Get Ready for: Life After Graduation

“Get Ready for: Life After Graduation” is an exciting and innovative program for upper-year students living in residence.

Life After Logo

As you continue to prepare for your future, it’s important to enhance your self-awareness and develop skills that will help you navigate your choices. This program can assist you in developing those skills and in making connections with alumni mentors, other upper-year students, and subject matter experts.

The “Get Ready for: Life After Graduation” program has two main elements:

Alumni in Residence – mentors who share their experiences with you and help guide your growth and development.
A workshop series where you learn life skills from subject matter experts. Past workshops have included Networking, Cooking, and Money Matters (how to manage your money).

Watch video on YouTube

The program is currently running each term for upper-year residents.

The Alumni in Residence

Esteban Veintimilla

What did you study at uWaterloo?

Mathematics (UW) and Business Administration (WLU) Double Degree.

Minors: Actuarial Science, Statistics and Economics

Business Concentration: Entrepreneurship.

Can you describe your current experience in the workplace? (What are you currently doing, and how did you get there?)

I now work as a BETS Program and Outreach Advisor at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business. The Bridging Entrepreneurs to Students (BETS) program is a specialized co-op program established to support two key groups: first year engineering co-op students, and early stage startup companies.

What did you enjoy most about uWaterloo?

Residence Life and the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

What are you most excited about for the Get Ready For: Life After Graduation program?

I’m looking forward to creating opportunities for upper-year students to develop life skills.

When you are not in residence/on campus/at work, where are you?

Playing soccer, visiting my family, or working on my startup.

What do you like to do in your spare time, or for self-care?

Play/watch soccer, dance, go to the gym, call/visit my family.

What is your favourite hidden gem in KW Region?

Descendants’ Bachata nights!

What surprised you about life after graduation? What are your best tips for students preparing to graduate?

The importance of networking. If you want more opportunities to advance your career, treat every day as a job interview. Do your best on every task you take on and continually prove your worth to the people around you.

What resources did you take advantage of while you were a student?

Residence Life, the entrepreneurship ecosystem, clubs, and intramural sports.

Chérisse Mike

What did you study at uWaterloo?

I have BA Economics with a minor in Management studies

Can you describe your current experience in the workplace? (What are you currently doing, and how did you get there?)

I am currently a graduate coordinator for Applied Math and Computational Math. It’s my third professional on campus job. I moved from a contract in Statistics and Actuarial Science where I worked as a Project Coordinator for an international development program called READI, to the Dean of Math where I was administrative support to the Faculty of Math. I have now settled in the department of Applied Math where I assist in everything grad-related including but not limited to admissions, course requirements, social events and convocation.

What did you enjoy most about uWaterloo?

I enjoyed the experiences I got from volunteering with international students. I mostly enjoyed being on the executive of the Association of Caribbean students but I greatly valued all other volunteer positions where I got to interact with different cultures including the International and Canadian Student Network.

What are you most excited about for the Get Ready For: Life After Graduation program?

Sharing my experiences with upper year students. Letting them know things I wish that I knew while still in undergrad.
Being a part of residence life

When you are not in residence/on campus/at work, where are you?

Trying new food spots with friends in the KW area or games nights.

What do you like to do in your spare time, or for self-care?

Disney movie marathons!

What is your favourite hidden gem in KW Region?

Strictly KW – Waterloo Park for picnicking but definitely Elora Gorge for swimming

What surprised you about life after graduation? What are your best tips for students preparing to graduate?

How undergrad connections still matter. It is important to stay connected to people who are going through the same things as you. It is equally as important to stay connected to Professors and members of staff who have a wealth of life experience to share.

What resources did you take advantage of while you were a student?

Leeds/Feds for finding volunteer opportunities

International Work Study program

Clubs and Societies events e.g Elora, Niagara, trips to St. Jacob’s

Discounted movie tickets from Turnkey

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of alumnus live in residence? Who are the alumni?

The Alumnus in Residence are alumni who have graduated approximately 2-3 years ago from the University of Waterloo and are established in their careers.

What do the alumnus in residence do?

Mentors would meet regularly and informally with students and share their professional experiences, lessons learned, and reflections on how they developed life skills.

Help to develop and facilitate a workshop series where students have the opportunity to learn about life skills from subject matter experts. Workshops will allow students to interact with each other while receiving accurate information from experts.

Connect students to resources and information available on campus and in the community.

What will students gain from this opportunity?

Learning life skills that will help them throughout their undergraduate studies and when they transition off-campus (e.g. during co-op or after graduation)

Developing connections/networking with mentors, each other, and subject matter experts

Being advised by a mentor who has already “been through it” and can share real-life examples

Support to minimize transition anxiety when transitioning from their education into the labour force

Is there a cost associated with the program?

In general, no. This is a program is a pilot and is being tested as a possible inclusion in our upper year programming. It is comparable to the programming that exists in residence for first year students – it’s a value-add to the upper year residence experience. Please note that some events may have a small fee associated with them but there is no fee for the pilot program itself.