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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.

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
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!

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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 person flexing
Blog
Just Like Bunko: Learning Strengths

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

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 picture of Aslam sitting in front of a window.
Podcast
Building Community
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.

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LEARN

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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
a girl lying on top of her books because she's tired
Blog
It's Not About You

In the summer of 2008, Yat worked 40 hours a week while going to school with a full course load. Managing time was essential to getting things done, but everyone has struggles with time management. Read more to find out the lessons Yat learned while reading the book, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko

Picture of a bunch of volunteers
Blog
Help, Learn, & Discover.

“Help, Learn, & Discover” is an organization that gives university students the opportunity to volunteer abroad and build homes for the poor in Ecuador, while gaining useful work experience – particularly for biology and pre-medical students. There are three programs you.. can choose from

3 people peering out a window
Blog
Career Advice From My Dad - Don't Be a Lawyer

While my dad and I get along really well, we don't talk a whole lot - besides the fact that we live in different cities, I'm pretty sure we share a dislike of small talk.  I think we share a lot in common actually, and understand each other quite well.  So, despite our infrequent chit chats, my dad's been a big influence on a lot of things in my life, not the least of which being my career development.

Open book
Blog
What's Your Story?

I and the whole staff at work attended a training last week on a "narrative" method of career counselling led by Mark Franklin, the practice leader of a company called Career Cycles.  It's inspired me to write a bit about narrative therapy in general, especially as it applies to career development. 

NeoCitrum
Blog
Invisible Influences?

There were a lot of messages that I grew up with, whether it be from my parents, peers, or the all-encompassing influence of the media.  One of the ones that sticks with me most to this day, and I'm not sure where it comes from, has to do with self-sacrifice.

staircase at maggie benson centre
Blog
Dear High School Class of 2011...

Hi.  It's me, Dave - I was one of the smiley, energetic people handing out popcorn last night when you came up to visit SFU for our open house, "Info Eve."  Congratulations, by the way!  It's a pretty cool experience to be offered acceptance to any university, let alone the top Canadian comprehensive school as ranked by Macleans.  So, you've got good reason to feel proud of yourselves.  I really could see that on a lot of your and your parents' faces last night.  Way to go!

image of a girl smiling at her laptop screen
Blog
Is Your Résumé OUTSTANDING?

Will your resume catch the attention of an employer? Marcia Shimizu, a SFU Co-op Coordinator reviews three key points to consider when creating your résumé.

Person on the phone while working on her laptop
Blog
Routines, Moodiness, and the Job Search

A routine is one of those things in life that can be either a huge relief or a giant burden.  I know that I tend to oscillate between those two feelings, generally dependant on whether or not I have an established routine in my life at the time.  I think that for the most part, we’re creatures of habit. 

Image of the Author
Blog
Leif Stroman's High-Tech Co-op Experience

Leif Stroman shares his amazing  high-tech co-op experience, working in Whistler for Recon Instruments. As the only software engineer for Recon's new Transcent goggles, he was able to influence major product decisions from start to finish (which included plenty of mid-air and mountain-top testing!)

Image of the Author
Blog
My Time as a Canuck Insider

What would a co-op placement be like if part of your job was to interview Canucks players and write reports of their games? Take a peek at Elizabeth's co-op and what it was like to be a Canucks insider.

a girl on her laptop
Blog
The Perfect Portfolio

In addition to doing research about the company and job role, as well as preparing great answers, portfolios of work and achievements are becoming an increasingly important part of the interview process.

A man and a woman in a business suit are smiling while facing the front.
Blog
What’s an Entrepreneur?

In this blog article, David Lindskoog shares the messages about entrepreneurship that he got from a panel event, “Starting Your Own Business.” 

A crying baby
Blog
Don’t Throw A Fit!

How many times and how many ways have you heard the word “fit” thrown around? I don’t know if a three letter word has ever had such wide ranging implications.  Grammatically speaking, it’s an adjective, a verb, and a noun. Generally speaking, though, I’m pretty confident we can think of “fit” as referring to the compatibility of one thing with another.

