Student Life: news

Hi! My name is Jaclyn Wingfield, and I am going into my 2nd year of the Bachelor of Public Relations degree program at the Doon campus. I love my program and all the useful skills I have learned from it. This summer I am an Orientation Intern alongside the lovely Alison Campbell.

Last week Alison and I helped the Productions Intern, Ali Sultani, with some filming for Orientation videos. Now I can say I've had my 5 minutes of fame! This is also my first blog post on the Student Life page, so I guess this is my blogging debut!  The big projects this past week have been working on sponsorship, and picking items for the swag bags (you get these at Orientation!).

In the works right now is an Orientation Leader mixer; we are looking forward to getting to know all of our OL's! If you have any questions about PR or Orientation, feel free to stop by 2A117 to chat! Its located right across from door 3 and beside the Info Desk.

We are still looking for Orientation Leaders, so please apply! Here is the link to the application: https://myconestoga.ca/c/documentlibrary/getfile?uuid=cdab653a-52ed-4be6-a507-3185207b396d&groupId=380324

Jaclyn Wingfield
- Orientation Intern

Hello!

My name is Alison Campbell, and I am heading into my final semester in the Business Administration Management program at Doon. Along with my partner in crime Jaclyn Wingfield, I am one of the Orientation Interns with Student Life for the summer. The other interns and I have been busy the past few weeks getting to know each other and our new positions.
Jaclyn and I have been busy brainstorming for Orientation 2013. From putting together sponsorship information, working on the social media strategy and recruiting Orientation Leaders, it has been a busy few weeks. As the Orientation Interns, we are charged with ensuring that new students to Conestoga feel welcome, and experience everything we have to offer here.
We are touring Cambridge, Waterloo, and Guelph campuses this week, and I can't wait to see how each campus operates.
Want to get involved? We are still looking for Orientation Leaders for the fall, come join us for a fun filled week! Application forms can be picked up in the Student Life office, or online at http://www.conestogac.on.ca/orientation/leader/index.jsp

Alison Campbell, Orientation Intern

Walking down the halls with me can be amusing. My hall walking conversations are punctuated, frequently, by my waving at people and saying "hey." I often get teased by my class mates that I know everyone at school; oddly, I rarely get asked why. The reason is my experience with Student Life.

Last year I volunteered as a Respect Rep, and I enjoyed it a lot. In all honesty, I started volunteering to build my resume, but I soon found many other benefits. I met people, and not just students. I met and interacted with custodial staff, faculty, and Student Life programmers, people that have always embodied the personality that we want to experience. These day to day interactions have helped me out in a lot of different ways. Sometimes when I was feeling down, I would get people coming up to me to have a conversation. These small interactions would be the points in my day that turned my outlook around. The experience volunteering was good enough that I thought it would be nice to work for the Student Life department the following year, so I applied and, thankfully, I got the job.

I started the 2012/13 school year as a Respect Leader. This has been the best job I've ever had. I get to work with a diverse group of like-minded people. It's amazing how the core ideas of respect are so cross cultural. This is a concept that people understand and appreciate. Often, I've seen amazing personal growth in people because they've understood that past behaviours were hurtful to others. There is little in life that is more satisfying than seeing someone grow as a person. That alone is why this job has been so amazing. I don't need to list all of the other ways that the job has contributed to my own personal growth, or how it has impacted how and what I want to do now and in the future. Thank you, Respect Reps and Student Life for being the difference to me.
- Jacob Tremaine
Respect Leader
Health Informatics Management Student, Year One

Hi, my name is Daniel Levine and I was a Human Book at Conestoga's Human Library on Thursday March 7th    

But more than that, I am me. I am a 22 year old male in the Pre-Service Firefighter Program. I love volunteering and giving back. I love helping others and doing what I can to make a difference. To inspire others to be the difference. And yes, I realize that I'm stealing the Respect Campaign's line, but can't that be the reason that I joined the campaign?

My book genre was Mental Health - Depression. For a good chunk of my life I let that label run me. I let it control me and tell me what to do, who to be, it even told me if I should get out of bed in the morning. And I let it. I had accepted it and was becoming "comfortable" with it because it just was a simple explanation. It was a copout. Then, through a series of events, my eyes were opened. The absolute black capsule that had consumed my life had a crack. I realized that it wasn't the answer. It wasn't the way to be. So with a push, and a ton of support, I pushed my way out. And I managed to take a real breath. I felt the air pull into my lungs, open them up to their capacity and I felt alive. Finally.
And from that day forward everything changed. I grabbed a-hold of my purpose in life, my passion, and put all of me into it. Dove into what made me happy. And what a new feeling that was. Happiness had only ever been a word, never an emotion. Now it was. And now, and everyday forward, I push myself to be better. To be the best I can be. Every mistake I make isn't a slap in the face it's a lesson for me to learn from. A way for me to get even better. And a way for those following the same path to be better than me.

Because of my past it has given me the opportunity to do events such as the Human Library. Events where I get to meet people I never would have met and hopefully make an impact on them. Help them learn something for them to walk away with so if they know someone who is suffering from depression, they know how to help. How to be there for them and be a shoulder to lean on.

The Human Library event blew me out of the water. Completely shocked me. All that happened, everyone I met, impressed me more than words can describe. The event ran 10-2 with conversations running at 15 minute intervals. Each conversation started off with the awkward "Hello" and "Hi, my name is Daniel" followed closely by a slight laugh or giggle, on both party's side. Then the awkwardness was broken as they asked their first question. I would pause, give them a smile, and start into my story. I watched their face change from one of hesitance to one of intrigue and shock. Then the next question came and then the next. The conversations erupted in emotion and honesty, with my listeners feeling the passion that I now hold for life, the confidence that I hold for my future, and the love that I have for everyone important in my life. And just as each conversation hit its peak, the timer went off and our 15 minutes was up. Oh, how I had so much more to say, and each one expressed that they had more questions, but that was our time. They needed to rotate and I needed to prepare for the next listener with that awkward "Hello" and "Hi, my name is Daniel". But that's the event, and that's part of the point. For me to talk to all those different people and hopefully make a difference.

As I said before, the Human Library blew me away. The community at Conestoga is one to be proud of. A community that was very supportive of me. A community that gives me reason to keep getting better. I challenge each of you reading this to do one last thing for me. Look in the mirror and say this to yourself, "Integrity is what you do, when no one else is looking". Take that quote and push yourself to be better than you already are. Humble another stranger for being so supportive and accepting. Because that's what happened to me. I was humbled.

Thank you Conestoga.
Thank you for Being the Difference.
Thank you for being You.

