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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.

Thank you for supporting us!

The OLC is closing on September 19, 2024

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.

MESSAGE FROM THE OLC

Thank You for being a Part of the SFU OLC Community

After two decades of sharing educational resources and stories by students, alumni, staff and faculty, the SFU OLC is coming to an end. Thank you to every one of you who contributed stories, shared experiences, and engaged with the OLC over the years. Your participation has enriched our community and made a meaningful impact.

The OLC will be closing on September 19, 2024. If you have not yet done so, please save any content you may wish to keep and to revisit.

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

MESSAGE FROM THE OLC

Thank you for being a part of the SFU OLC community

After two decades of sharing educational resources and stories by students, alumni, staff and faculty, the SFU OLC is coming to an end. Thank you to every one of you who contributed stories, shared experiences, and engaged with the OLC over the years. Your participation has enriched our community and made a meaningful impact.

OLC will be closing on September 19, 2024. If you have not yet done so, please save any content you may wish to keep and to revisit.

Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience

 

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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

 

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Join our team

The OLC is looking for volunteers for various positions that have a range of time commitments including content creators, editors, UI/UX developers, and website testers. Positions are open for all students hoping to gain valuable experience in writing, website development and management, task and time management, collaboration, communication, and more. There is no deadline to apply as we recruit year-round!

APPLY

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.

LOGIN

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
11360
Members Joined

 

2227
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 picture of Aslam sitting in front of a window.
Podcast
Building Community
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 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.

READ

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
Picture of a woman
Blog
When to Say “No”

Do you have people knocking at your door, asking for your expertise? Did you want to say yes to all of them, but didn’t know if you could handle all of it? Say “no” now, so that you can say yes to the things you truly want later.

Aboriginal Logo
Blog
Graduate Aboriginal Scholarships Attract Diverse Scholars

The successful applicants for the 2014 Graduate Aboriginal Entrance Scholarships were Jordan Abel and Christina Coolidge. They are exploring different aspects of Aboriginal storytelling.

Barry smiling
Blog
Barry Vickers

University, many people once told me, is the best time of your life. Yes, there is something to be said about being broke and stressed out with deadlines and exams.

Aboriginal Community equity services logo; a red turtle
Blog
Betsy Turtle Bruyere

Meet Betsy Turtle Bruyere, an entrepreneur and educator who understands the value of hard-work and determination. Read their story, as they share their journey growing up, overcoming adversity, and exploring different careers in education in order to uplift other indigenous peoples and communities. 

SFU students and staff dancing to Zumba in the Recreation Center
Blog
3 Floors Down

I’ve worked in the sports industry for ten years, and to this day I still love it. This article is all about growth in one of my athletic sports positions, discussing my personal and professional experience, as well as a thank you letter to a good mentor of mine.

Hands in the air
Blog
5 Reasons Why It’s Better to Give than to Receive

What sense does it make to add volunteering to your already busy schedule? Can any good come out of that? You might be surprised with what I've found!

Michelle smiling
Blog
Michelle Corfield

Work hard nothing in life is easy, be honest to yourself and others and maintain your principles and values. Read Michelle's story of determination, hard-work and success. 

Archaeologist site
Blog
Eldon Yellowhorn; Archaeologist collaborates with Piikani Nation

Yellowhorn, an SFU professor of archaeology, has some of the answers how his ancestors adapted to farming and homesteading in the late 1800s.

Researcher smiling to the camera
Blog
Researchers continue to unlock mysteries of ancient clam gardens

Researchers found that Aboriginal peoples cultivated clams in handmade, rock-walled beach terraces known as clam gardens.

Deboarah smiling
Blog
Deborah Jeffery

“I always return to the words of Indigenous scholar, Eber Hampton, that we need to design an education system ‘worthy of our ancestors and our children,’” Read Deboarah's story of continuing education, determination and a drive to give back to the community.

Several colourful macarons in a box
Blog
How to Find Your Unique Talent in 3 Steps

Clair Lam shares her tips on how to answer the dreaded interview question, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" by finding out one's unique talent.

