I remember the first time I set foot on uWaterloo campus. Away from home...meeting new people, attending class lectures, being in residence...I was scared and excited! But I found that the Dons in residence helped to make it a wonderful experience!
Hello there readers! Blogger-by-profession I am not, but when the opportunity arose to share why I (a proud Applied Health Sciences grad) attend Waterloo alumni events with the world (or at least Alumni Affairs’ Facebook followers), my fingers hit the keyboard. But before I get started, I thought you should know a bit about me first.
I remember the day I approached my first Plan 100 class: "Introduction to Planning". I was 18 years old, away from home for the first time and anxious to meet the Urban & Regional Planning classmates with whom I'd be spending the next four years. I took a seat in the back row. Introductions were made. Smiles exchanged. Connections established.
My name is Amanda, and I am a recent graduate of recreation and business studies, as well as the Master of Theological Studies program. That’s about seven years of my life spent at uWaterloo.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed this blog series and have gained useful tips for your career journey. I thought I’d end this blog with an update about myself. In the past few months I’ve interviewed and sought advice from Waterloo Career Advisors, Jayne and Tanya. It’s been great to have gained insight into myself to help me on my way. With their help I’ve completed and analyzed personality and skills assessments, and also learned useful tips for future job searches.
Let’s be real, job searching is hard! We’ve got a degree, maybe a few, now it’s time to face the real world. Most of our productive lives will be spent working, so why work at a place that doesn’t spark your passion or interests? Finding a job that you truly enjoy is something we should all strive for. Providing for yourself (and your family) through a job that you’re passionate about will lead to a more satisfying and meaningful life.
It’s hard to believe that just over one year ago I was writing my final university exam and saying goodbye to friends as I packed up my apartment. Like most new graduates, I wasn’t sure where I was headed or what I wanted to do, but I knew that, with my Waterloo degree and a bit of determination, the possibilities ahead of me were limitless.
One of the great things about moving to Waterloo 28 years ago to attend UW, and basically never leaving, is the sense of community and continuity that comes with living near your alma mater. As my 10-year-old son Alex has grown up here in Waterloo, he’s been able to experience some of the campus spirit that his dad took part in over the years.
Having done a few assessments now, I can speak first-hand about how great they are for those of you looking for a career path or those who would like to change your career direction. The most important take away from any assessment is to have developed a better understanding of who you are. Knowing your desires, strengths, personality, and values are all key components to finding a job that suits you.
As graduates of the 21st century, staying connected with family, friends, causes of interest, and any number of other organizations and activities has never been so easy. Long gone are the days of having to wait to receive information and updates. News is now delivered to a cellular device that fits into the palm of your hand – which by the way, has more computing power than a computer that used to occupy two floors in Waterloo’s Mathematics and Computer (MC) building.