Daniel Levine
- Pre-service Firefighting Student, Year 2
- Respect Rep

I recently went to the Human Library event at Conestoga College. For those of you who don't know what the Human Library is, it's an event held in the Conestoga College Library where students and staff can register online or in person to "borrow" and have a 15-minute conversation with a "human book." This event is about addressing and challenging the stigmas and stereotypes that face certain demographics of our society.

The Human Library made me feel both excited and angry. I was excited because it was an opportunity for me to gather knowledge and insight from people who represent demographics that interest me. However, this event was also a reminder of how many people in our society hold negative and even harmful views towards certain demographics of our society.

During the event, I was able to have a conversation with three people from very different demographics. The three demographics represented that I spoke with were a Muslim woman, a student with a learning disability and a gay male.

I've always believed that you can never truly understand the challenges someone is facing unless you've faced those challenges yourself. During my conversations, I got the same feedback from all three "human books" which is that they've all experienced negative judgements from people who don't understand or even fear their demographic.

Because of their fear and non-understanding people outside the demographics in question lash out instead of taking the time to look internally and question their fear and ignorance. The "human books" specific challenges may be different but the overall message is the same.

Hearing the stories of these human books made me angry but also made me feel a sense of pride. While I can't say I've been judged based on my religion or denied the opportunity to take my partner to my high school prom I can say I have faced the stigma around learning disabilities because I am diagnosed as having a learning disability.

I am not innocent by any means because I have my own biases and I have bullied people in the past. However, I realise I have these biases and try to not let them control my perception of others. I try to challenge my biases by gaining insight into the topic I am biased about. That's why I attend events like the Human Library.

It's through attending events like the Human Library, being an ambassador of respect at Conestoga College and living my daily life that I've learned a very important lesson and that lesson is

Our challenges, differences and perceptions make up whom we are but they are forever changing, as we grow older and meet new people.

For example, my perception of Marc Hall, the gay male "human book" was that he held resentment towards Catholics because the catholic school board where he grew up denied him the right to bring his boyfriend to prom. I was dead wrong. When I said to him that no matter which side you take in a fight like that someone's rights are going to be infringed upon he made no sarcastic remarks and instead remained quiet and let me explain my view. He even smiled and kept direct eye contact with me.

At the end of the day, we are all born with our own challenges, differences and perceptions that make up who we are as a person. It's what we choose to do with those challenges, differences and perceptions that determine whether we choose to live with the understanding that everyone is different or live to judge, fear and hurt others.

Personally, I choose to live with the understanding that everyone is different and that is something to be embraced not supressed.

United we stand, divided we fall

- Katie Chapman
Office Administration Student, Year One
Respect Rep

When people ask me where I work, I respond with "I work as a Respect Leader at Conestoga College." I'm usually greeted with a confused look and a question somewhere along the lines of "What does that mean?" or "OK, so what do you DO?"
My explanation is this; my job is not necessarily defined by what I DO but more by how I can HELP the student volunteers discover the different kinds of respect in the environments around them.
As a Respect Leader, the opportunities to learn something new every day are endless and with each encounter I find that I am challenged personally and professionally in many different and positive ways. From hosting workshops such as the GLBTQ Workshop where attendees are encouraged to challenge their assumptions and stereotypes of the Rainbow Community to facilitating meetings where we brainstorm activities for upcoming events during Respect Week, it is obvious that there is a desire among students on campus to "Be the difference".
For Respect Week, each leader is asked to organize and host an event that will reflect the values of the Respect Campaign, engage students and encourage them to connect the event with their own personal experiences.
This year I will be involved in the Clothesline Project event on Friday, March 8th during Respect Week. The Clothesline Project is a fundraising event in support of Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) which is a non-profit organization that provides shelter, education and outreach for women and children experiencing abuse.
The event will focus on healthy relationships and discussion about the role that respect plays in our relationships. In exchange for a donation, students are able to decorate a t-shirt depicting what a healthy relationship looks like and completed t-shirts will be put on display in the Student Life Centre Atrium for students to see.
I invite you to visit us in the Student Life Centre Atrium to participate in our Clothesline Project event on Friday, March 8th to decorate a t-shirt, engage in discussion about respect, and maybe find out what a healthy relationship looks like to you!

- Liz Spanjer
Business Administration-Management Student, Year 2
Respect Leader
Student Life Department

My name is Kim Richer, I'm a student in the Community and Criminal Justice degree program, and I am proud to be a Respect Rep. This year, I am also participating in the Human Library event on Thursday March 7th as a "Human Book". I am choosing to be a part of the Human Library because I believe that students can learn from a fellow student about different issues. I came to college for the hands on learning. What better way to get hands on learning, then to talk to someone who has lived through different issues.

I personally live with the struggles of learning disabilities and mental health on a daily basis. I have worked extremely hard, over the years, to overcome these challenges and to deal with the stigma that comes with learning disabilities and mental health. I believe that my participation in the Human Library event might help people to understand the challenge some people go through with learning differences and how mental health overlaps with learning disabilities.

- Kim Richer
Community and Criminal Justice Student
Respect Rep

Let me start off this blog by saying that "respect" is more than just a word in my every day vocabulary. To me "respect" is an ideology, a way of life and a core part of who I am.

So it's no surprise that I joined the Respect Committee at Conestoga with the intention of being an ambassador of "respect" at Conestoga College. I wanted an opportunity to broaden my horizon in terms of understanding the different challenges that students face in their schooling. I also wanted balance at school so my life wasn't strictly ruled by course work.

Being a Respect Rep this past semester provided me with an opportunity to achieve both my goals. Through attending Respect Rep meetings, workshops and events held by fellow members of the committee I learned a great deal about the college community and myself while making friends in the process.

My favorite event that I participated in was Random Acts of Kindness Day which was held on November 9th. I was a canvasser handing out candy to students, staff and visitors on campus. Participating in this event gave me an opportunity to be light hearted and focus on others rather than school work which was a much needed and welcomed change.

It was an eye opening experience and gave me a real glimpse into the culture at Conestoga. A culture which I am proud to say gives justice and credence to the meaning of the word "respect". Instead of the dismissive interactions I'm used to in my daily life I had students smiling at me and saying "thank you" when I handed them a sucker.

You can never really understand the profound effect those small gestures have on someone until you've experienced them yourself. It made me feel warm inside to have a complete stranger appreciate something I was doing for them. I was also warmed by the fact that I was making their day a little sweeter no pun intended.

This coming semester I am looking forward to once again participating in events like Respect Week which will give me an opportunity to further understand the diversity of students at Conestoga, the challenges they face and what I can do as both an individual and a committee member to help them overcome their challenges.

Everyone has a story to tell if you are willing to spend the time to listen.

Be The Difference. Respect.
- Katie Chapman
Office Administration Student, Year One
Respect Rep

Hi, my name is Holly Featherstone and I am a second-year Public Relations degree student and a Respect Leader with the Student Life Department.

