On-campus Job and Student Life at UCW

I started my journey with UCW in April 2021 when the campuses were still closed because of COVID-19 restrictions. Since I completed my first two terms online, I missed the whole on-campus student life experience, including meeting new people and interacting with faculty members in person. All I could do was participate in online events that the University hosted and connect with other students through social media. When I first arrived in Vancouver in August 2021, just like every other student, I was clueless about part-time jobs. I had so many questions about where to find jobs, how to apply for them, how to manage university work while studying and what a fair rate for me was.

In anticipation of finding a part-time job, I connected with a few seniors from UCW on LinkedIn. One of the seniors recommended I check the MyUCW Student Portal, where all the job opportunities are posted. I came across the Student Health Ambassador position, which was an on-campus role. This role was perfect for me as I lived near the Vancouver House Campus, so it would also allow me to interact with other students and faculty members. A month after applying, I received a call from the UCW Human Resources department saying I was selected for the role. I was ecstatic!

Back in my home country, I was always eager to participate in and volunteer for inter-school competitions and events. I would always look for new ways to explore my skill set and challenge myself, which led to me becoming a council member at my school.

As grateful as I was to be a Student Health Ambassador at UCW, I wanted to strengthen my resumé further. Along with open job positions, the MyUCW Student Portal and newsletter emails also provide information on student volunteer opportunities for events and activities. After working closely with the Student Affairs team for various occasions like Christmas and NSO, I decided to apply for the Student Life Assistant role, again an on-campus student position. Unfortunately, I did not make it to the next round this time, but I did not stop there.

It is often scary when you’re new in a city, trying to make new friends and surrounding yourself with multicultural people. Because of my role at UCW, I interacted with many students from different backgrounds and learned from their experiences. At the time, I was also looking for ways to expand my role at UCW as it would allow me to stay on-campus and interact with other new students, which I enjoy. So, in search of something new, while shooting a promotional video for my Peer Leader role, I discovered my next opportunity – Student Brand Ambassador. Coming from a marketing background, I have always been super active and passionate about social media. I love to create fun videos on the side for my Instagram account. This role was ideal for me as I regularly created content after coming to Vancouver. I frequently recorded my student life and captured the beautiful city of Vancouver. I applied for this role and luckily got selected this time. This role later led to my internship in the final semester of my MBA program. As my exit course, I took Internship (Work 601) with the Marketing team at UCW. As a social media intern, my role includes strategizing content, creating engaging yet informative posts, writing copy, monitoring online reviews and tracking current trends on social media.

The best part was that I did not even imagine any of this happening. Back when I was stuck in my home city in the first semester due to the pandemic, I used to watch UCW’s social media accounts lying on my bed. I would always wonder when and how I would ever get to enjoy this scenic city! Little did I know, I would be one of the brand ambassadors representing the University, travelling around Vancouver and creating content for their social media (and getting paid for it!)

When I meet students, they often ask me how I manage to work and stay motivated. I only have one answer – I chose something that came naturally to me as I was always more interested in extracurriculars, so being a peer leader or brand ambassador, it didn’t seem like work. I always urge them to choose a job where they feel their skills are being utilized; from a marketing background, the internship was just a step ahead of venturing into my field.

I am blessed to have some fantastic friends, a supportive work team and super friendly managers who always support and guide me. Being a full-time student while working a job is challenging but the key is to balance it. Realizing when to take a break and restore yourself allows you to fail and then get back up. I’ve also had my share of ups and downs while working as a student, as many of you would, too. It’s not always easy, but yes, it has been worth it!

I feel like I’ve come full circle in this city, from landing here as a clueless student to now being the one who helps new students navigate their way here! We are all here to achieve our goals and enjoy this adventurous ride. All I can conclude with my journey with UCW is that each day is a new opportunity, so make the most of it! I would like to end this blog by wishing you all the best! I hope I shared something valuable today.