Have a great story to share? Pitch it to our editors.
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?
Pitch A Blog
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
Health Sciences student, Philipp Michaluk discusses the value of searching for co-op positions close to home from his experience as a research assistant at SFU's Epigenetics Laboratory.
Thinking about taking a certificate program? Wondering how additional certification could help you in your career? If so, this article is for you.
Thinking about taking a certificate program? Wondering how additional certification could help you in your career? If so, this article is for you.
An opportunity to gain unforgettable real world experience, CEO 1 x Day is a chance to step into the shoes of one of Canada's most influential leaders. The application period begins, September 28, 2017.
Are you a Health Sciences student, fascinated by Reproductive Medicine and Clinical Research? So is Miranda! In this article, Miranda shares her experiences working for a Fertility Centre as a research assistant, and all that she learned along the way.
We are all used to hearing of the impossibility of finding a career after university, and that our degree alone is not a golden ticket to landing that dream job after graduation. While it can seem like a daunting task to find work experience, it may be easier than you think.
Communications Co-op student, Ashley Fraser, spent the summer interning at CBC Radio as part of the coveted Peter Gzowski Internship Program. Ashley shares how she got there and her advice for students pursuing careers in journalism.
Adam Bignell shares his experience from an eight-month co-op with Safe Software Inc. A co-op term spent developing support for raster and point cloud, but with an added dose of team-building and foosball to balance out the workload.
Vadim shares how proactively building connections in the workplace helped fund his capstone and pivot his career.
My first co-op position took me halfway across the globe to a rural town in India. Although there are many events that stand out in my life, none compare to this extraordinary and life-changing experience.
On placement with Partnership for Sustainable Development in Kathmandu, Nepal, Health Sciences students Marie Purificacion and Tessa Leyland decided to extend their contribution to a community in need and enrich their learning experience, by raising resources for a Free Health Camp.
Shipping a product isn’t as simple as proposing a new idea or a new design. Careful consideration is given to how a project is approached by developers, users, and other key stakeholders. Amanda shares the importance of designing in phases and the considerations she took working as a UX designer.
This is the story of how one Psychology and Criminology student went from being a diligent undergraduate at SFU to a fun-loving English teacher in South Korea. Read Queenie's story to learn more about how you can Teach and Learn in Korea, too!
First impressions are given a lot of stock in the professional world. But what do you do if you've made a bad one? Learn how to recover gracefully with these tips.
Are you thinking about traveling to Japan for international co-op? Here are some tips that may help you kick start your journey.
Looking for an opportunity to boost your personal development at SFU? Look no further - Passport to Leadership will help you maximize your leadership potential, and is available to all SFU students! Read Zahraa's story for more insight.
When you’re starting off in a new workplace, it can be daunting talking to people who carry the title of CEO, director, and everything in between. While you may feel like a small potato compared to the big spud, it’s important to remember that everyone has to start somewhere. Lindsay shares her story on why your future self will thank you for building your connections early on through Co-op.
While Katherine was seeking for her second co-op, she ofter wondered: "what kinds of jobs out there could make both my extraverted and introverted sides happy? Is there even a job that has a balance of both components that would allow me to thrive?" When applying to TeamWell Health, Katherine didn’t have many expectations, and surely did not expect that the job would be the perfect fit.
Endless mountains of food? Check. Colleagues to play Pokemon Go with? Check. A pile of daunting audit work to get through? Check. Was it worth it? Read Wee Nie Tham's article to find out about their experience at Deloitte, in Malaysia!
The term leadership has become a buzzword when describing one’s abilities and skillsets, but leadership is an imperative skill that can give you a competitive edge. Matthew offers three ways to convey this skill to employers when looking for work.
Feeling stuck on the outside of the job market looking in? Need experience for a job but a job for experience? Read how one Master of Resource Management candidate made his way out of “the trap”.
Ever wonder what it’s like to work for a crown corporation? Read on to see what it has been like for 4th year Business student, Kathy Lee, who is completing an 8-month co-op term as an Engagement Assistant with BC Housing.
Going into your new Co-op position, the last thing you want to hear is, “Are you even old enough to be working.” How do you get the point across that you’re a capable professional with a lot to offer? Natasha has you covered.
Fourth year, Kinesiology student, Alexandra Lukac, shares how taking action allowed her to navigate her co-op journey.
Jennifer landed their first ever co-op placement as a Chiropractic Assistant and Laser Technician. Now, you may be asking what exactly is a ‘Laser Technician’ and how are lasers related to chiropractic? Moreover, what on earth does hygiene have to do with our spines and why is this important for rehabilitation? Read on to find out!
My passion for hockey has brought me to China to coach hockey for the summer. From Ottawa to China, SFU Co-op has helped me explore my interests and expand my learning while giving me skills, practical work experience and an opportunity to travel.
Do you know absolutely nothing about social media? Want to ensure that you are on the right track to proper social media management? If you answered yes to either or both questions above, have no worries! Keep on reading to learn how to use social media to your advantage.
Imagine visiting Japan, India, Ireland and many other iconic countries all from the comfort of a local neighborhood park. Fusion Festival, allows thousands of locals and out of province guests to experience different cultures, art, musical extravaganzas right in the heart of Surrey.
As a co-op student, one of the toughest decisions you will make is whether to extend your contract or to go back to school. In this blog, I provide a detailed guide to help you decide whether to extend, or not to extend.
Before my first co-op, I had a similar resume to most of my classmates. We had all taken the same courses and worked on the same projects and labs. After co-op, I had a unique set of skills and experiences that differentiated me from my classmates which made me stand out to future employers.