The Respect Campaign is continuously growing and expanding to ensure every student feels included. The campaign provides opportunities for students to contribute their unique skills toward a common goal: creating a campus environment where we all feel valued and respected.

I am very excited to see the campaign building upon the ideas brought forth by our wonderful and dedicated volunteers. This semester, we successfully launched an event to mark the campaign's first milestone: its fifth year in operation! With the help of enthusiastic and driven volunteers, we also made sure the college community would experience a Random Act of Kindness Day unlike ever before! It was incredible to see the amount of smiling faces and acts of common courtesy that occurred throughout the day; let's keep that attitude permanently going!

I am already looking extremely forward to the new semester. There will be even more opportunities for you to get involved, including Respect Week in February. We have key activities happening during that week, including the ever-popular Clothesline Project and Walk a Mile Day, in addition to our second take on the Human Library, which received unbelievably positive feedback the first time we launched it in 2012. I would like to hear your ideas and I am always open for a good conversation about all things included in the Respect Campaign.

Respect is something we all deserve. Similarly, we all deserve the opportunity to have a valuable experience and place within the campaign. I have personally witnessed how much the campaign can help students feel welcomed and appreciated. I also continue to see students improving upon the personal and professional areas of their lives by contributing to respect as a key component in our college community. It's a great way to meet people from all areas of the college and it's a great way to be part of a greater cause that we are all passionate about.

I encourage you to not only think more actively about respect, but to consider becoming actively involved with the campaign. We are working toward expanding our programs and services to better suit the needs and challenges of all students alike. During this process, it is great to see such a cohesive group of volunteers supporting the campaign because they also deeply support respect. Thank you so much to each and every one of you! Your efforts contribute to an ever-improving student experience. I will see everyone in January! Have a safe and cheery holiday season!

- Holly Featherstone
Public Relations Degree Student, Year Two
Respect Leader

My name is Qasem; I am proud of being a Respect Leader this year. When I started at Conestoga College last year, I was interested in the activities and the events organized by the Respect Campaign, which made me join the Respect Reps Team. I had a great time participating in many of those activities. This year, I am continuing the series of the involvement as a Respect Leader.

Between all the jobs I have worked and the positions I have held in my life, the Respect Leader position has been the most enjoyable, amusing, and beneficial position. I am totally connected to my Conestoga community, and I feel comfortable interacting with others. It has been only nine weeks for me as a Respect Leader, but I had the chance to improve my skills and gain many new skills.

I believe that communication is a vital part in our lives; I want all of us within the Respect Campaign first and within our college to be a family. I always look for any possibility for our Respect Leaders/Reps group to meet and socialize, and I am really excited about what the Random Act of Kindness Day will bring for us. Random Act of Kindness Day is a great way to connect with others, and have all of us participating in a day that meant to be for everyone.

Of course I cannot describe all of the fun and the knowledge that I have had from the Respect Leader Position in a few words, but I hope it is obvious that Respect has become part of me. I am so looking forward to a wonderful year ahead..

Qasem Najem
Second Year Student
Electronics Engineering Technology - Telecommunication Systems

Hey, I'm Jordan Orford and I'm a first-year student in the Media Foundations program, and I attended the Student Life Department's GLBTQ Welcome Night event in September.

I think it's really daunting, being twenty-two and starting at a new school. One really never has any idea of what to expect. I remember my first time at Conestoga and I saw a Gay Pride flag sticker on the door of an office. From that moment on I knew that this place was different. Once school started, I saw posters for the GLBTQ Welcome Night. I took a picture of the poster--not only for proof to myself that there was a place like this on campus, but also to get a snapshot of the dates and times. I've never been in a place where there was a 'safe zone' for the gay community to get together.

Going to the meeting itself was a little more intimidating than first coming to Conestoga itself. Walking in and seeing the varied demographics of people was a tad frightening in the sense that I had to come to terms that people, outside of my close group of friends, would know that I was "gay". In context, I've been out for almost two years, however I've never been in a context like this one.

I'd say I went for two reasons;
1. To meet other GLBTQ friends, and
2. To get involved in a more active way to affect my community and speak out against discrimination.

After watching presentations from Student Life and a few fun games, it became evident to me that this was a safe place to be. These were safe people to be around and trust. I have made a lot of friends since that meeting. Many whom I find myself hanging out with off-campus.

Going to the meeting taught me a lot of things, now that I sit back and reflect. First, never be scared to be yourself, whoever that is. Second, never worry that someone will think less of you based on age, race, gender, or orientation. Third, if you need to talk to someone, there are several people walking around campus with Respect Campaign pins that would be more than willing to sit down and talk with you.

- Jordan Orford
Media Foundations Student, Year One

Hi, my name is Nicola Harmer and I am a Respect Leader this year! It's only a month into the school year, but my experience has already been incredible! I have met some amazing people, participated in some really fun events and had opportunities to promote an inclusive, welcoming environment within the Conestoga community.

I originally applied to become a Respect Leader because I wanted to become more involved in the Conestoga community. I wanted to meet new people, learn new skills and participate in running events on campus that would promote unity and respect amongst students. Essentially, I wanted to "Be the Difference."

My experience so far has been amazing. My supervisor and my peers have been incredibly supportive of my busy schedule and have gone out of their way to accommodate me. Without them I could not be part of this team, so I am very thankful to have such amazing co-workers. I have met lots of amazing Conestoga students as well. Some have joined the team to become Respect Reps, some have asked interesting and thought-provoking questions and some have just attended the amazing events the Respect team hosts.

I am extremely excited for the Human Library initiative that the Respect Rep team will be putting on in the winter term. It is a great opportunity for student to learn more about different individuals, as well as become informed of the diversity on campus.

This year, I am also working with the residence department. Students often forget that residence is still part of Conestoga. I am trying to implement some fun initiatives into residence that will reinforce the respect message, and keep students aware of behaviours that may be disrespectful to their peers.

Overall, this entire experience has been amazing so far. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year will bring!

- Nicola Harmer, Respect Leader
Social Service Worker Student, Year 2

Wednesday September 26, started just like any normal school day. Wake up, get ready for school, make lunch for Connor (my son) and myself, see Connor onto his bus and head to school. The day turned out to not be a normal day. For example, I stopped at Elmira's Walmart to see if they had a Fred Penner CD for me to purchase. For, you see, Wednesday was the Respect Campaign's 5th birthday and Fred Penner was the keynote speaker.

Alas, Walmart did not have any of his CDs available for purchase. So I continued on my drive to school to meet Student Life Programmer Ryan at my predetermined booth during the celebrations. I was stationed at the Respect Reps booth, promoting the campaign and also having students and employees sign a respect poster. I ended up calling it "a giant birthday card". I had my picture taken by two International students celebrating Respect with us. I know I am responsible for helping at least four students join our Respect Campaign as a Respect Rep.