Bunch of work people running
Blog
5 Reasons Why You Should Mention Playing Sports in an Interview

Learn how those years of recreational sports can help you land the job of your dreams! 

Image of a fish swimming in water
Blog
A Fish on Land: Adjusting to a Company’s Work Culture

Nervous heart palpitations, a piercing adrenaline rush, and a case of the stutters; like many Co-op students on their first day at work, I had just been asked to present an introductory speech in front of my colleagues.

US President and First Lady meeting with the Queen
Blog
First Impressions Matter – Here’s How to Make Yours Count!

First impressions are important, especially in the workplace. Your employer will be judging you based on how you present yourself – at all times! It may seem scary, but I’ll show you how to ace that first meeting!

 
Pamela
Blog
International Invite Turned into a Dual-Self-Directed Co-op

Pamela Plantinga, BPK Behavioural Neuroscience student, took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to a paid trip abroad and augmented it into a self-directed short-term dual internship experience in Nashville, Tennessee before going further abroad to Europe.

A photo of the author
Blog
“What Did You Just Say?”: How to Communicate in a Foreign Country

Worried about the difficulties you may face while trying to communicate in a foreign country? I hope these 5 tips can be of some sort of encouragement! 화이팅!

Top view of SFU
Blog
Volunteering with SFU Residence and Housing

As a person living on campus, Shayne was looking for ways to get involved with SFU and ended up finding leadership opportunities that took her from her dorm to all around Vancouver! Read about her experiences with SFU Residence and Housing!

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Blog
SFU Passion Club

For this week’s Club of the Week Spotlight, Janelle interviews Niyanta, president of SFU Passion Club.  Learn more about the club which provides various self-development workshops for young women!

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Blog
Samantha’s Journey to Japan

Samantha went to Japan through the Canada Japan Co-op Program and worked at Kao Corporation as a co-op student. Find out what it took for Samantha to settle into her life in Japan.

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Blog
Interview Tips: Presenting Your Weaknesses Like a Pro

Celia Walters is creating some great content in her marketing role at TPD™ - an international Workforce and HR Solutions company! Check out the latest installment of her series on how to answer the most challenging of interview questions.

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Blog
Mentoring with Big Sisters: More Than Just Volunteering

On the one hand, being a Big Sister can lead to great potential benefit for the youth, but on the other hand, perhaps you’re worried if you would make a great Big Sister. Here is Evelyn's take on the matter.

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Blog
5 Benefits of Joining an Executive Board

There are many benefits to joining an Executive Board, here are five you might discover at SFU or beyond!

Clair
Blog
How to be Productive in 6 Steps

Do you feel like you have control over your life? Do you feel empowered as you walk out the door to conquer whatever comes your way? I have a secret to share with you and the good news is that it’s incredibly simple. In this article I share how to be productive, how not to focus on being busy, and why that is important.

Person standing on top of a cliff
Blog
Killer Content: Make Your Resume Stand out with Accomplishment Statements

You have an excellent layout and consistent format to your resume.  Your design elements are eye catching while still being subtle and appropriate for the job.  All of this will be of no use if your content is not reflective of someone who has taken the time to fully explain his or her skills and experiences.

Two bosses
Blog
The Other Side of the Desk: Interview Tips From an Interviewer's Perspective

Ever wonder what an interviewer is thinking during your interview? Here’s Bernice to give you a sneak peek thanks to her experience on an SFSS hiring committee!

Lucia sitting at an office desk
Blog
It’s Never Too Late to Start Over

Figuring out your dream career can take several years as you try new things, meet interesting people and learn more about yourself. After five years in an established career, co-op became a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to start over, change career lanes, and gain amazing work experience as a Student Engagement Program Coordinator at SFU.

A photo of the author
Blog
5 Tips on Preparing Your Communication Plan

When I had the opportunity to attend the International Association of Business Communicators’ (IABC/BC’s) Communication Planning 101 Workshop, I jumped at the chance to learn a little more about strategic communication and writing a communication plan.

