My experience as a School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) Outreach and Ambassador Program (SOAP) Ambassador.
“You’re going to have the best time here.”
Those were the first words a SOAP Ambassador said to me when I attended the 2024 You @ Waterloo Day open house after accepting my Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) program offer.
My earliest impressions of SOAP Ambassadors date back to the March 2023 open house, where I got to hear from several student panelists about their experiences. Having represented my high school as an ambassador, I knew this was something I was interested in pursuing in university, and was what I picked when selecting my work role as a second-year SAF Student Fellow.
Being a SOAP Ambassador has opened doors to a variety of possibilities I never would have thought of, including promoting SAF through professional and fun video shoots, serving as a judge at the Be The Future Conference and speaking on recruitment panels. However, the highlight for me has definitely been the people — those who work tirelessly to produce engaging content that continues to attract the brightest minds here. It sometimes still feels surreal that I now get to be featured on SAF’s Instagram page, the same account I would endlessly scroll through when applying for AFM more than two years ago!
Giving back is an incremental/important aspect of SAF’s focus, and the Fellowship Program plays a huge role in facilitating this by providing opportunities for mentorship, getting us involved in events and promoting our experiences across cohorts.
An amazing benefit of this program is the Fellow-Honouree program, which involves pairing SAF undergraduates with SAF alumini who offer academic and career insights, guidance and advice. A big shoutout to my honouree, Charles Kuno, for sharing so many stories about his university experience and professional journey, as well as listening to me discuss my time as a student so far.
Along with the academic and professional elements, the Fellowship Program has also introduced me to other Fellows, who are all exceptional individuals. Exciting social events, including bowling at Splitsville and attending a Blue Jays game, have been highlights that made this experience even more special and provided a great way to make new connections and deepen existing friendships.
With Fellowship applications now open, I hope the Class of 2030 AFM and SFM students will take advantage of the opportunity to apply.
My advice? While this process can seem daunting, trust the hard work you’ve put in and remember to be yourself! As cliché as it sounds, this saying holds merit because the simple truth is that your personal story is what makes you unique and there’s no “perfect” answer. The committee trulywants to learn more about the real you, so use your application to showcase who you are, what drives you and how you’ll be a strong fit for the role. There’s no single recipe to success, just your own.
Looking back, I’m really glad I made the initial decision to apply to the Fellowship Program and am forever grateful for all the opportunities it has offered. To this year’s applicants, I wish you all the best of luck and I can’t wait to meet you this fall!
