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Scroll through and catch up on the latest 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. Content is created by the SFU community.

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Changing Times: Stories to Inspire Hope and Resilience

 

Kaylla
Staying Productive While Working Remotely for a Health Authority

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

 

Photo of Sophia
Blog
Challenging Convention: Pursuing Both the Arts and Sciences

Sophia Dobischok’s graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioural Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Arts in English­–degrees she completed concurrently. Her story is one of academic excellence, as she wins the Undergraduate Dean’s Convocation Medal, awarded to select students whose grades place them in the top 5% of their class. However, what stands out to some people are the seemingly incongruous fields that she chose to study.

Photo of David
Blog
Pursuing Grad School With a Backpack Full of Life Experience

After enduring a zoom-mediated MBA, David Whiffin moved to Vancouver, rediscovered his love for the outdoors and catalyzed a career change.

Photo of Joanna
Blog
Reconciliation Through Indigenized Nursing Education

Joanna Fraser graduates with an EdD in Culturally Inclusive Place-Based Education (CIPB). Read about her reflections on being a community nurse and educator in rural settings, as well as her learnings from Indigenous mentors in creating an inclusive practice.

Scientists at a lab
Blog
3 Ways to Continue Learning on Your Next Co-op Term

Completing 3 Co-op work terms can sometimes feel repetitive. Check out Madelynn's tips on how to stay engaged and continually enhance your Co-op experience.

Photo of Simran
Blog
Making Space for Undergraduate Research

An active leader in the student community, BA graduand Simran Purewal has been awarded the 2022 Dean's Convocation Medal.

Photo of Rachel
Blog
Female Empowerment in STEM

Rachel George graduates with a bachelor of applied science degree from the School of Mechatronics Systems Engineering. She reflects on the gender bias and underrepresentation of women in STEM, and her personal journey navigating through a historically male-dominated field. 

Photo of Julie
Blog
Making a Career Change to Follow a True Passion

Julie Jen graduates with a second degree in computing science. Working as a chartered professional accountant in her early thirties and inspired by her husband's and friends' work in computing science, she decided to go back to school and follow her true passion—despite the hurdles she faced. 

Photo of Arvin
Blog
He Shoots, He Scores! A Legacy in Robot Soccer

Applied Sciences graduand, Arvin Amini, leaves SFU with a lasting impact by founding the SFU Robot Soccer Club. Over the years, the club has received funding from various engineering organizations and has been involved in community outreach with students in grades 5 to 8. Read about his passion for highlighting the fun in STEM.

Photo of Laton
Blog
Building Accessible Software for Educators

Computing science graduand Laton Vermette graduates with a Ph.D. in Computing Science. His thesis was on improving the lives of educators by providing ways for them to customize the classroom software they use for teaching.

Photo of Chao
Blog
Driven by a Passion for Research

Chao Bao graduates with a Ph.D. in Mechatronics. Equipped with a master's degree in engineering and nine years of experience in government research and industry, he made the difficult decision to leave a stable job to pursue his passion in research, with the goal of making a difference in society.

Photo of Spencer
Blog
Studying Mental Health Stigma for Social Change

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.

A person using a megaphone
Blog
Activism Burnout: An Interview with Registered Clinical Counsellors

What can healthy activism look like? See what registered clinical counsellors have to say about navigating activism burnout.

Two students passing notes
Blog
Academic Integrity and Getting Help Ethically

There are many reasons why students may feel compelled to break their academic integrity. Here are some ways to address the most common reasons.

Photo of Dr. Alberto Lusoli
Blog
Tackling Socially Relevant Problems

Dr. Alberto Lusoli, Ph.D., receives the Graduate Dean's Medal. Currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Digital Democracies Institute, he reflects on his research findings and his overall experience as a graduate student at the School of Communication.

Photo of Fegor
Blog
Centering the Stories of People, Community, and Self

FCAT student speaker, Fegor Obuwoma, reflects on her time as an SFU student studying film and communications, and as an active member of campus advocacy groups.

Photo of Carolyn
Blog
Years of Involvement in the SIAT Program

Carolyn Yip graduates with a BA in Interactive Arts & Technology. During her time as a SIAT student, she was heavily involved in the IAT student union and took part in several co-op internships where she gained experience in various fields such as video editing, UX design, and entrepreneurship.

Photo of Inda
Blog
Honing Skills in Visual Storytelling

Inda Macias graduates with a Master in Digital Media (MDM). As a project manager, production coordinator, and storyteller from Mexico, she shares her experiences in the MDM program and how she will apply the skills she learned in the future.

Photo of Marina
Blog
Mental Health and Sports Go Hand-in-Hand

At SFU, Marina Cummiskey competed as a varsity swimmer and became a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee where she advocated for student-athlete mental health. Marina earned academic honours and the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in sport psychology at McGill University this fall, with a focus on athletic retirement research.

Lights reading out the word "passion"
Blog
Passion is Something Learned

Luis reflects on his four-year journey in finding his passion for Communication. Despite struggling to connect his introductory classes with his main interest in media studies, he persevered and found the value of having a strong foundation on which to explore the things he felt happy doing.

Photo of Charlotte
Blog
From Student Advocacy to Law School

It only took one archaeology course in her first year for Charlotte Taylor-Baer to discover her love for the subject. With a passion for forensic sciences and a dream of one day becoming a criminal defense lawyer, a double major in archaeology and criminology just made sense.

Photo of Mireta
Blog
Seeking Solutions for Social Change

Being a bystander is not in Mireta Strandberg-Salmon's nature. The Resource and Environmental Management graduand and Dean’s Convocation Medalist is known widely as a faculty superstar for her impact on campus sustainability and beyond. As her undergraduate journey comes to an end and she prepares to walk across the stage, she has a lot to look back on.

