Aboriginal Student Affairs is fortunate to see so many talented, driven students graduate. This September, we reached out to some recent graduates to offer new and returning students some advice and ideas on how to find an academic path through your degree program.
Desiree Roy is an exceptional student who found her ‘home away from home’ on campus within the BFA program and various clubs at UBC. She graduated in May 2016 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Visual Arts Program, commencing her degree with her latest painting series at the annual graduation exhibition at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery.
Do you have any tips for getting involved in your first year?
Getting involved with a student club was by far one of the best actions I took in my first year at UBC. At first I looked into out a few clubs that interested me, and soon after checking them out I had a good sense of what club(s) I wanted to be a part of in a more active way. I chose to focus my time on one club, the Indigenous Students Association (InSA), and throughout my four years at UBC I held many different positions within the club. This was by far one of the most rewarding and connective experiences I had at university. And, if there isn’t already a club doing what you’re interested in then why not be the one to start it, right?
How did you get to know other students?
I totally recommend going to the Longhouse Tuesday lunches. It was a great way to meet new people and enjoy some yummy food!
University can be stressful and taxing on you. Any advice for students on how to manage this?
Allow yourself some “me time”. For myself this was often enjoying socializing with friends. Making friends and connecting with people in your program/club is such a great way to decompress. I found getting together with friends and talking about classes, or letting out thoughts and even frustrations was so helpful for me in managing stress. Oh, and be sure to spend time laughing! Whether that is just hanging out and chatting or going out to a funny movie, just find a way to smile and feel good with others. I made some of my very best friends in the years I had at UBC, and couldn’t have gone through those years without that mutual support.
How did you manage your heavy workload?
One thing I found really helpful was having a “study spot”, or a couple of them! These were places I would go when I really needed to hunker-down and get some work done. I liked to find spots which were close to coffee and food, and that had access to free wifi. I had study spots both on and off campus, it just depended on my mood as to where I would go. Basically, just find a place you enjoy going, where you know you’ll be able to get into the zone to work. In my last year I often went to the Blenz cafe on West Broadway, just east of the 99 stop at Arbutus, and I loved to bring slippers to wear, get cozy, sip on a coffee and dive into the work!
ASA Tip: For more information about finding your community at UBC, check out this page.
