This podcast invites Alumni back into the studio and we get to learn about their experiences at SIAT and their lives after. In Episode 2 meet SFU Alumni Marie Cheung who shares her experience at SFU, her life post SFU and her time in Europe

Listen to Episode 2: What is Service Design?

Login to Provide your Feedback!

Did you know that each landing page on the site has a feedback section for logged in users? We use this information to discover and fix issues, consider site improvements and addition of new features. Our tech team is focused on feature improvements this summer, so share your input to direct changes to the OLC.

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ABOUT

Our Learning Community

SFU's Our Learning Community has an incredible range of content created by and for the SFU community. This includes diverse and authentic stories, which show a range of inspirational knowledge sharing happening between students, as well as handy tools that help with learning anywhere and everywhere you are.
 
Discover how you can contribute to our ever-expanding learning community.

 

CONTRIBUTE
11112
Members Joined

 

2226
231
Projects Created

 

92
Series Compiled

 

EXPLORE

Recognizing that our SFU community members are versatile storytellers, the new OLC has expanded how you can tell your story. Come take a look by exploring into this brand new range of content curated by our editors; this includes Blogs, SFU Stories, Videos, and Podcasts. And remember, no matter where you are in your learning journey at SFU, we want to hear your story! Learn more on how you can contribute to the OLC.

 

 

EXPLORE
A woman standing with a cardboard box on her head
Blog
How to Navigate Student Mindset Traps

When students enter their first or second Co-op work term, there can be a risk of falling into student mindset traps. These are the habits we pick up as students that are detrimental to our professional performance and development. Read on to learn more about how Bowen learned to avoid student mindset traps after four Co-op semesters working for three different companies.

a phone screen showcasing Amazon stocks rising
Blog
Get Your Side Hustle On: A Student's Guide to Part-Time Work

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. 

A person flexing
Blog
Just Like Bunko: Learning Strengths

Everyone has weaknesses. But its focusing on your strengths that grant you success in life.

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LEARN

SHARE

CONTRIBUTE

Videos

Read

Learn

Share

Contribute

There is so much to explore on the new OLC!

So, browse around and have fun with the new learning and storytelling tools. Found something not working?

EXPLORE

Recognizing that our SFU community members are versatile storytellers, the new OLC has expanded how you can tell your story. Come take a look by exploring this wider range of content including Blogs, SFU Stories, Videos, Experiential Learning Experiences, and Podcasts. And remember, no matter where you are in your learning journey at SFU, we want to hear your story! Learn more on how you can contribute to the OLC.

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THE LATEST

Catch up on the latest and freshest content from the SFU OLC. You're bound to find a fresh new perspective, the most current advice, and recently published stories that are sure to inspire you.

 

 

THE LATEST
Tozo'kam singers
Blog
SFU Indigenous Day Shares Culture with Community

The Burnaby campus community was treated to the sights, sounds and tastes of Indigenous culture during the second annual SFU Indigenous Day in September.

Picture of Ian Campbell
Blog
EMBA Graduates to Blaze New Trails

SFU's EMBA The program’s second cohort began in September 2015 with 30 students, five of whom are not Aboriginal. Learn more about the graduates and the program.

Book cover of I am Woman
Blog
Indigenous Literature Series: Lee Maracle

Read about Indigenous scholar and author, Lee Maracle's book, "I Am Woman".

Hydrogen In Motion facility
Blog
Touch the Future of Hydrogen Storage

The future of energy belongs to hydrogen but you can be part of the future as well. Weilin discusses their experience as a Co-op student with Hydrogen In Motion Inc. at Powertech Labs Inc, where they were a part of the next generation power source and learned engineering knowledge throughout the whole process. 

Visier
Blog
Learning to Design
Danny shares how he has developed as a result of his UX design co-op experiences.
Laptop and smartphone on desk
Blog
Three Tips for Working from Home

My first co-op semester was somewhat different from a majority of the co-op positions that students apply for on Symplicity. I chose to do a self-directed co-op which had me primarily working from home.

Two hands holding each other
Blog
John Howard Society - Hobden House

Theresa did her co-op as a residence worker.  She shares about her learning experiences and her future goals.

Bernice Puzon
Blog
Beyond My Office Desk: The Community I Discovered in the Downtown Eastside

During her time with Union Gospel Mission, Bernice Puzon spent her 9-5, like most Communication Co-op students, behind a desk. But, it was also her time spent beyond her office desk that provided rich opportunities to grow and to lease a new perspective on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.  

