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Arts + Social Sciences › Psychology
SFU Alumni & OLC Contributor
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Image Credit: Salathiel Wells

In this series, Jien describes the reality of being a student with a disability. Jien shares her experiences on coming to terms with labeling herself as a person with a disability, what non-disabled privilege is as well as how to satisfy your inner activist through volunteering and how it can help your career options!

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Oct 10, 2017
a portrait of the author
Blog
Bringing Visibility to Disability

Communication student and former Career and Volunteer Services staff, Katerina Cookson, sits down with Blogger Jien Hilario to talk about her mental health journey and resources available to SFU students. 

a different perspective by holding up a sphere against a background
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Nondisabled Privilege: What is it?

Privilege shapes our world in both visible and "invisible" ways. Jien discusses the ways in which privilege is granted to the non-disabled, and how acknowledging this privilege is one way we can all help. 

a person standing on top of a hill staring at the horizon
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How Volunteering Helped Me Expand My Career Options

Trying new things and volunteering to help your community can open up new options and ideas, some of which can be life-changing, and may direct you down a path that you never imagined you would be on. 

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Disclosing Disability

Living with a mental illness or any invisible disability comes with many challenges. One of the most prominent is whether or not one should disclose their status to others. In this article, Jien discusses her experience disclosing her disability with her employer for the first time. 

Jien Hilario photo
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What’s in a Name? Coming to Terms With Labelling Myself as a Person With a Disability

If you were to see Jien on campus, you wouldn’t know that she had a disability. She does not use a wheelchair nor does she have a seeing eye dog. She has an invisible disability. In this article, Jien shares her journey on how she came to terms with labeling herself as a person with a disability. 

Photo of Tony Botelho and Albert Fung
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How Volunteering Can Help You: With Tony Botelho and Albert Fung

In this article, Jien discusses volunteerism through Tony Botelho and Albert Fung of SFU’s Career and Volunteer Services. Read more to explore the benefits of volunteering for students with and without disabilities.

We Can Do It!
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How to Satisfy Your Inner Activist

When people think about social justice, they think of things like protests or hunger strikes, but the options don’t end there. These volunteer organizations can help you satisfy your inner activist.

Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere
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Why Doesn’t Canada Have a Disabilities Act?

It is 2018 and Canada has not yet implemented adequate protection and legislation for people with disabilities. When it comes to equality for all, Canada is falling far behind. In this article, Jien discusses the research and reality of why Canada needs a Disabilities Act.

friends standing together having a good time
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From Recreation to Mentorship: Getting Involved with People with Disabilities

Working with people with disabilities can enable you to understand their experiences better. What better way to do so than having fun at the ocean or in the mountains? Here are some ideas for volunteering with those with disabilities. 

a woman holding a mug that says "like a boss"
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Too Legit To Quit (Your Job, That Is)

How do you know if a job posting is legit? After applying to over 100 jobs, Jien has a few tips to help you decode that job posting. 

johnny bunko comic
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Right Versus Wrong: Career Lessons from Johnny Bunko

Success does not follow a linear path and neither will your career. Jien shares some fundamental lessons from "The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need.", while also reflecting on her own personal experiences learning these lessons. 

a basketball goal went in
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#Goals: Lessons from Bo Sanchez

Having a goal allows us to take aim and move forward. Jien, shares lessons in goal-setting from Bo Sanchez's How to Conquer your Goliaths, and offers her own personal experiences of goal-setting and achieving. 

Jien
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'Til We Meet Again

Recently graduated, Jien Hilario reflects back on university, career choices, convocation and her blog series I Am Able.