During my 2.5 hours stationed at the booth, I did indeed study for my economics test. Using the experience to help define economics, scarcity and opportunity costs, I successfully passed that test.

12:00 soon came around and it was Fred Penner's turn to celebrate with us. After well-deserved praise for Ryan Connell, and rightly so I may add, Fred Penner came to the microphone to congratulate Ryan and Respect, teach us about him and his respect beliefs and sing a little bit too.

By this point, I had taken several pictures and videos. Unfortunately my opportunity cost of writing my economics test was seeing Fred Penner sing "The Cat Came Back". This was the very song that helped teach my 22-year-old to talk as a child. The highlight of a very awesome day was meeting Fred Penner and being able to tell him personally how he was one of the influences that helped my son to talk. I was so overcome with emotion, that I know I will never forget Fred Penner Day.

Fred was very kind, genuine and respectful to me. In fact, he introduced himself and even said my name. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how he knew it. A while later I realized I still had my name tag on.

I would like to say thank you to Conestoga for welcoming me so warmly 2 yrs ago, and in giving me the opportunity to pay back in those welcoming feelings. Thank you to Fred Penner for coming to our celebration and gracing our lives with your generosity and songs. Lastly, thank you Ryan for giving me freedom to express what Respect means to me in my own unique way.

Please enjoy my photos of the day.
- Corinne Webb, Respect Rep
Business Administration-Supply Chain and Operations Management (Co-op) Student, Year 2

My name is Cat Spicer, and I am a Respect Rep at Conestoga and I volunteered to do Respect Campaign Outreach at the tri-Pride Live Music Festival this summer. This was the first time the Respect Campaign was promoted ever outside of the college community. There were many people wandering about and taking the time to learn about each booth. We were able to answer a lot of questions about what Respect is about and how we operate within the college and community. One gentleman came to our booth with a bored look on his face and a dismissive attitude. He asked our purpose for being at Tri-Pride and began to listen attentively as I and another Respect Rep volunteer, Tina Yun, spoke of all that encompasses the Respect Campaign. Providing this gentleman an example of speech and the different ways we are exclusive and not inclusive. He thanked us for answering his questions and for helping "teach an old dog new tricks".

I really feel that having a booth at tri-Pride was a great idea and we were able to reach individuals that we would not be able to by attending school events only. Furthermore it is my suggestion we look at other events where the Respect Campaign message would be appropriate or beneficial. We are pushing the public awareness aspect and this can bring in funding, more volunteers and ideas from the community. This was a positive experience that allowed this writer to learn new ways of sending out our message!

Cat Spicer
- Social Service Worker Student, Year 2

Summer has been full of hard work and great experiences for me. I just returned from the Hillside festival at Guelph lake. It was an amazing experience of culture music and people. I volunteered my time in exchange to camp all weekend. It is well worth working hard for such an adventure. I was able to get some great video footage and pictures and am going to make a short video that will capture the experience.

My projects here at the student life dept. are going well. After weeks of filming and working with other departments the Phase 3 video is well on it's way to being completed . Making this video has been challenging and rewarding. I have really enjoyed meeting people from all over the campus that I may not have met otherwise.

Seeking out new situations and meeting new friends has made this summer one of the best for me. When life gives you lemonade call a friend to drink it with you. Because even if it's too sour at least you can laugh about it.

Cheers.

Video tip: Capturing a moment can be tough. Always be ready and not afraid to pull out the camera and get the footage you want. It may not be there forever.

Braeden Johnson
Student Life Productions Intern

It's been a quiet few weeks here in the office. Many programmers are off on some well-deserved vacation time. With that, I've been able to get lots of work done and it feels great to cross off tasks on my to-do list. Last week, I finished the first draft of a guidebook I'm creating for the Connect Leadership workshops. With the help of Ryan Connell, we re-launch the Get Involved Fair Website (check it out!) to include more content for both students and organizations.

On Monday, invitations for the Get Involved Fair were sent out to local organizations. I've already received over 30 responses back and I think it's going to be an exciting event. And now, I just found out that new Respect Swag is ordered!

Even though we are hard at work, my fellow interns and I still find ways to have a little fun. Don't be surprised to stop by the office and get caught up in one of our many sing-alongs or cheesy jokes. Even yesterday I went to the OL mixer, hosted by Dan and Liz, where they did a great job making everyone feel welcomed and we all had a ton of fun.

Amanda Lyster
Student Life Special Projects Intern

Working in a new environment can be a challenge. I have learned that if you tackle certain challenges with a good attitude and proper planning something that is a challenge will end in a rewarding experience.

Being creative in a structured environment is one such challenge. Balancing artistic expression while meeting the needs of the project can be difficult. Having a clear goal as to what the outcome of the projects can help. If you can check off that the project meets all the requirements you are freer to be creative with the rest.

Meeting deadlines can be another challenge. Set aside time to have free work periods to catch up on projects and review current projects and plan for new ones. Avoid the last minute rush of finishing something by allowing for the unknown, this has been especially helpful for me here as much of what I do is based on when I can film with other departments. Working around other people's schedules while maintaining control over your own has helped by creating a work plan that has flexibility.

Attitude is Key. Any obstacle or challenge is much easier to overcome with a good attitude. People are more willing to help you if you are enthusiastic and positive. If you meet challenges with a good attitude the result will be a rewarding experience that you can lean from and be proud of.

Video tip: Have a Plan ! Story board and script your project. Planning will help you a lot when you edit later. Still be open for new creative ideas but always start with a plan.

Braeden Johnson
Productions Intern - Student Life Dept .
Broadcast Television program

My name is Warren Jones and I'm entering my third year of Graphic Design here at Conestoga College. My favourite colour is red. My favourite movie is "Moon." My lucky number is three, and I love to ski and rock climb.

Now that you know a little about me, I will describe to you what I do here as the Graphic Design intern in the Student Life department (SLD).

Every morning, I report directly to Conestoga's own "Respect Guy," Ryan Connell. Let me be the first to tell you that working alongside Ryan proves to be an adventure every day. Rule number one: if you don't have a high energy level, enjoy giggle fests or dance parties than you better add all of those to your list of things to do.

Here in the SLD, working hard and completing your work is one of the top priorities, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun while doing so. We work as a team planning events, such as Respect week and orientation, creating videos and advertisements for the school, and anything else that might help shape students' experiences while at Conestoga.

Specifically, this summer I've been tasked with designing all the visuals directly related to the Respect Campaign for this coming fall. Even though I began just over a month ago, I've already created, posters, bulletin boards, advertisements, and banners.

