Finding Confidence Through Community: Alexandra Minard's United College Story

When Alexandra Minard first looked toward the University of Waterloo, the path ahead was wide open. Like many incoming students, she was drawn by the promise of the university’s renowned co-op program, a chance to gain a competitive edge and real-world experience. But the decision of where to live was guided by a more personal connection: her mother’s own history.

Having attended Waterloo years prior and lived at St. Jerome’s, Alexandra’s mother encouraged her to explore the university colleges. It was that advice that led Alexandra to United College, where she found far more than a place to live, she found a community that would shape her university experience for the next five years.

For Alexandra, a recent graduate of the Faculty of Arts with a Bachelors in Psychology, United College offered a unique advantage: the ability to navigate a massive university from a secure, close-knit home base.

"It was a nice way to transition into the bigger areas of the school. It’s a little bit easier to meet people in the smaller community and get to know everyone, make a little friend group. And then that almost makes it a little bit easier to branch out, Alexandra explained.

This foundation allowed her to excel in the "bigger pool" of Waterloo students. While deeply integrated into the United community, she also expanded her horizons by working with the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), helping to manage their social media and writing articles. It was a balance that allowed her to enjoy the intimacy of a small residence while actively contributing to the broader campus culture.

Perhaps the most defining chapter of Alexandra’s time at United was her decision to become a Don. It wasn't a path she initially envisioned; in fact, her first reaction to the suggestion was "no." However, after a conversation with a residence life coordinator, she reconsidered.

That decision changed everything. Serving as a Don for four years, Alexandra found herself at the heart of the community she had come to love. She cites the relationships between Dons and students as the highlight of her experience, calling it a unique, personal connection that is rare in larger residences.

"I feel like being a Don has really grown my confidence in a lot of unknown situations. I’m a lot more confident in my abilities to think quickly on my feet and deal with challenges," she said while reflecting.

As she prepares for a gap year and looks toward applying for research-based Master’s programs in Canada and Europe, with an eye on fields like speech-language pathology, Alexandra will always carry the lessons of United College with her.

Her advice to the incoming cohort is simple but profound: "Take every opportunity that’s given to you. Sometimes you come in and you’re just a bit unsure of yourself, but there are so many opportunities that are presented to you, sometimes in very random ways. You never know what’ll happen if you really don’t jump."

Reflecting on her journey, Alexandra is quick to credit the people who made it possible. She leaves with deep gratitude for her fellow Dons, who served as her rock through the difficult moments, and for the students she had the privilege of watching grow.

Alexandra’s story is a testament to the power of community. By taking her mother’s advice and stepping into the United College experience, she didn't just graduate with a degree, she graduated with the confidence, the connections, and the memories to carry her into whatever comes next.