You can’t do it all on your own. I think a lot of people, especially now that owning your own business is so over-glorified and sensationalized, there’s this impression that you’ve got to be this superstar who knows everything, but it just doesn’t work that way. It’s OK to not know everything. You’re gonna need advice. You’re gonna need other people who are experts to tell you what to do.

We know that for all these kids, when they’re going to school, it’s pretty stressful for them. Between exams, projects, and so on and so forth. So when they come up to the counter, if we can put a smile on their face, then we’re doing something right.

I was an international student myself and, I’ve gotta admit, it is one of the biggest advantages that really contributes to my job as a Transition Advisor. I’ve always wanted to make changes and would bring everyone together when I was younger; now here I am, advocating international students from personal matters to professional development. My favourite part of the job is being able to provide cultural awareness to the UNB campus and the greater New Brunswick community.

I've struggled with math a lot. That feeling of ‘I can’t get this, I’m not good at this,' and 'I’ve learned about as much math as my brain can handle’ - I know that feeling. I see it in my students. They don’t think I know that feeling, but I do. I've overcome it, and so can they.

The best part about being here at UNB is that you could get involved in so many ways to get the best of experiences and bring out the best version of yourself, no matter which faculty or program you are in. From being a TEDxUNB delegate to a RedShirt, each and every single experience I have had helped me evolve as a person and put me a step closer to achieving the things I always wanted to pursue.

It feels like every day that I’m at UNB, I’m changing. It’s very cheesy to say, but I feel like the best version of myself when I’m here because there are so many opportunities, and so many people to share them with. The people that I choose to surround myself with are constantly pushing themselves to be better; the peer mentors, my fellow proctors, my team, my friends. They motivate me to do better.

When I came to UNB, I was really shy and quiet and didn't think anybody really knew who I was. Now I'm in my fifth year and stand in front of my peers educating them about who I am. 

Teaching’s kind of like parenting. Every cohort or class is different, therefore you need to have different approaches. Students are not only learning marketing, they are also learning to learn. If you’re able to teach your students to learn, it’s the most important skill you can help them acquire. 

I’ve been to five universities and none of them has paralleled the close community that is created at UNB. That would be its biggest strength in my eyes. It has strong professors, strong academic programs, strong extra-curricular programs, athletic and non-athletic activities; but it’s that close-knit community that really makes it stand out.

Apply to all the universities, apply for all the scholarships, because you never know. You might think, ‘That’s not going to be for me’ or ‘I’m not good enough for that’, but you really are. Put yourself out there and get involved – you won’t regret it.

It’s an opportunity like nothing else when you’re this age: to be the president of an organization of this size representing 6,000 students. There aren’t many other organizations that represent so many people that are willing to hand over the reins to a twenty year old.

It’s hard for people to know what to expect going into counselling. It’s a conversation. You can bring in your goals, it can be so positive. Whether you’re going through something right now or not, you can do a lot of skill building.

Being able to work with UNB Sustainability this past summer has been a great opportunity to learn about all the awesome programming that is making the campus greener. A highlight for me was helping out with the free food planters and having the chance to talk to folks around campus who share a passion for sustainability.