One of the most crucial foundations students can lay for themselves is creating connections and networks within their area of study. This provides an opportunity to gain insightful information and understanding of what lies ahead. At the 2023 Annual Networking Event, organized by the Student Association of International Development (SAID), these opportunities were made real for undergraduate International Development (INDEV) students at the University of Waterloo. The event’s theme of “Branching Out” made a step to connect current students with program alumni, professors, and industry professionals working in the development field and encourage conversations about the many sectorial prospects for current students. The event’s guest speakers, Brock Dickinson, Yasir Dildar, Jamie Sgro, Justin Williams, and Stefan Chan, all have experience working in the political, social, economic, and environmental development fields both domestically and internationally.
The panel discussion was enlightening as we got to hear personal stories of success and challenges faced by our speakers. These presentations were very insightful; but, I think the attendees would agree that the best part of the evening was the one-on-one networking session after the presentation. It was then that we really got to see our students break out of their comfort zone as they initiated and engaged in conversations with the speakers and attendees. I listened to first and second years express their curiosities about the field; and, third and fourth years share their dreams for life post-graduate studies. During this time, I felt the room shift into a level of comfortability that did not exist earlier on. I, along with other students, were able to exchange contact information with many of the speakers and professors, and also learn more about some of the opportunities alumni have taken that are currently open to us. The evening came to a close with everyone beaming and an overall deeper sense of INDEV camaraderie.
Sergo Haile, 3B INDEV student