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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
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.
Mario Fong travelled to Hong Kong to join the HSBC trainee program through International Co-op. Dropping everything to live in a new country provided him with personal and professional experiences he won't soon forget.
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!
As an undergraduate student, Spencer Chen excelled with a GPA of 4.21 and received numerous merit-based scholarships and awards. She also sought diverse research and community service opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the SFU community.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Morgan Karugaba shares his journey of how he overcame the challenges of uncertainty, by stepping out of his comfort zone.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Alex has the scoop on why you should become an orientation leader! Read on to find out how she gained transferable professional skills while having a blast.
The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) is the first choice for Aboriginal graduate students, due, in part to their commitment to cultural understanding and student success. They will be attending the mini BIG fair at SFU this year.
Audrey Tooshkenig reflects on her experience at the 2012 Indigenous People's Career Stories event, and how she managed to overcome a brief dip in her self-confidence to present to a room full of earnest listeners.
Rui dishes about how volunteering can beef up your resume and give you a cross cultural edge! Read on for great tips and resources.
Kerri shares the secret to finding hidden volunteer opportunities! She also gives tips on how to get over your fear of networking. Read more to find out!
On February 21st, the Indigenous People’s Career Stories event took place at the Diamond Alumni Centre. This was my first year attending the event and I was pleasantly surprised.
This is dedicated to my Grandmother, Marge Mackie. She has the strongest spirit of anyone I know…and I’m just like her…
I learned that the brilliant thing about college is everyone is at different levels. After I completed my diploma I went on to get my bachelors at Royal Roads University and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management.
Are you at a crossroads in your university career? Does the stress of changing majors have you doubting whether to make a change? Here are some thought provoking questions that can help guide you on the path to making a choice that’s right for you.
While sitting at the airport gate last July, waiting to board the plane to Portland and then onto San Jose where I was scheduled to deliver two presentations on web accessibility, I wondered, "How did I, an individual with a significant speech impairment and a physical disability, get here?"
The Canada Revenue Agency offers motivated individuals a challenging, interesting, and diverse workplace that will help you develop skills and advance your career. If you are looking to gain valuable work experience in a federal organization, make the CRA your employer of choice.
I am currently taking a Masters Degree in Health Science at the School of Population and Public Health at UBC. I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on evidence based medicine, medical biostatistics, clinical epidemiology and public health.
There are lots of people that will tell you about all the things you should or could be doing, and why doing these things will benefit you. But sometimes you can’t, you really can’t, do it all. And Lauren is here here to tell you that that’s okay too.
Learn about some of the employers and Indigenous student recruiters you can network with at the Indigenous Peoples Career Stores event.
Career Services is hosting its annual Indigenous Peoples Career Stories event on February 21st, 2013 which brings opportunites and experiences directly to SFU's Indigneous students.
Gerald was born in Lytton, BC. He is a Status Aboriginal man and is a member of the Lytton First Nation. He shares the career journey that led him to becoming an Aboriginal Correctional Program Officer, making a difference in the lives of Aboriginal youth.
You're stuck. Maybe it's a dead-end job, or the sense that you're studying the wrong thing, or with the wrong person, or just in a place you didn't want to end up, but don't know how to leave. If only it were as simple as pressing a button and starting over. We can't do that, but here's the next best thing.
Every semester, co-op students have access to a variety of job postings on the co-op job board. Some jobs, such as technical writing, often appear and have you wondering what that really means. Kristine was hired on as a technical writer for her last co-op term and writes about the job and what it entails.
Lauren interviewed Lucia Pecnikova, VP Philanthropy for SFU YWiB. Read on for her full story about how Lucia got involved, why she thinks YWiB Philanthropy is great to get involved in, and how other women can get involved!
Brand new ENGAGE Blog writer, Jeff, posts his first article about volunteering to speak in class rooms. He discusses how this can develop your skills and help to mentor other students looking for similar opportunities.
You may be feeling overworked and it may seem that you just don’t have enough time in your life to do anything, but rest assured, you are not alone. The whole work/life balance is a perception and opinion of one’s own priorities and values. People feel stressed because they find that they do not have time or missed out on a chance to do certain activities.
By managing your time effectively, you will be able to feel like you are on top of things, and be more productive, which will result in job satisfaction and most of all…more time to enjoy life!
Bernard Chan is an Energy Specialist with SFU Facilties Services, here he coordinates numerous energy efficiency and conservation projects across campus. Learn about what his typical day consists of.
SFU Faculty of Environment alumni Wes Regan graduated with a BA in Geography and two certificates in Urban Studies and Sustainable Community Development. Since then, he has become a successful contractor/consultant in Community Development and Urban Planning.
Do you think that most introverts are very quiet, shy, and not comfortable speaking in front of people? Do you believe that extroverts are more outgoing and talkative? Let’s take a look at some common beliefs about introverts and see if they are true or not. You might be surprised to learn that an introvert can also be a Career Peer Educator!
The Idle No More movement has gained strength in numbers and momentum primarily through Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. By sharing ideas, goals, and opinions we have begun to destabilize those institutions to which we are vulnerable.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a seemingly simple question – something for which no answer could be considered incorrect. So why do university students suffer an existential crisis the very moment we’re posed its equivalent: “What’s your plan after graduation?”
Last night, the hockey world bore witness to a memorable goal celebration by Oilers' rookie, Nail Yakupov. Though it was a memorable moment, controversy and disagreement over whether the celebration was "unprofessional" soon followed, which got me thinking: are emotions acceptable at work?
Kerri tells you at to keep up with new trends of posting volunteer opportunities. She give you a few great social media tools to use when seeking opportunities, and accounts to check out.
If you are interested in applying to PDP, or looking at career opions, take a gander at Lauren's article. She talks about the kind of volunteer expereince you need for PDP and what is best.