Being part of the School of Accounting and Finance’s (SAF) Fellowship Program has been a really fun and rewarding experience. It has given me the chance to meet new people, try things I probably would not have done otherwise and feel more connected to the University of Waterloo community.
One of my favourite parts of the program was being matched with a mentor who works in the industry and is also a University of Waterloo alum. It was nice to have someone I could talk to on a more personal level and ask honest questions about school, careers and life after graduation. Since they had already experienced Waterloo themselves, their advice felt especially relevant.
The Fellowship Program also brought a lot of different opportunities. I got to judge case competitions, help give tours of the School to prospective students and answer their questions about what the university experience is actually like. I also mentored DECA students who were preparing for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), which was a great way to support high school students and share some of what I have learned.
I even got the chance to participate in marketing videos, which ended up being a really fun part of the experience. There were also plenty of opportunities to hang out with upper-year students and get to know people in a more relaxed setting, like at a Blue Jays game.
And, of course, there was lots of free food, which is always a major bonus.
Overall, the fellowship has been a great mix of mentorship, leadership, professional development and fun. The biggest thing I will take away from the opportunity is the connections I made and the sense of community that came with being part of the program!