 

Parliament Buildings National Historic Site of Canada
Blog
Alcatel-Lucent University

General Studies student Zahra did her co-op in Ottawa in a business role.  She shares about her duties as a Program Coordinator. This article was originally published in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Summer 2012 newsletter.

Man standing on rock with arms spread looking out at mountain range
Blog
Four Tips to Overcome Failure

Have you ever found yourself frustrated, disappointed and in despair after not attaining what you set out to achieve? This blog will explore some essential tips that you could use to bounce back from failure. 

Cover of the book, The Fourth World
Blog
Indigenous Literature Series: Grace J. M. W. Ouellette

Grace J.M.W. Ouellette's book, The Fourth World: An Indigenous Perspective on Feminism and Aboriginal Women's Activism.

Web of Job search
Blog
Nikki’s Co-op Job Search

Are you interested in joining Co-op and wondering what the process is like? Are you wondering when exactly you should be starting Co-op? This article provides insight on what the Co-op job search is really like through my own personal journey.

a close up of a laptop screen with a man jotting down notes in the background
Blog
What You Can Do Now to Make Your Resume Stand Out After Graduation

So, you’re at university to get yourself a degree, and that degree is going to get you the dream job that you’ve always wanted, right? After you graduate, maybe you’re thinking of sending a few resumes off, just to see what happens. Did you know that employers evaluate you on your resume before they even meet you? If you want to increase your chances of landing that dream job, you really need to make your resume stand out from all of the rest, especially if you want to land that interview.

Samaah Jaffer profile picture
Blog
@SFUVan Profile: Samaah Jaffer

Meet Samaah Jaffer, an Arts Co-op student who has worked at the US Consulate and SFU's Vancity Office of Community Engagement. Read about Samaah's experiences during these co-ops, and their invaluable advice for other students!

image of the author
Blog
6 Things Communication Students Can Include In Their Portfolio

Although important, your resume and cover letter don't do your skills complete justice. So, instead of simply telling a potential employer what you can do, Karen Leung discusses how to show them through selecting specific items to build your portfolio. 

Women wearing a black dress and sunglasses
Blog
Appropriate Workplace Attire: How To Dress Professionally Without Compromising Your Style

I’m a young and trendy fashionista. A self-identified accessory-lover. A student. And I’m obsessed with how to make a great impression at my new co-operative education job without compromising my style. This article highlights my opinions on how to dress professionally, while still maintaining your sense of style. 

Sheldan Manansala
Blog
Co-op Jobs Help Fulfill Iron Man Career Ambition

Inspired by his childhood hero, Iron Man, Sheldan eagerly accepts a co-op placement at Tesla. Read on to find out what his experience was like. 

View of the AQ exterior
Blog
5 Must Know Services at SFU

Not sure where to seek professional help? Having a mental breakdown over an assignment? Looking to improve your study habits? No worries! Here are 5 SFU services to help.

Alex Yoo taking a selfie
Blog
Volunteer Spotlight: Alex Yoo
Alex Yoo is a volunteer for the SFU OLC and he shares what he has learned from volunteering as a Social Media Content Curator.
Students graduating
Blog
Tips to the Top – Student Advice to Find Your Career Path

Attending post-secondary school gives endless possibilities. However, choosing a major or career can be overwhelming to the point where people get swept away in passionless choices. Here is some of the personal advice of experienced SFU students to help you choose your future major or career.

4 volunteers helping two community members by passing out food from behind a table of supplies
Blog
3 Reasons Why Volunteering in University is Good for Your Mental Health

Discover how volunteering influences your mental health and wellbeing. Learn about the ways your happiness, social relationships and feeling of purpose are affected by engaging in volunteer acts. 

Book cover of Iskwewak
Blog
Indigenous Literature Series: Janice Acoose

A summary of Janice Acoose's trail blazing book, Iskwewak kah’Ki Yaw Ni Wahkomakanak: Neither Indian Princess Nor Easy Squaw.

Chris
Blog
Student Success Story: Chris Macklin

I’ve always had a passion for helping people. For the longest time, I wasn’t sure how to apply this passion.

