Written by Tiffanie Gao (Arts, In Progress)
This past winter, I completed my first co-op term as the Communications and Marketing Assistant for Alumni Relations. I feel like through the course of my time here, I have developed a deeper grasp of the written and interpersonal communication skills that are needed to succeed in both my academics and pursuing a career in the future.
I have learned so much by working in a professional, office setting, and using social media as a marketing and promotion tool by maintaining the official UWaterloo Alumni Facebook and Twitter accounts. I also managed this particular blog, sourcing, editing, and updating weekly stories from UWaterloo alumni with compelling lives or upcoming events. Because of my role, I was exposed to so many outstanding graduates and their success stories, which is such an incredible and motivating position to be in for a current student.
Along with these daily tasks, I helped with various other little assignments, including taking meeting minutes, writing articles for the alumni monthly e-newsletter, updating website pages with new information, and doing research for other projects. It is a different experience being on the other side of the University of Waterloo, and as a student, it has been eye-opening to see all of the work the administration and staff put into coordinating and promoting events and activities within the University, as well as on a global scale.
The Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations team build and seek connections with UWaterloo alumni, and bring attention to their abundance of accomplishments and achievements. Throughout my time here, I have connected with so many interesting alumni, each pursuing and succeeding in their respective fields. I would have never realized that after graduating, so many alumni have such fascinating lives and careers, which is exceptionally inspiring to me, since I still have little to no idea of what I want to do in the future. From the multitude of expected, but nonetheless amazing tech start-ups, to some more uncommon routes, such as an engineer turned fashion-designer, or the founders of an independent EDM record label, this position has allowed me to easily see so many engaging and diverse options that are possible after graduation.
My experience working as the Communications and Marketing Assistant definitely had an enormous positive impact on my professional development, as well as personal and academic growth. I’m so thankful to everyone on the Alumni Relations team, and several UWaterloo alumni who have made my first co-op term such an interesting and memorable experience!