The JDC West 2013 Captain’s Turnover Conference
Beedie’s 2012 JDC West Social Team
Celebrating the Academic School of the Year title at JDC West 2013
Convocation June 2013
As I walk through the doors into West Mall for my final semester, I can’t help but look back and reflect upon the journey of my undergraduate degree.
Part of me regrets not taking the bull by the horns and applying for FROSH as a freshman, but I also know that my path would have been a lot different if I had. I suppose I learned that everyone takes his or her own path through university, or Beedie in particular. You just need to figure out what feels right for you.
With that in mind, it really wasn’t until my third year that I stepped out of my own little shell and decided to take a chance and immerse myself into the Beedie School of Business. For the first two years I lived on campus, but was somewhat of a homebody, sticking to the friendships I had made from first year and not looking to expand beyond that. As I started to realize that I would have fewer friends in classes moving forward, since none of mine were studying business, I knew something needed to change. To this day, I am still friends with some of those individuals I met back then; but much of my first two years is a blur because it was only the beginning of what became a legen- wait for it, -dary undergraduate experience.
I had formed a few friendships from some 200 level business classes in the spring of my second year, but never acted upon it until my third year. One of those friends recommended I try out for JDC West, suggesting that I was a perfect fit. Low and behold, that single comment was integral in launching myself into my exciting adventure through the Beedie School of Business.
After taking that suggestion very seriously, I tried out and made the team. Essentially, taking that single chance to put myself out there led to a series of unreal opportunities, friendships and memories thereafter. Over the course of my third and fourth years, as well as my victory lap, I became heavily involved in JDC West, FROSH, the FBA Writing Mentors, and of course TAing Bus 360w. In addition to that, I participated in our amazing Co-op Ed program and was selected as Beedie Ambassador. Through all of these experiences I built my network, both professionally and personally, making what will be long-lasting friendships with some of the greatest people I know working by my side. There is no doubt in my mind that these experiences and individuals were instrumental in my development as both a student and a future business leader
Now as I look forward, and beyond the classroom, I feel a whirlwind of emotions thinking about the next steps. I can say good-bye to the student schedule, but I am excited to welcome a full-time and professional position. While my time as a student is coming to an end, I know that I will surely stick around for years to come.
As a senior student, I suppose I should pass on some wise words, to those who feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is too far away. It sounds awfully cliché, but I stand by it. Don’t take your time at the Beedie School of Business, or any other faculty, for granted because your time as an undergraduate student will fly by. What was supposed to be 4 years, which turned into 5 and then 6, felt like an eternity when I first came to SFU, but I still remember the first time I walked up the steps into Convocation Mall as if it were yesterday.