Now in 2018, I work full time at the University of British Columbia as a Residence Coordinator supervising student staff, managing a house and much more.

Sureka at UBC

Before coming to UWaterloo, I wanted to be an optometrist and make a career out of looking into other people’s eyes for the rest of my life. The problem was I had never been to an optometrist until my second year of university where I quickly learned that the career path I was working so hard to achieve was not for me. After that visit, I was at a loss for what to do next. I plan everything that I do very thoroughly and to realize my plan for the next several years was now in the air, was terrifying.

Luckily, I was very involved at UWaterloo, specifically in residence life. Along with the supportive community and the culture of self-care that comes along with being in Reslife, I was able to realize that a career path that allows me to help people through building connections and individualizing care would be exactly what I needed. The residence community I worked in starting as a special events residence ambassador in first year, transitioning into a residence life don in my second year, and then various positions along the way to convocation helped me learn the most important takeaways of my undergraduate career.

The first is to get involved in something you love! I was very fortunate to find residence life very early in my undergrad. Through being a don I found a community of like-minded individuals who supported me and who I could support through anything that came up.

Secondly, take your time. I had always planned to convocate on-time with the rest of the class I started with in June 2018. However, during the June 2018 convocation, I was in Cuba writing my final exam to receive a minor in Spanish. UWaterloo has so many amazing opportunities and after volunteering abroad in Honduras with Students Offering Support (SOS), I fell in love with Spanish. I completed a study abroad program in both Spain and Cuba but to do this I had to convocate one term later and take a year off school. I took the opportunity and applied to work at UBC for the year. Because I decided to take my time to get my degree I now have a minor in Spanish, can say I finished my undergrad in Cuba and now work at the largest residence operation in the country where I’ll be applying to next.

Sureka and friends

Finally, and most importantly, always make sure what you are doing makes you happy! I was miserable in my first year and wanted to move home before finding my true passions at UWaterloo. There is something for everyone at UWaterloo and I encourage you to find it and embrace it like I did!