Make sure to keep a weather eye on the horizon for this year's batch of Respect visuals to see if I'm doing a good job.

Warren Jones - Graphic Design Intern
Graphic Design - Year 3

It's so rewarding to see your projects start to take shape. I love how my ideas are evolving from early brainstorming, to receiving feedback, to concept design, and pretty soon I'll be doing detailed planning. This week I gave two presentations in which I was looking for feedback from the rest of the Student Life team. I received a ton of great ideas and ways to improve. It's great to work with others who are not only creative, but give you a perspective you never considered. In the end you have a much better design than you originally started with!

Amanda Lyster
Student Life Special Projects Intern

Hi!
My name is Liz Spanjer - a business student, avid volunteer and breakfast enthusiast. In September I will begin the second year of the Business Administration Management program - also affectionately known as the "B.A.M" program.
So far, this summer has proved to be chock full of laughs, surprises and, of course, hard work.

This summer I am part of the Orientation Intern team at Student Life which is responsible for planning Orientation Week during the week before school. My colleague Dan and I will be coordinating all the signs, guides, Orientation Leaders, prizes, schedules and supplies necessary to make Orientation Week an absolute success. Our hope is that the new additions to the Conestoga Condor family will feel right at home and prepared for their college experience.

If you are a returning student interested in becoming an Orientation Leader, it's not too late! Contact Dan or myself at orientation@conestogac.on.ca to learn about how you can be involved in making Orientation a success!

Liz Spanjer- Orientation Intern
Business Administration Management program- Year 2

My name is Braeden, I just finished my first year in the Broadcast Television program here at Conestoga. I am the Production Intern here at the Student Life dept. I also volunteer at CFRU 93.3fm Community radio in Guelph where I sit on the board of directors, and host a radio show called Underpaid and Underplayed that supports local musicians.

Working in the Student life Department has been both fun and challenging. I have the opportunity to work with some great people this summer. The staff here are welcoming and encourage me to do my best. I am able to use and develop the skills I have learned in my program. This job has challenged me to practise these skills effectively in the workplace.

Some videos that I have been working on over the last few weeks include the Orientation video, the Get Involved Fair commercial, and updating the Phase 3 video for the new Cambridge campus which is up and running. I will also be helping with the video blogs that the orientation interns Liz and Daniel will be making this summer for the orientation leaders to stay updated.

I encourage anyone that wants to get involved with Student Life to not hesitate and do so! Feel free to come in and ask about all the ways you can get involved!

Video editing tip : Audio Quality is just as, if not more important than video quality. People are more likely to watch a video with good audio with some video problems than a video with poor audio.

Braeden Johnson
Productions - Intern Student Life
Broadcast -Television

Hello Everyone!

My name is Daniel Fedy and I am a second year
Business Administration Management student. This summer I am working at Student Life as an Orientation Intern alongside my partner in crime Liz Spanjer.

Since starting at Student Life, Liz and I have been working on several different projects that make up Orientation Week. Some of these areas include contacting potential sponsors to donate prizes and give-a-ways for the week. We are also brainstorming new ideas to update old icebreakers, games, and swag to keep orientation exciting. Finally, we have been sending out weekly messages and video blogs to orientation leaders to keep them up-to-date on our orientation plans throughout the summer.

This year we have over 70 OLs that have volunteered their free time to help introduce more than 5000 new students to Conestoga College during Orientation Week. Without the help of these volunteers, Orientation would not be possible!

If you are a returning student interested in becoming an Orientation Leader, it's not too late! Contact Liz or myself at orientation@conestogac.on.ca to learn about how you can be involved in making Orientation a success!

- Daniel Fedy, Orientation Intern
Business Administration-Management, Year 3

Hi! I'm Amanda, Student Life Special Project Intern for the summer. This summer I'll be working on a bunch of exciting projects including the Get Involved Fair, International Women's Day, Respect Year 5 Celebrations, some statistical research and a guide for the Connect workshops (and that's just to name a few!).

All of these projects challenge me to be creative and resourceful. I work with an amazing team who are each so talented and teach me something new every day.

I recently finished my second year in the Business Administration Management program and currently serve on the local Board of Directors for the Canadian Institute of Management. This summer, some of my personal goals are to develop my green thumb in the garden, have lots of BBQs, and improve my palm reading abilities.

- Amanda Lyster, Special Projects Intern
Business Administration- Management, year 3

Being an orientation leader in January was by far one of the best experiences I've had at Conestoga College. From the very beginning, I felt very welcome and accepted. When I signed up, the Student Life staff took my application with a big smile. It was awesome getting to know so many new people at training session too. Finally when the big day came, I was so excited. I put on the famous blue orientation shirt with pride and arrived at the school bright and early. All the feelings of excitement that I experienced at my orientation two years ago came rushing back as I welcomed the new batch of students into the gym. They timidly came into the gym trying to look for someone they knew and then stood waiting for the festivities to begin. It was an amazing feeling to welcome the students and reassure them they were not alone as their parents left them in the gym.

The entire day was really fun, for both the new students and the orientation leaders. We played games with the incoming students and found creative ways to keep them entertained while they waited in line-ups for student cards, osap, etc. This was a really rewarding experience, as you could really tell how much the new students appreciated us. The huge smiles and sighs of relief made when they asked orientation leaders where to go or how to find a room was thank you enough. They were so happy and appreciative when we replied with, "Of course, let me take you there!" The main goal of the day was to help the new students and make them have a memorable experience, while becoming familiar with the wonderful things that we have all come to know and love about Conestoga.

Being an orientation leader is a great way to gain leadership skills that you can use in your everyday life, as well as future jobs. Without these new leaders every September and January, orientation day would not be possible. All of their hard work and dedication is what makes orientation such an amazing experience. It's also a great way to make new friends. I've found that so many of the orientation leaders remember who I am and all the memories we shared on orientation day. We smile and wave when passing each other in the hall, often stopping to talk. We all have a newfound experience that bonds us together. Orientation leaders can often be seen still proudly wearing their t-shirts around campus, as a reminder of the great experiences they had. I would recommend being an orientation leader to anyone who is looking to become involved on campus and have a very memorable experience. Not only do you get to enjoy all of the fun the day brings, you also receive a certificate that you can add to your portfolio, which will show future employers that you are a leader and take initiative.

- Mechelle Jarman, Early Childhood Education Student

There are so many ways to shape your college experience at Conestoga, but I've found that volunteering was the best way to shape up my experience. I've had multiple experiences as a volunteer for several positions with Student Life. I've been an Information Desk employee, former Student Life Blogger, a recent Respect Rep, and a long-time serving Orientation Leader. I am writing this to give you readers, the students, a perspective on each of the positions (except for the blogging position) that have had a pretty big impact on my college experience.