The author and her team at a banquet hall
Blog
The Inside Scoop: Working at CGA-BC and CPABC

Jennifer Johnson is a 4th year business student concentrating in Marketing with a Corporate Social Responsibility Certificate.  She reflects on what it was like to work at CGA-BC and CPABC as a Marketing Assistant where she worked on large scale event planning.

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Blog
How Seeing Less Helped Me See More

Finding out about an incurable genetic disease is definitely a game changer. With the right attitude it can be change in the right direction as I was able to get involved with CNIB (Canadian National Institute For The Blind) and support a new community of inspiring individuals.

Research
Blog
Best Practices for Company Research

Job searching? Starting out in an industry? Switching careers? Exploring your options? There are many reasons we need to do company and industry research in our professional lives. You may need these skills when exploring new industries or fields, creating a job application or preparing for an interview.

 

Picture of Jeremy Wong at Mancakes Bakery
Blog
The Frosting on the Cake - How to Start Your Business Before You Graduate

Jeremy Wong, founder of Mancakes Bakery, is living proof that for entrepreneurs their phone is their office and their office is wherever they are. I had a chance to catch up with Jeremy recently and hear about his journey and future plans to revolutionize the dessert industry. 

Picture of puzzle pieces
Blog
Is the Job a Good Fit For You?

Can you tell whether a job will be one that helps you wake up happy or one you would eventually dream of quitting? There are actually some telltale signs that can help you understand the job and company culture to give you a better idea of the fit.

Person holding a pen to write on papers scattered on a desk
Blog
5 Reasons to Consider “The Little Guys” for Your Next Co-op Search

Have you ever considered working for a small firm?  Nick Pochailo, a fourth year business student spent eight months working in a small firm and realized he reaped many benefits from a small firm that he might not have at a large firm.  Read on to find out why you should consider a small firm for your co-op.

Harpreet
Blog
My Co-op Experience at a Chiropractic Office

Read about Harpeet's co-op experience as a Therapy and Office Assistant at DesLauriers Chiropractic Group Inc and find out how this experience has helped them gain valuable lifelong skills. 

Smiling portrait of Daniel
Blog
How I Became First Author for a Research Paper During my Co-op

Daniel Paulino expected to be the intern that got coffee for the office. He surprised everyone, especially himself when he developed top-performing software and wrote a research paper in his eight-month co-op at Genome Science Centre. Find out how he did it.

Two men judging the camera
Blog
8 Interview Tips For Impressing a Hiring Manager

Did you know that according to some statistics, up to 33% of managers know within the first 90 seconds of an interview whether or not they will hire someone? Learn how to ace your interview from beginning to end with these 8 great tips.

Kendra teaching a class
Blog
How I Stepped Out of my Comfort Zone and Embraced Life Abroad

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.

Candice smiling with a view of Barcelona in the background
Blog
Living and Working Abroad in Barcelona, Spain

Are you looking into working abroad for your co-op?  Business student, Candice Woods shares what she learned in her co-op and how to combat homesickness based on her experience working in Barcelona, Spain for her co-op.

A handshake during an interview
Blog
6 Soft Skills that Make You More Competitive to Employers

There is no exam to test you on these skills, no research paper to write or case study to examine – yet these skills are incredibly important to your future role as an employee.  Can you guess what skills we are talking about?

ian and coworkers in scrubs
Blog
Ian's International Co-op in Mexico: Babies, Mothers, and Hearts

When Ian first came to SFU, Ian was a student in the Biological Sciences program. After their first year, they realized that they didn't just want to study living organisms, they wanted to learn about the human body. So at the end of their first year, they found themselves transfering to the Biomedical Physiology program.

people dancing in smoke made by smoke machine
Blog
SFU Dance Marathon

Next in the SFU Club of the Week Spotlight, Emily interviews Jordan and Sandali, co-directors of SFU Dance Marathon, an event to raise money for BC Children's Hospital.

A bunch of letters
Blog
Club Spotlight: Campus Cursive at SFU

The world needs more love letters, and this club is spreading them around SFU.

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