When I hear the word “Telfer” what comes to mind is getting involved in the School community. Well, guess what! That’s not the first thing I did in my first year.

I knew I needed to do something during the school year, but I didn’t know what. Even before my first day at university, my goal was to be on the Dean’s honour list. Achieving good test scores was going to help me get on that list, but it wasn’t going to help me develop my professional skills. To that end, I joined an intramural volleyball team, but it wasn’t enough. So, towards the end of my first year, I started applying for positions within various clubs at Telfer.

My applications were still not successful, but that didn’t stop me from continuing to apply. Keeping my goal in mind (to get involved), I was eventually selected for the positions of 101 Week Guide and Ambassador at the Telfer Career Centre. What a feat! Being part of 101 Week was quite an adventure for me. I had the opportunity to meet senior students who told me all about their experiences in the co-op program, their participation in case competitions, stress management and more...

I have always been a very open-minded person and I am interested in other people’s stories. I can guarantee you that if you meet me at a networking event now, I will ask you, “What experiences have you had? What did they bring you?”

Getting involved in the Telfer community should not be seen as a chore. I know it’s stressful, but you should see it as a way to broaden your horizons and to expand your network, because the first people you will work with in the future will be your classmates. So why not hang out with them in a relaxed environment? Working as a 101 Week Guide allowed me not only to meet people with whom I became friends and to have a lot of fun, but also to develop professional skills that will be helpful to me for the rest of my life. But the most important thing for me during that crazy week was the fact that I had the chance to talk about MY experience to the first-year students I met. I was no longer the audience; I had become the narrator. Being a 101 Week Guide was an incredible experience, but I look forward to the surprises that my position as a Career Centre Ambassador will no doubt bring.

On that note, if you see me in the hallway, don’t hesitate to say hello. I would be happy to tell you about my student experience.