The Information Desk position allows you to build confidence by troubleshooting on the spot when being asked multiple questions as well as an opportunity to improve your problem solving skills. The contributions you make to not only your supervisor, but your team as well are really valued. I was given mention as the first Info Desk employee of the month in seeing my contributions seen so the rewards are worth it. You also get to meet regulars by just saying "Hi!" and smiling to them every day.

Being a recent Respect Rep for a semester had its ups and downs. The "up" is that it is an awesome volunteer position! The "down" is that I was only one for a semester because of my co-op placement the semester after. This is a position that I will definitely volunteer for again. In this position, you learn a lot from others in teamwork settings and gain essential interpersonal and communication skills by participating in meetings and a few major Respect campaign initiatives throughout the September to April school year.

Finally, my first and absolute favourite position with Student Life ever is the Orientation Leader position. This twice-a-year position encouraged me to open up more socially and have fun with new students coming in for the upcoming year. I've met a lot of different characters on the team and as a result, made a lot of friends and acquaintances in the process. Being a long time Conestoga student (been here since September 2006) and having volunteered as an O.L. since Fall 2008, I want to give Conestoga students the best welcoming experience possible. I hope that the students who are considering becoming Orientation Leaders do become O.L.'s. For the fall, if you wear your blue hoody on the first day, the students who you helped during that week will come up to you and ask for your help because they remember you wearing that blue during the day you helped them.

I've given you the readers the best possible reasons for joining up with Student Life as a volunteer for any of the numerous positions they have. If you're new to volunteering and are not sure what to try out, talk to the Student Life team anyway and they can give you suggestions! Also, if I see any new O.L.'s during the Fall Orientation training, I will say that this will be one of your most memorable life experiences. GUARANTEED!
- James Demers, Accounting, Audit & Information Technology Degree Student

When I first heard that I was accepted as a 'book' for the Human Library, I was pretty excited. I wondered what came next, what I was supposed to do and what I could expect. Well, I attended a great training and I found out I was supposed to be as open as I was comfortable with and I could expect to break down walls, challenge assumptions and break stereotypes.

The Human Library is an opportunity for individuals to sit down one-on-one with individuals representing various topics and ask any questions you may have always wanted to ask someone but were too scared to ask.

On the day of the Human Library, I was nervous to be honest. I didn't know if I was going to get any questions that would upset me, hurt me, offend me etc. I ended up getting none of feelings though, to my relief. I met with quite a few women and one man, with respect and open minds. It was an amazing how much I learned, not just about the 'readers' but about myself as well.

I noticed a pattern with the 'readers' who spoke with me. Many of them had experienced someone close to them coming out recently and wanted to understand what they felt, why and if there was anything they could do. It made me wonder how many people were feeling the same when I came out; but were either too afraid of offending me or hurting me.

I met with a lady who asked me a question that almost brought me to tears, because I had never confessed my feelings about that part of me to anyone - but I wanted to be an open book.

It was an amazing experience; I discovered how much support there is for everyone out there. As afraid as you are of being judged or shunned; there are people who want to help but don't know how. Reach out to them and they reached out to me. This was a great event! I can't wait to see what is on the shelf for next year.

- Kevin Bluck, Respect Rep
Year One, Public Relations program

Working with the Student Life department as a Respect Leader is one of the most positive and influential roles I've had the privilege of fulfilling during my academic career at Conestoga. From the beginning, I've hosted in-class presentations and helped with outreach on campus; anything to help spread the notion of Respect and encourage students to be actively involved in fostering the respectful environment at Conestoga.

The opportunity to help co-organize our first-ever Human Library event is probably one of the most challenging but ever-rewarding undertakings I've partaken in. When my fellow Respect staff and I mused over the idea, considering its viability on campus, I was immediately enthused to begin. Although it was initially daunting to pour over the huge list of tasks and logistical elements, it was important to perceive it with staunch optimism - and we did it!

In a joint effort with the Student Life Department, the Library Resource Centre and the Respect Campaign, I am honored to have seen this event progress from concept to fruition in what seemed like too short a time-frame to work with. I am fortunate to have met some amazing and truly inspiring individuals during this creative process. Each Human Library "book" is a genuinely authentic person with a story just as unmatched as their wonderful personalities. I value every chance I have had to work with them so far, including getting to preview their experiences within their chosen demographics.

Now that I have had that privilege, I encourage everyone to take their turn to engage in a real-time conversation that can be as informative and assumption-challenging as desired. In being part of open dialogue with a resourceful "human book," you will enjoy 'reading' at its best: being transported by the experiences and stories that encompass us all in our respectful community.

I look ever-forward to the excitement surrounding this first-time event! Let's be sure to make it a repeat next year! To participate, please drop into the LRC between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow to have the chance to speak with a variety of "books." Come early for best selection!

Thank you for being the Difference.
- Holly Featherstone, Respect Leader
Year One, Public Relations (degree) program

"Where do I get my parking pass?"
"Can you tell me where my class is?"
"If I need to buy textbooks, where would I go?"

On the first day of Winter term,these questions are heard everywhere on campus. As a Respect Rep, I had the exciting chance to be part of an enthusiastic and caring team that wanted to help new/returning students with all of their 'First Day Questions'. The team had games, hot chocolate, snacks, prizes and candy to remind everyone - including our amazing faculty- to have fun and relax on this very busy day. There were team members who would walk a student to a classroom, help them find a locker or even reassure them that, yes, it gets easier from here.
It's important to have events like these to reinforce our sense of community at Conestoga College and show that everyone plays a part in creating and maintaining our learning environment. I personally joined the Respect Campaign because I believe that respect can change our perceptions, attitudes and actions within our everyday lives. When I first came to Conestoga College, I didn't know what to expect but so far I have been nothing but surprised and delighted with my experience.

- Liz Spanjer
Business Administration-Management Student, Year One

Hello! My name is Michelle Fernande and I am a member of the Aboriginal Student Association (ASA) at Conestoga. We participated in the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Week activities at Conestoga.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity Week was an amazing experience for me! It is great to be in a school that recognizes and respects the cultures of the entire student body. I am very happy to see Conestoga College students take the time out of their busy schedules to stop at booths throughout the week and learn something new about another culture; I enjoyed seeing the passion and pride that everyone has for their cultures. Learning from your peers about their culture is something everyone should participate in, something that can help us see what is and is not appropriate when appropriating someone else's culture.

My role during the week was to plan and coordinate the activities and booth for the Aboriginal Student Association (ASA). Our booth was an excellent representation of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students here at Conestoga College; it gave us the chance to show the school some of our projects and fundraising initiatives. We were able to show how all students at the school can benefit from the tiny Aboriginal Services office that maybe they had missed at first glance. It is important for our school to continue to embrace and respect the cultures present at our school.

