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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New to Vancouver? Discover 4 spots Lauretta discovered in her adventures around the city.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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!
As an international student Ha Na had the reality of high tuition, no work experience and challenges in finding employment. She decided co-op was the solution to learn professional work search skills and gain related employment while attending university. She shares her challenges and successes along the way.
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!
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
Almost all of us have experienced those all-encompassing feelings of fear, dread, and confusion that so often go hand-in-hand with moving through life and figuring out what it is you want to do. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent anxiety from taking control. Check out this list of on-campus and online resources to find something that works for you!
Striking a balance between work and life is a difficult task for anyone regardless of their profession. Katerina explains how her desire to work overtook her personal life and she has some tips for making sure burn out doesn’t creep up on you.
An interview with the artistic director of a contemporary dance company. Brittany speaks to Amber about her upcoming solo work, past work and background in dance, thoughts on opportunities for emerging dancers, and more!
We’re at a stage in our lives where internal conflict feels like it’s just another part of becoming an adult. None of these conflicts are, perhaps, greater than the life-altering crossroads of whether or not to follow your passion. This is what choosing the path of passion looked like for me.
In five years at SFU, engineering physics undergrad Scott Beaupré landed three co-op job positions and four research projects without ever dropping off a résumé. Find out how!
Planning upfront saves you from last minute hustles. This article will prepare you for co-op in a city outside Vancouver where new opportunities and variable threats are waiting.
Interning with a contemporary dance company was one of the best choices I made in my degree. After participating in a performance/installation, I met with one of the professional dancers in the production to talk career, personal strategies, and the ins and outs of the dance community in Vancouver.
You may be stuck in a cycle familiar to many university students. Learn to recognize the signs of this cycle, and make 2017 the year you finally do that thing you said you would. It’s a new year, why not try something new?
New experiences can be scary. The transition from high school to university can be tough, especially when you go from a class of 30 to a class of 200. In this comic strip blog post, Linnea offers her top five tips for kicking first day jitters to the curb.
Another new year means another new semester! From buying an old fashioned agenda to letting your employer know your schedule, keep yourself on track with our semester survival guide.
Spend your summer in one of the most vibrant and popular tourist destinations in BC! Make a difference in the operation and performance of a small company, and grow your entrepreneurial skillset in a meaningful way by working for WardoWest in Tofino.
Moving to Ottawa enabled Melissa to grow in new ways, make lasting memories and provide insight into their career and life goals. This article provides steps to make your experience in Ottawa meaningful and will (hopefully) inspire you to make the move.
Want to know the secrets of living a long, healthy life? Find out what makes someone a Super Senior in Part 2 of Monique and Olivia’s co-op story as they share what was learned from these amazing individuals and their Essential Guide to Healthy Living, so you too may become a Super Senior!
Want to know the secrets of living a long, healthy life? Find out what makes someone a Super Senior in Part 2 of Monique and Olivia’s co-op story as they share what was learned from these amazing individuals and their Essential Guide to Healthy Living, so you too may become a Super Senior!
Read Olivia and Monique's experience in conducting a Healthy Aging Study with Genome Sciences Centre (GSC).
Read Olivia and Monique's experience in conducting a Healthy Aging Study with Genome Sciences Centre (GSC).
You have ideas to share, but you can’t bring yourself to interject. Sound familiar? It might be a confidence issue, fear of being wrong, or an unwillingness to seem impolite. Even though conveying your ideas can seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be. Read about Chantel's journey with public speaking in this article.
Curious about what it's like working in public service? Joseph breaks down his role as the Web Communications Assistant for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Read on to learn about his experience.
As a Laser Therapist/Clinic Office Assistant, Kim discovered that learning occurs every day and everywhere. Not only did she apply knowledge from school, but researched and learned about the different patient conditions she treated, teaching patients about their conditions and care. Read on to find out about her co-op experience.
On September 28th, the First Nations Student Association (FNSA) hosted the third annual SFU Indigenous Day. An event that brings together students, faculty, artists and community members to celebrate Indigenous culture.
When you think of a startup, does the HBO series, Silicon Valley come to mind? While the computers, parked bottoms, and long hours don’t stray too far from the truth, Melissa clears up some misconceptions about the startup life.
Christopher used to think success depended on the separation of personal and professional passions. That was until he did a self-directed co-op term in Brazil researching some of the most successful soccer clubs. Follow him as he prepares to embark on his journey to Brazil.
In part two of Christopher's Brazillian co-op story, he arrives in São Paulo feeling overwhelmed. This all changes as he carries out his research, realizing something very powerful about the connection many Brazilians have to the sport of soccer.
What do Dungeons & Dragons and whitewater rafting have to do with software development? Aidan did an 8-month co-op work term at Safe Software where he participated in many such team building activities. Here, he discusses Safe's amazing work culture and shares thoughts from his experience.
Nowhere are the dire effects of climate change more apparent than in the Arctic. Join Sarah as she recounts her 3-week expedition at the top of the world and the 3 invaluable life lessons learned along the way.
Congrats! You’ve landed that job you worked so hard to get. Now what? Here's a guide with tips on how to to prepare for your new co-op term!
A globetrotting communicator, Almira Bardai is a PR and communications professional with over 17 years of experience in the field working all over the globe from Vancouver to Australia. Read on to learn more about her journey!
In this blog, I take you through my personal life story from immigrating to Canada, working and living in a rural First Nations community, to finding a sense of belonging and a second identity, which has forever changed the way I will view the world.
Taylor joined SFU’s Aboriginal Co-op Coordinator, Trina Setah, as a Work-Study student to help promote co-op to SFU’s Indigenous community. Read about Taylor’s personal experience with co-op, and why she thinks you should join too.
"'I'm here for an interview with, ah... Mr. Jenson." He felt more than saw her purposeful scan of his appearance. In his mind, the just-noticeable wrinkles in his only white collared shirt became words scrawled in thick, black permanent marker. I'm not good enough. A days' stubble. Hastily tied necktie. What am I even doing here?