Statue of deities
Blog
Durga Puja 2011

Unlike just any festival, Durga Puja is likened to "Disneyland, the Olympics, Christmas and an art gallery all in one." Join Martyna, Silvia, Lindsay and Christine in their celebration of Durga Puja, an annual Hindu festival in Kolkata. As they weave through busy streets and celebrate festivities, the girls share their exciting experience with us in this blog entry. 

The photo shows a headshot of Swarna, who is looking towards her left side. She is smiling.
Blog
Student Volunteer Profile: Swarna Debba

This time I’d like to highlight Swarna’s personal experience in volunteering. It’s apparent from the previous article how passionate Swarna is in helping others. In addition to working for UGM, Swarna also volunteers for the organization.For instance, she has volunteered for the UGM drop-in centre in New Westminster, BC. Swarna explains that the New Westminster Drop-in centre has a different demographic of people compared to the downtown east side location.

The photo shows a yin and yang symbol.
Blog
Take a Holistic Approach to Your Education

I am sure you have heard of the concept of taking a holistic approach to health.  I first learned about this concept when I took an elective course in Kinesiology at SFU during my undergraduate degree. A holistic approach to health examines the physical, social, emotional and mental needs of a person to determine one’s overall wellness.

Two women are talking to each other while each holding a book. They are smiling at each other.
Blog
Why Be a Career Peer Educator?

Do you want to hear directly from Career Peers about their thoughts on volunteering as a Career Peer? This article showcases reflections from Career Peers on their experience. 

Top 10 Articles
Blog
2010 Top 10 Articles

The year is winding down and we take a moment to reminiscence about this year's top 10 best articles. It wasn't easy choosing the top 10 as there were several articles we liked, but here are the articles we thought were best.

view of capetown, south africa
Blog
Home Sweet Home

As Kayla returns home from Botswana, there is much to reflect upon the differences between cultures and the way of living. Read what Kalya has to say and how International Co-op has brought her to an epiphany.

A person holding a Olympic torch
Blog
Peeriodical: Olympic Sized Persistence Pays Off

If there’s someone who knows about the terrifying journey that is the work search, it is Marissa Nahanee. She was a panellist at the Indigenous Peoples Career Stories event on March 3, 2011.  Marissa has worked on many world class events, including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch relay and visits by Princes Charles and Edward. But Marissa’s job did not just happen to her – she had to work for it.

aerial view of south african landscapes
Blog
Exploring South Africa

SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB).  In this final article, the winds guide Kayla to South Africa where she explores Capetown and Durban before heading home.

The olympic torch
Blog
Olympic Sized Persistence Pays Off

If there’s someone who knows about the terrifying journey that is the work search, it is Marissa Nahanee. She worked on many world class events, including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch relay and visits by Princes Charles and Edward. But Marissa’s job did not just happen to her - she had to work for it.

A student standing in front of a SFU building
Blog
Peeriodical: Transitions – A Starting Point

Transitions! Sleeping to waking, travelling from home to work and back again and switching from task to task are some of the more common everyday transitions that people experience.  Most aren’t life-changing and take place on a regular basis, so we tend not to think about them when they occur.

aerial view of Swakopmund, Namibia
Blog
Exploring Namibia

SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB).  In this article, the eighth in the series, Kayla explores Namibia and gets stuck several times in the sand dunes.

Peer hand shake
Blog
Make the Right Impression with Handshake and Email Etiquette

Ever wonder what exactly makes a good impression when it comes to business? With my new job under my belt, I’ve networked and met several influential individuals.  Upon introducing myself, shaking hands and getting to know these people, I have come to realize that there is a certain business etiquette that everyone that hopes to make a good impression should know.

Michael at SFU
Blog
Transitions – A Starting Point

Transitions! Sleeping to waking, travelling from home to work and back again and switching from task to task are some of the more common every day transitions that people experience.  Most aren’t life-changing and take place on a regular basis, so we tend not to think about them when they occur.