Michelle Fernande
Human Service Foundations student, Year One

Hello!

I'm Nataliya Simonova and I am a student in the ELS (English Language Studies) program. On Tuesday, November 15, 2011, Conestoga College hosted the Cultural Diversity Week event, where everyone can learn about language, traditional food, costume, history, economy, art, culture of different countries around the world. I participated in a group with people from the Accounting, Audit, and Information Technology program. It was a great experience when people from different backgrounds and different ages work together.

I got to improve some of my own skills, like leadership and communication, while working with some wonderful and interesting people. We presented about Russian language. My team was happy when people visited our table, and we were able to teach them Russian phrases.

I would like to thank the organizers and especially of Ryan Connell who inspired us. I performed this work with enthusiasm.

I think that the Cultural Diversity Week event at Conestoga College provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better. Also, through the Cultural Diversity Week event, the Conestoga College plays a vital role in the preservation and promotion our native heritage and culture.

- Nataliya Simonova
English Language Studies - Level 4 student

The Conestoga International Students Society (CISS), a brand new club with excellent and brilliant members, had one of the most memorable weeks ever in its college life!

This might not be the first time I was involved with a college club, but it was my first time feeling so energetic and enthusiastic. Our club participated in the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Week events on campus recently. Celebrating Cultural Diversity Week is a week for students to recognize and interact with different kinds of art, music, and literature around the world. It is important for students to try and learn something new and you normally never have the chance to try traditional Chinese dumplings, India Tattoos, or Korean dress in college. I enjoyed watching people dance their traditional songs and I enjoyed teaching people how to use chopsticks to pick up uncooked rice in a Chopsticks Game our club hosted. The purpose of the Chopsticks Game was to teach people how to use chopsticks correctly and how to use it to pick up the food. The most memorable part was when someone couldn't pick up a M&M chocolate with the chopsticks and he ate it instead (That was our tools!). But it was hilarious and I am sure he loved our M&M chocolate!

I couldn't coordinate these activities without our volunteers and members. Their dedication to this event was admirable, and I greatly appreciated their time and effort. I especially thank one of our club co-founder Russell Zhang to set everything up and drive our club during the entire week. This week gave us an opportunity to publicize CISS. We have made CISS known and we obtained many new members. Our purpose is to foster a social network of International and Canadian students to support each other, and I look forward to serve everyone and hope we will have more enjoyable times in the future.

- James Chen, President of Conestoga International Student Society Club
International Business Management Program, Year 3

I was so excited to be a part of Random Act of Kindness Day's celebrations, but who knew that my day would start off so perfectly! I went to Tim Horton's drive-thru and to my surprise, the car in front of me paid for my order. Left behind with my French Vanilla was a RAK card which had written on it "Please initial and pass on". Before the day's celebrations at the college had even started, the word had already spread!

However, the on-campus event helped to spread the word even more. Between making tissue paper flowers, giving out free popcorn and cotton candy, and signing the RAK tree, there were opportunities to promote Random Acts of Kindness all over campus.

The event helped to create a stronger Conestoga community as it was inclusive to anyone and everyone! Also it promoted simple acts that can be done daily, and reminded everyone how awesome it feels to receive kindness, no matter how big or small.

Although Random Act of Kindness Day was on Friday, November 4th, kindness is something that we should all do every day. Whether it's smiling at people in the halls, holding the door for others, buying someone else their coffee or even thanking people who make a difference in your life, remember that everything counts and has the opportunity to make someone's day!

Emily Morley, Respect Leader
Recreation and Leisure Services program, Year 2

Respect Leaders Dave, Danielle, Emily, and Mandy celebrate
Random Act of Kindness Day with members of the Respect Rep Team

Wearing the blue Respect vest and getting involved with the Random Act of Kindness Day event at Doon campus, I experienced the first volunteer event in my life.

During the two hours when I volunteered, I couldn't stop smiling. I had never known that showing my kindness to others could be such a happy thing. At least, I wasn't aware of this before I joined the Respect Campaign as a Respect Rep.

When I handed out my Respect Rep application form to the Student Life Department, I had been in Canada for no more than a month. At that time, I just thought, "I want to get involved and try the experience of being a volunteer."

The more I have gotten involved, the more joy I get.

During this semester's first Respect meeting in October, I was very nervous when I heard that we would plan and organize events for Random Act of Kindness (RAK) Day on Nov. 4, I thought it would have a lot of work to do, and I would be very busy and tired.

Indeed, a lot of things needed to be planed and done. But the process of preparing and operating these events were full of fun.

We played games, which helped us to understanding the concept of random acts of kindness; we brainstormed interesting activity ideas, which made ourselves happy and laugh; we prepared a RAK banner and other posters like young kids, choosing favourite colours to make the letters cute and attractive. We held the RAK activities like a party, making people relax and happy was our principle.

That day, I came across several Chinese ESL students. They were curious what I was doing. When I introduced RAK Day to them and promoted them to get involved, I was so proud. I felt I could be a bridge to helping those students who had just been here to know more about the college's community. I could also explain the event to them in both English and Chinese, so that they could understand everything more thoroughly.

I hope I can share more of my own experience to those new students in future, helping them to integrate the college and local life sooner and better.

- Monica Chen
New Media Convergence Post-graduate Program, Year One

My name is Mandy Mistele and I am one of Student Life's newest additions to the Respect Leader team. Now in my final year of the Fitness and Health Promotion program, I have had the opportunity to watch the Respect Campaign in action!

When I arrived for my day of orientation as a first year student, I instantly realized there was something very special about our college. I was completely unaware of the Respect Campaign at the time, but noticed that everyone around me took pride in the small things that helped create a welcoming and inclusive environment. As the year progressed and Ryan came into my class with the respect presentation, I began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. From that day on I understood that underneath our positively unique college environment, members of the Respect Campaign were working hard to ensure their philosophy reached everyone that steps foot onto our campus.

Now I am proud to say I am here to help the Respect Campaign reach out to you! Maybe you are thinking the same thing I was, which is that it is a big risk to get involved in something else--especially when the assignments pile up. I can tell you that joining the Respect Campaign is one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. There is just something about having to stop every two steps in the hallway to say hi because you know so many people, that makes the stress of schoolwork fall away. Or having time built into your schedule for a fun creative activity, like painting a banner for an upcoming event, that I would otherwise not allow myself to do.

Thank you all of making my first month as one of your Respect Leaders such a joy!

