Student profiles

During the term he was interviewed, Aaron was completing his 3A term in Peace and Conflict Studies with a minor in Digital Arts Communication. Aaron also served as one of our EDGE ambassadors.

Why did you register for EDGE?

I registered because coming into Waterloo, I wanted to apply to a co-op program. Because I ended up coming to Waterloo in January, I was unable to join co-op unless I waited until September, and so I didn't have an opportunity to be a part of it. My coach was telling us about EDGE and I was very interested in it — it was similar to co-op and could provide me with rich experiences. I jumped on that opportunity quickly.

What's the most valuable thing you've learned through EDGE so far?

Skills identification. There are things you obviously know about yourself, and there were things I knew I was good or weak at. But [the workshop] was able to point out a lot of things I didn't know about myself, and it helped me find certain weaknesses I feel like I'll need to work on. And it helped me find different strengths, so I'll try to continue being strong in those areas.

How has your journey through EDGE enriched your undergraduate experience?

[EDGE has] been big for me because it's made me more involved in what's going on in the community. Being a part of EDGE is an opportunity to be a part of something new and different, and I found that to be very cool. It's just like being a part of a varsity team, it's an enriching experience and it separates you from being a regular student.

Do you know what you want to do after graduation? If so, how will what you've learned in EDGE help you get there?

I actually want to get more involved in SEO marketing. I'd heard a lot about it before, but getting into EDGE and taking PD1 made different things come up for me. Marketing was a big one. I was already on the fence about it, and [PD1] helped steer me in that direction.

I was a little unsure and unclear, and EDGE has given me the opportunity to put myself in situations to find out what I want to do and what I don't want to do. It helped me decide what I wanted to be at university.

Who do you think this program would be a great fit for?

I'd recommend it to any student who isn't in engineering or any mathematic or scientific field. A lot of the experiences that people say they get out of co-op, you can get out of EDGE. You're still getting the necessary skills you want: skills identification, working on a game plan for after graduation, learning how to interview, and how to communicate in the workplace. You can get them all from being a part of EDGE.

What's something that students probably don't know about EDGE?

That it's free! In my experience speaking to people about it, not a lot of people know that it's an opt-in program. They think it's like another form of co-op. They don't know that it's optional, it's free, and it's here to help.

During the term she was interviewed, Anna was completing her 3B term in Biomedical Sciences with minors in Psychology and Medical Physiology. Anna also served as one of our EDGE ambassadors.

Why did you register for EDGE?

I've been doing a lot of extra-curriculars outside of school and I've been learning a lot about leadership, teamwork, and other professional skills. And I've only learned them by experience, but I figured that by joining EDGE I could take these professional development (PD) courses and I could actually learn them in a curriculum. And I'll learn other skills outside [of the courses] that I might not have encountered in my personal experiences or applied to future job experiences I might have.

What's the most valuable thing you've learned through EDGE so far?

One of the most valuable things I've learned is using what I've been learning through these PD courses in my day-to-day activities. The PD courses teach you a lot. For example, right now I'm taking PD5: Project Management, and it's helped me organize events and other big projects alongside my other responsibilities. I know how to expect problems when they arise and how to solve these problems within everyone's best interests.

How has your journey through EDGE enriched your undergraduate experience?

By registering in EDGE, I'm able to apply the skills I've learned to my responsibilities and day-to-day activities. I wouldn't have these skills without taking these PD courses. Within the courses, you have these simulations you do that can be quite similar to what you do in your work. 

After taking these courses and workshops, I've learned many skills for the workplace and other experiences I'll have. I'm starting to notice things. I'm becoming more aware of situations, of what I should be doing and how I should be mentoring others to do it as well. It really helps with my leadership skills.

Do you know what you want to do after graduation? If so, how will what you've learned in EDGE help you get there?

I'm not sure what I want to be doing after I graduate. The good thing about EDGE is it encourages you to go out and find your own experiences, whether they be volunteer or work. I'm hoping that with the encouragement from EDGE to go apply myself to other work, I'll be able to find something I enjoy. I'm using EDGE to guide me into what I'll be doing in the future. Once I get work I like, I'll definitely be using these transferable skills I've learned and applying them in the workplace.

Who do you think this program would be a great fit for?

Honestly, I'd recommend it to anyone. I'd especially recommend it to those who haven't had job experience before — it's a great way to learn the professional skills you need in the workplace. It'll encourage and motivate you to go out and find things that'll help you with these skills. It'll give you experience you need, help you build up your résumé, and help you talk to future employers.

What's something that students probably don't know about EDGE?

EDGE is completely free. It's very flexible, meaning you can take your own time completing it. In order to get the certificate when you graduate, you have to get all six milestones — but if you don't complete all six by the time you graduate, whatever you've completed will show up on your transcript. You're not doing it for nothing. You're going to be recognized for what you finish.

During the term she was interviewed, Shehnoor was completing her 3A term in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations. Shehnoor also served as one of our EDGE ambassadors.

Why did you register for EDGE?

I'm a transfer student, and when I transferred to Waterloo I realized people here are more interested in experience. You have education and then you have the experience part, and that experience part was something I wasn't familiar with at all. Because of the complications with my transcript, I couldn't get into co-op. I wanted to do something when I saw my friends doing co-op, and that's when my advisor told me about EDGE. I decided to do it because it would be a pathway to something.

What's the most valuable thing you've learned through EDGE so far?

When I'm fond of something, I get very passionate. I've come to realize that on the receiving end, it might not come across as passion — instead, it comes across as aggressive. I've learned to tone that down and use a more calm, eloquent way of speaking.

How has your journey through EDGE enriched your undergraduate experience?

I'm meeting a lot of professionals through this, and I'm contact with a lot of students as well. I think the kind of exposure I'm getting within the school is great, and I haven't had that before.

Do you know what you want to do after graduation? If so, how will what you've learned in EDGE help you get there?

The plan is to apply for law school. Let's see how that goes! It's going to work out fine with EDGE and the way the milestones work — I'm going to take the capstone workshop [in my last term] and I think that should help me in tying everything together for applying. 

Who do you think this program would be a great fit for?

If I had to narrow it down, I'd say Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies students (SMF) and Legal Studies students. I know a lot of students in those programs. I'd also say people who are a little afraid of travelling, because co-op makes you go places and a lot of people aren't comfortable with that. EDGE would fit perfectly for them because you can choose what you want to do. You won't be compelled to go and change your location because of your co-op job, wherever it is.

What's something that students probably don't know about EDGE?

What the program is! When I talk to people, the response I get is, "What is it?" I think they need to understand — they may know co-op, but they don't understand what EDGE is. It's a program for non-co-op students, it's flexible, and it's a way to gain experience.