Meet Daniel E. 

Psychology Major

How are you feeling about graduating?

I am definitely feeling slightly nostalgic about all the good times that I had here at the U of A, albeit at the same time feeling prepared to take on this new chapter of my life due to all the various opportunities that were available to me throughout my time at the university!

What is your favorite memory of being a student at the U of A?

Although one favourite memory of being a student at the U of A would be quite difficult to pick, I believe that the majority of my fondest memories were had within my various involvements on campus, especially when it came to meeting new people. This would include my time spent volunteering with Safewalk, Active Minds, The Peer Support Centre (PSC), and the Undergraduate Psychology Association (UPA), to name a few! Although it may have been somewhat nerve-wracking to take that first step in getting involved, I have no regrets regarding any of my time spent with these organizations as I have made some of the most meaningful connections throughout my time at the U of A with the individuals I met at these places, while also helping me diversify my own repertoire of skills and experiences! (I would also like to give an honourable mention to when I attended the “World’s Largest Dodgeball Game” event back in 2022!)

Talk about your work term with AWE! What was your role and responsibilities? What did you learn?

I was the International Student Engagement Intern at the U of A from 2023-2024! My role consisted of conducting one-on-one coaching sessions with international students within the Faculty of Arts, planning and running various social activities, community engagement and volunteer opportunities for international students, as well as managing the day-to-day operations of the faculty-funded Arts English Conversation Club (AECC). This position helped me grow in so many ways due to the various ongoing responsibilities, which allowed me to further develop my ability to balance different priorities on the job, while meeting all necessary deadlines on time. Looking back on my position, my favourite part of my role was the amount of meaningful engagement I got to be a part of, whether through the orientation or the weekly tabling to advertise the available student supports. Additionally, I learned to enjoy tasks that I previously wouldn’t have considered fun, such as the creation and distribution of the weekly e-newsletter for international students within the Faculty of Arts. I am so grateful for this experience, as it has taught me so many necessary skills that I can bring into my future experiences/workplaces. The one skill that stands out amongst all of the skills I developed, though, was time management. As my position was divided into three distinct responsibilities, each with its own tasks and assignments, I had to learn to coordinate my time efficiently to ensure that all my tasks were completed in a timely manner. Despite the fact that these skills may appear to exclusively help in ones professional life, I actually found that it changed the way I approached my personal life too. This was especially notable when it came to the way I approached my last year of classes after my work term, as I had gained more confidence in my public speaking skills, which helped boost my confidence in participating in class, as well as a more efficient schedule for myself, thanks to all of my newfound time management strategies that came from the procedures I learned from my work term.

What are some of the key things you learned at the U of A?  

I have had the opportunity to learn so many valuable skills and lessons throughout my time at the U of A, although one of the ones that stands out to me is the inherent value of my Arts degree. Thanks to my supervisors and coworkers at the university, it made me realize that careers are not just linear, and how my Arts degree has helped me open doors to a wide variety of career possibilities in addition to Psychology. On top of that, another key thing that I learned throughout my time here was how valuable any of your work or volunteer experiences can be as a result of your transferable skills. With the help of my supervisors once again, I was able to realize how even if one of my past experiences was not related to a certain job that I am applying for, a lot of those skills that I developed throughout my time there can apply to various aspects of the said roles. Lastly, I found that with all of my time spent here at the U of A, it became clear the importance of preparing ahead of time, and that can apply to many things. With my newfound time management skills that have helped define how I tackle my work, academic, and extracurricular demands, I have been able to prepare for the next steps I want to take after leaving the University of Alberta, and I will be forever grateful for the impact it has had on my life.

Do you have any advice for current students?

Get. Involved. With. Student. Groups. Having started my degree in 2020, I was not able to get involved on campus until much later into my degree, but once I did, I never looked back. This is by far the best way to find that community that many students are always looking for, and it can also help diversify your portfolio of skills, as you may end up learning various skills that you could only receive in other work experiences! Additionally, I would like to stress how your degree does not have to be completed in the ‘traditional’ four-year time frame! Before starting my work term, I was afraid to take more than four years to finish my degree, but having taken that extra year to work within the Faculty of Arts, I almost wish I had taken even more time! These will be some of the most formative years that you go through, and there shouldn’t be any reason to overwhelm yourself trying to graduate by a certain time if your circumstances allow for it. Lastly, if you are a student in the Faculty of Arts reading this, I cannot stress enough how much my work term within the Arts Work Experience Program (AWE) positively impacted me. If you are even considering the possibility, I would say to just apply since it is free to do so, and the people at the Arts Career Centre are some of the kindest and most caring people I have met throughout my time here at the U of A

What are you most looking forward to after graduation?

Other than some much-needed rest, I am looking forward to applying all of the knowledge I have accumulated from my classes, volunteer experiences, and my work term into my future workplaces! Although I may not have felt as ready to graduate in the past, with all of the ongoing support that I have received from my fellow volunteers and Arts Work Experience staff, I feel much more at ease when thinking about which direction I want to take my own professional career.