VOLUNTEERING IS A PART OF LEARNING

My experience in Canada, especially in Peterborough has been a great opportunity for me and volunteering is something I have particularly enjoyed. There is a big difference when I compare my country. I see and hear but still all of the news about weather is difficult to me to adapt because my home country is not cold like here. I have learned a lot of things I want to share some of them with you:

Environment. I really like all the surrounding areas at Trent University as well as Recycling. I saw some organization which deals with the issue of environment by plating trees as well as vegetables. These kinds of things that students do by volunteering are part of learning that make students to participate in various activities which they like. One of the organizations is called the Sustainable Trent garden. So through that explanation that is a good things which I learn although we have at home, but also this is good chance to explain in my community as well as school how to protect our environment by keeping it clean as well as recycling.

Education is most the most important thing. Trent University provides the opportunity for students to study as much as you can. Everything around you is a part of learning. I would like to say that education is not a way to escape poverty. Study hard my fellow friends, this is the key of success that is in your hand.

Share ideas and meet with different people. This has allowed me to better know myself and also to know each other, and also through their events, because when we meet we share ideas with some ESL students as well as some volunteer who come to the TIP office and that make me to learn through the sharing of ideas.

People are so kind,they are so helpful and they help me in all ways and now I am aware because of the people who are working with me together at the TIP office as well as my work placement counterpart (IVAN) who always try to teach me how to do some work which I don't know, and through that make my work to be a part of learning to me I would like to say I improve my knowledge although is a short time which I spend there.

The way we cooperate in my office shows how people work together. This makes me feel good always when I am here.

Also another one is meeting i like the way we made the decision or the way we do things together by sitting and talking what is going on,do you are busy enough,planning about up coming event this a some of thing which we took when we meet at the Meeting and that make a person to fill good because we got opportunity to talk their ideas.

I believe through TIP office people they can learn different things through crossing culture because people from different parts of the world they meet and cross culture and make to feel you have right to go different country and people they can aspect you with you culture,and that make to fill every where is your home and that build good partnership among the country.

I would like to say that i real like my work placement as well as host community because all things which i saw and learning are good this means no culture shock to me.
Thanks very much Champlain College,Trent international program (TIP),DR.Mike,Kate,Kllye,Julia,Cath and Elena


I LEAVE MESSAGE:
Life must be measured by thought and action,not by time.No one can do everything,but everyone can do something.What you do,depends on you.
FROM: ADOLPHINA J. MWAKILAMBO
COUNTRY:TANZANIA 2010
CANADA WORLD YOUTH (CWY)

Getting involved in first-year and beyond…

Hello fellow Champlainers!

When you arrive in September, you’re going to enter a new phase of your life. A phase that has the potential to help you grow academically, socially and personally. I say "potential" because it all depends on what you make of your experience and whether you take advantage of the opportunities made available to you. Indeed, attending university is all about learning and growth. Learning takes place from lectures and your professors, your seminars and your fellow-classmates and of course, your books. However, a whole other dimension of learning comes from extra-curricular involvement through student groups and varsity sports.

Trent is home to numerous student groups. You can view the list here. You can get involved with groups as diverse as your academic department’s association (Trent Anthropology Society, for example) to the Jiu Jitsu Club and other athletic groups, to the World University Service of Canada and Sustainable Trent. During my time at Trent, I was involved with a few groups and gained tremendously, especially learning how to develop and utilize leadership and team work skills. Each Champlain student will have the chance to get involved and make a meaningful contribution to the group, and the university.

I am always extremely cautious when it comes to giving advice, however, my one recommendation to incoming first-years to Champlain is to get involved with just one student group. Feel free to join more if you are so daring and ambitious, you will indeed benefit insofar as you can balance your academics with your extra-curriculars. However, one group is a safe bet and that is exactly what I did in my first-year.

Even if the commitment is 2 hours a week (which might seem like a lot in first-year) the rewards, benefits and networks created can add a lot of value to your education (especially first-year) at Trent. You'll meet new people and discover a new world that you didn't even know existed, that of a community where others share similar interests as you.

In addition, getting involved in first-year will open the doors to many opportunities in your upper years at the university. While extra-curricular involvement can help develop academic skills (presentation, writing and debating skills, for example) it will also help you with your future employment prospects and most definitely when/if you apply to graduate school as I did.

Our very own community of Champlain College is conducive to learning in many ways. Among them is learning within a community of friends, your peers, college mates and classmates. The college will act as a first step to meeting other students and finding a community. Indeed, you will be a part of several communities at Trent and a student group will take your experience that much further.

Belonging to a community such as a student group, can be an avenue to success and to a more enjoyable and fulfilling undergraduate journey.

Remember, in your undergrad, it’s more important to embrace the journey than solely focus on the destination.