San people smiling and laughing
Blog
The Gods Must be Crazy

SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB).  In this article, the seventh in the series, Kayla shares her weekend travels around Botswana.

aerial view of Garborone, the city Kayla stayed in
Blog
Reality of HIV/AIDS in Botswana

SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB).  In this article, the sixth in the series, Kayla discusses the reality of HIV/AIDS in Botswana.

Kristen at work
Blog
A Day in the Life of a CRA Taxpayer Services Agent

Kristen Ryan worked as a taxpayer services agent for Canada Revenue Agency. Read more about what a typical day looked like during her co-op term.

Photo of Kate Beckinsale
Blog
Optimism’s Underworld – Unrealistic Expectations

I’m going to share a secret with you, internet: I’m a big Kate Beckinsale fan, and have been since the first Underworld movie came out in 2003.  So, when I found out that the 4th Underworld movie - New Dawn – was being filmed at SFU , and that Kate was in a starring role, I got pretty excited (as many of my coworkers can confirm). 

aerial photo of the Okavango River in Botswana
Blog
Kayla, I Swam the Delta

SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB). In this article, the fifth in the series, Kayla swims the Delta, meets elephants and chased by a hippo.

Cement pathway in Gaborone, Botswana
Blog
Challenges of the Pace of Life

SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB). In this article, the fourth in the series, Kayla shares some of the challenges of the pace of life in Botswana.

Graduates throwing their graduation caps up in the air
Blog
Career Friends

Career Friends is a group of four Alumni who were having troubles staying on track in their job-hunting journey's post-graduation. Career Friends held regular meetings for accountability, and to confront and change bad habits. Read Samantha's story of why she decided to create Career Friends, and how it helped her job prospects.

cabin
Blog
Prince George or Bust

Marilyn Brennan shares her experiences and adventures while working on a Co-op term for Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Department (TARR) at Fort St. John. In Part 4 - Marilyn reflects on her many unique cross-Canada travelling experiences during her Co-op work term.

Kid posing with a fake bear head
Blog
Work Excitement

Marilyn Brennan shares her experiences and adventures while working on a Co-op term for Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Department (TARR) at Fort St. John. In Part 3 - Work Excitement, Marilyn plans the Aboriginal Day Celebrations and gets firsthand experience dealing with government policy.

Trees near a river
Blog
Adventures

Marilyn Brennan shares her experiences and adventures while working on a Co-op term for Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Department (TARR) at Fort St. John. In Part 2 - Adventures, Marilyn shares with us her first work-related road trip to Doig River First Nation.

Picture of the mountains and rivers
Blog
A Beginning

Marilyn Brennan shares her experiences and adventures while working on a Co-op term for Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Department (TARR) at Fort St. John. In Part 1 - A Beginning, Marilyn reflects the challenges arriving in a new city to begin her Co-op term.

General Motors headquarter in China
Blog
Co-op Alumni Profile: John Zhang, General Motors, China

Join our series of Co-op Alumni interviews. Each profile contains valuable reflections, tips and career advice. Meet John Zhang, Manager of Business & Portfolio Planning, General Motors China and SFU Business Co-op graduate.

View of the city and temple from a height in Japan
Blog
Co-op Japan: The Experience of a Lifetime

The Co-op Japan program is more than a way to add an international job to your resume; it can also be a trip of self-discovery.  Two co-op students share their memorable experiences in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Children running and playing
Blog
Helping Children Attend School

SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB).  In this article, the third in the series, Kayla explains her role in helping vulnerable children attend school.

Changing grades
Blog
Get an 'A' on Your Performance Review

Want to ace your performance evaluation at the end of your work term? Don't just do your job... excel! Make a positive impact and get amazing reviews from your employers.

Laura posing in front an airplane
Blog
Considering International Co-op? Some Helpful Tips to get You Started

Trying to decide if going on an International Co-op Placement is right for you?  Follow these words of advice so you can make a well informed decision.