Ericsson_YongyiWu
Blog
Big-Data Student Applies Skills during Ericsson Co-op Placement

Yongyi Wu applies his newly acquired skills as one of the first cohorts of the Professional Master's Program in Big Data at his co-op work term with Ericsson's Research and Development Centre.

Erik Bainbridge Smiling
Blog
International Co-op: An Interview with Erik Bainbridge

Erik Bainbridge, a Political Science student, shares his international experience doing four work terms in three different positions in China and Hong Kong. He worked as an English teacher in Shandong, an Event Manager at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CamChamHK) in Hong Kong, and a Trade Intern for the Consulate General of Canada in China.

Halloween
Blog
Halloween at the Office: Costume 101

Halloween is just around the corner. Natalie shares her office-costume tips, successes, and lessons learned. 

Banner depicting "school now, game later"
Blog
A Procrastinator's Guide to Success

Do you find yourself discouraged and in need of advice? Do you find yourself procrastinating and wondering when the right time to get started on your career is? This article highlights the importance of starting early and some fun ways to get started.

Vanessa at work in a booth
Blog
How I Survived in the World of IT: 3 Quick Tips for a Successful Work Experience

Working at an IT company was a refreshing experience for someone like Vanessa, who has never been exposed to this industry before. Here she shares a few tips on how she made it through and got the most out of her 12 months at BCNET.

Picture of Raisa
Blog
How Volunteering Can Help You Find Your Dream Career

Panicking because you’re still undecided or unsure of your major? Keep calm and apply for a volunteer position! It can help you in more ways than one. Here’s how.

Backside of Katherine Karr
Blog
What I’ve Learned While Being the Boss

If you had told me in high school that I would be the leader of a non-profit organization in just a few short years, I probably would have stopped talking to you. And yet, here I am, a President at age 20.

Terence
Blog
Give Agency a Chance: Why You Should Consider a Work Term in an Agency

Ever consider working for a communications agency? Terence Chu certainly has. Currently in a co-op position for global communications consulting agency FleishmanHillard, Terence presents three reasons why working in an agency is a wise career move.

St. Paul’s Hospital
Blog
The Journey of Clinical Research

Read about Joanne's four-month co-op journey at Providence Health Care Research institute. 

Posters on walls saying to vote
Blog
Why YOUR Vote Matters!!

If you don’t vote, you’re handing your future away to those who will be making decisions on everything from how much you’ll be paying back in student loans and taxes, to what kind of jobs and career opportunities you might find. 

Mexico
Blog
International Spotlight: Mexico

Work and live in Mexico, a popular tourist country, and experience the pleasant weather and great food. Visit museums, pyramids, beach resorts, and see the unique architecture.

Adrian Fung
Blog
A Letter to My Younger Self

A 6th-year SFU veteran drops WISDOM to his younger self. Read this if you would like some perspective on your university journey from someone who has been here before you even started high school.

an individual using their phone and laptop at the same time
Blog
How Social Media Affects Your Chance of Getting Hired

Have you ever wondered whether future or current employers actually check your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram before or after the interview? You might say that you’re safe; having already privatized all your accounts, but well the truth is... 

Cables of equipment
Blog
My Engineering Co-ops: Lungpacer Medical Inc. and Kardium

Have you ever felt unsure of your major? As if maybe it is not what you really want to do for the rest of your life? These are questions Jose pondered over before his co-op with Lungpacer Medical Inc. and Kardium.

Boat on the sea
Blog
My Industrial Revolution

Do you ever think there are limitations to what you could do with your degree? I did. SFU co-op has allowed me to experience my major in action in a non-conventional way and it has forever changed the way that I look at my kinesiology degree. 

Portrait of Ashley
Blog
Working on a Tiny Communications Team

This summer, Ashley Gregerson landed her dream co-op position as the Communications Assistant for the City of White Rock. Here, she worked as part of a small communications team consisting of only two staff. Ashley shares what she learned and what you can expect joining a tiny Communications Department.

Farmer walking
Blog
Discussing Development

Working in development and for Non-governmental organizations (NGO) is a tricky and delicate field. In Naiomi's article, they discuss the new approach that the Sustainability though Agriculture and Microenterprise (SAM) Project has taken on for their work in Zimba, Zambia.

Women sitting among trees
Blog
Environmental Consciousness and the Media

Environmental justice and climate change; taking a look at how we communicate about it and how we might change our worldview in an effort to stop the destruction of the planet.