Person standing in front of desktop computer and laptop
Blog
A Philosophical Reflection Of My Co-op Journey

I always knew I was more of a hands-on learner than a reading and writing learner. As much as I enjoy reading, writing, and listening, the thought of rolling up my sleeves and getting my hands dirty was just way more enticing and exciting. As my work term comes to an end, I can wholeheartedly say that I have grown professionally and personally from a timid university student to a budding young professional. 

Photo of Ashley
Blog
Facilitating Change Through Community Service

Ashley Kyne wins the Inclusion, Democracy, and Reconciliation Medal for her selfless contributions to the SFU community and beyond.

Photo of Vanessa
Blog
Taking a Break Is Not Equivalent to Giving Up

Vanessa Gottfriedson’s journey toward earning her BA in Indigenous Studies started in 2005. During her nearly two decades as an SFU student, Vanessa’s life transformed in a myriad of ways. 

Photo of Jess
Blog
Fostering Inclusion and Equity in the Community

Jess Dela Cruz graduates with a minor in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies (GSWS), passionate about furthering social justice, inclusion, and equity on and beyond campus.

Photo of Charity
Blog
Championing Multidimensional Care at SFU and Beyond

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.

Photo of Asia
Blog
Advocating for the Wrongfully Convicted

Criminology student, Asia Clarke, shares her journey into community building and how she became an advocate for the wrongfully convicted.

A person with their arms wide open facing the city
Blog
Academia’s ‘Among Us’: A Guide to Imposter Syndrome

Have you ever doubted your academic ability or questioned your belonging in an academic setting? Check out these tips on how to overcome imposter syndrome in academia. 

A healthcare professional talking on a video call
Blog
Q&A with a Sexual Health Nurse

Gain information on the myriad of sexual health services available to members of the SFU community.

Photo of Sorren
Blog
Boosting Productivity with Web Development

Sorren shares his experience working on a helper program for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) that streamlines the completion of students' online profile submissions, which allows them to be showcased for their accomplishments, be recognized by employers, and share their research.

Bus interior with passengers
Blog
Relearning to be a Commuter

Looking for ways to make your commute more interesting? Here are 5 tips to become a more efficient commuter.

Photo of Dominic
Blog
Overcoming Setbacks to Start Something New

SFU Beedie graduand and student-athlete, Dominic Postle, overcame persistent injuries and setbacks to excel personally and professionally.

A stack of books positioned horizontally
Blog
Books that Helped us Grow

The Health Peers share some books that have helped with self-growth, healing, and forming good habits.

A laptop, a cup of coffee, a notepad and pen, and a phone sprawled out on a table
Blog
What I Learned About Adapting as a Creative Intern

As a creative intern at TEALEAVES, Sina had to learn how to adapt to new projects and a new job. Read on to discover how segmenting and balancing her time was the key to her success.

James Halim at Appnovation
Blog
Growth Through Change: Reflections From Design Co-op

Wondering about what it's like to transition into a design role? Read about how James adapted to working life at Appnovation.

Person in Grey Shirt Using Macbook Pro Photo
Blog
5 Steps to Have a Successful Midterm Season

Julia shares a 5-step guide for having a successful midterm season. Enjoy, and get studying!

Office
Blog
Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Office Hours

Showing up to office hours can benefit you in many ways. The next time you think about skipping maybe take another moment to consider the positives!

Managing Time
Blog
5 Popular Time Management Strategies

Want to get ahead of the mid to late semester crunch time? Here's some tips on how you can become an expert time manager.

Two people having a coffee chat at a table
Blog
Abstinence and Dating

Sex positivity includes the agency to decide whether to have sex. Check out these tips on discussing abstinence with partners.

Woman sitting on a couch and drinking coffee while working on laptop
Blog
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.

A person writing on paper with a laptop on the desk
Blog
Making your Assignments Perfect: Editing | Part Two

After revising, the next step to reviewing an assignment is editing the smaller details. Take a look and learn effective strategies and what to look for when editing. 

A person marking up a paper with a pen
Blog
Making your Assignments Perfect: Revision | Part One

Revising assignments entails more than just grammar and typo checks. Read all about strategies on how to improve your editing process.

Simrit's workspace at Beedie HQ
Blog
A Day in the Life of a HR & Marketing Assistant

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the SFU Business co-op office? Well, let me tell you – it is a very busy place! The HR & Marketing Assistant co-op position plays a vital role in ensuring students are receiving access to a diverse selection of postings and employers. Keep reading to find out why being in the HR & Marketing Assistant role was such a rewarding experience.

A student working at their desk.
Blog
Working Amidst COVID-19 in My First Co-op Term

With COVID persisting for over a year, working from home has become the new normal. However, we still have a long way to understand how to optimize our time working from the comforts of our bedroom.

Workplace at Wawanesa
Blog
How to Navigate Your First Weeks at Your Co-op

Working at a big insurance firm for your first co-op might be intimidating, and SFU Beedie student Yelena shares her experience acclimating to her job during the first few weeks. 

Tanishvir's Workspace at KPMG
Blog
Learning and Growing on the Job

Learning and growing on a co-op term is expected to happen. Read about Tanishvir's first co-op term as a Staff Accountant and how his co-op term is changing his future. 

Jordan standing outside the WIL offices.
Blog
Don't Just Survive, But Thrive: Balancing Being a Co-op Student with Other Responsibilities

SFU Co-op student Jordan talks about his time working for Work-Integrated Learning while balancing other commitments.