"Many things will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart
...pursue those"
-Michael Nolan

Mandy Mistele
Respect Leader, Student Life Department

When I first applied to be an Orientation Leader, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I attended the training and began to feel like this was a lot and that maybe I took on too much by volunteering for this! After the week of being an Orientation Leader I couldn't have been more happy to have done it! It was such an incredible feeling to be able to welcome all the new students to Conestoga College and really show them how great of a place it is to be! At times it was overwhelming and crazy busy but I wouldn't change a thing! From the AMAZING Orientation Leaders I volunteered with to the amazing staff that had put all of it together, it truly was the one of the most memorable experiences of my life and left me an indescribable feeling! One I will hold on to forever!

Kaleigh Hooper, Fall 2011 Orientation Leader
Business Administration Management

I've worked in various jobs over the past three years that involve running workshops, expos, graduations and more. And no matter how often it happens, I am always shocked by how much people will do because they share a passion for what your cause is.
This past weekend we hosted the Orientation Leader training for the Fall 2011 intake. With approximately 50 people there, there was a lot to do. During registration, we had some returning Orientation Leaders who stepped up and assisted handing out the Orientation clothing. During training, some of those same OLs ran activities and answered new OL questions. And probably the most rewarding and caring act we saw was when training was over. We still had to stay and pack up items and prep for our Degree Orientation the next day. And instead of leaving us in the dust alone, many of our OLs stayed later to help us get everything done. Having those extra hands, strong arms and resourceful minds made the tasks go much faster and got us all home sooner.
So I would like to thank all the OLs who made it out to training. It was great to finally put some faces to names, to see old friends and make new ones. And a special thanks to those who were able to stay and help make prepping for Orientation fun, quick and easy.
We couldn't do it without you all!

Sarah de Boer
Orientation Intern, Student Life Department

The past few weeks have been very busy for Cliffy and Kyla. They have been working really hard to get all of the signs finished for Orientation. Throughout the week Cliffy noticed that the entire Student Life Department was working so hard they forgot to have fun. Cliffy thought he needed to do something to brighten these wonderful
people up. He decided that he would show the entire student life team how a Condor would exercise. So on Wednesday he got all of the team to go to the lower atrium to exercise and dance away their troubles. After that the team was much happier and hoping to do the Cliffy dance again soon. Until that time comes Cliffy and Kyla
will continue to work really hard at preparing for their Orientation Leader training on the 21st of August, Orientation Week, and the New Cambridge Campus Open house which is coming up soon.

Orientation is quickly approaching and you can start to feel the buzz in the halls. New students walking around with Bookstore bags, and students looking for the Registrar's Office or Financial Aid. In a few weeks there will be over 5000 students and their family and friends across 4 campuses, across 4 cities, with approximately 70 Orientation Leaders leading these new Condors on their path to joining Conestoga.

Our Orientation Leaders have the important task of engaging and assisting new students on one of their most stressful days in their new chapter of life. For many new students, this is their first time away from home, first time going to school with all new people or the first time they have been back at school in many years since high school; and a smiling, welcoming and helpful Orientation Leader can make the world of difference to that person. Orientation Leaders are scheduled to run games, provide directions, and to help set up and take down the event. But as you can see, their job is a lot more than just pointing someone in the right direction.

So, I would like to ask you all to remember one simple thing. The next time you see someone wondering around campus with a slightly confused or lost look on their face, remember the importance of our volunteers in blue. Ask if you can help them and make a difference in that new student's day.

And don't forget to smile :).

Sarah de Boer
Orientation Intern, Student Life Department

Hey!

Many things have been happening in Student Life!
I have been working on a few things from the Respect campaign, finalizing posters, working on the display board, and finally getting the Respect t-shirt to be the correct file and make it to the print shop! I am super excited to see the finished result and I can't wait to go buy one from the bookstore, and you should too! I was afraid they'd be unisex shirts but they have assured me they will sell both male and female shirts!

I have also been working on a new KIND of poster design to recruit volunteers and opportunities to get involved here at Student Life! The posters are a little different from what you're used to seeing but I feel you'll really notice them in the halls and recognize the branding a little easier once you see all the different recruitment posters up on the walls.

My design days have often been filled with placeholder text while making layouts: like this, "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris scelerisque, mi non mollis tincidunt, nisl lectus posuere lectus, sed rhoncus urna mauris pharetra leo. Pellentesque ut augue sed nisi eleifend adipiscing in sed diam. Nam dapibus auctor diam, quis porttitor dui ornare eget." and seeing grids and rules to all the posters that are part of the seriers! I have enjoyed the challenges some of these projects have offered me, and I have equally enjoyed the process of getting past those challenges.

The next team-time will be happening soon and will involve Glow in the Dark mini golf which I am super excited about since I've never been mini golfing and glowing in the dark all at once!

Well team I think that is all for now, enjoy this beautiful long weekend and drink up some sunlight!

Bye bye!
Mariangelica Forero
Graphic Design Intern, Student Life Department

Inspiration can come from many different sources, and I am lucky enough to have an internship where I get to work with inspiration through my many projects!

Inspiration can be found from the professionals who are going to volunteer their time to help ease any anxieties and stressors that family and friends of new students may have. Or from the family and friends who are involved in their student's life and want to make their transition to Conestoga a success.

And inspiration can be found from the more than 65 different organizations that have signed up to participate between Doon, Waterloo and Guelph campus Get Involved Fairs. They remind us to be positive, take the opportunities that come our way, and not to take things for granted, no matter how big or small.

Perhaps inspiration comes from TED.com too, which covers topics such as diversity, change, trying new things, and appreciating the little things. These videos encourage us to keep an open mind, broaden our knowledge, and expand our learning.

But inspiration can also stem from going to the Dominican to help teach English to orphans, make an incredible difference in their lives, while at the same time enjoying a life changing experience with a group of 10-15 new friends.

And of course, inspiration can be found from the people we work with. They come with a blend of enthusiasm, encouragement, feedback, hard work, helpfulness, and of course... laughs. And although some projects are difficult, or sometimes it's hard to find motivation, the team you work with will find a way to make it through the day.

These are just a few of the places where I find inspiration to do my best, stay positive, and live life to the fullest.

Check out The Get Involved Fair, Be a Part of the Discussion, Alternative Spring Break trips, and of course Student Life to find some inspiration of your own!

And don't forget to check back in two weeks for "The Perfect Recipe for a Great Internship! "

Emily Morley
Civic Engagement Intern, Student Life Department

For the past few weeks, Cliffy the Condor and Conestoga colleges own Orientation Intern Kyla have been buried under a mountain of work. On Thursday they took a minor break to hold a mid- summer party for their fall Orientation Leaders. They had so much fun playing games and getting to know their wonderful group of volunteers. Cliffy was so happy that so many people came and volunteered their time for orientation. After the party Cliffy and Kyla got back to work. This week they have been busy creating the maps to explain why Cliffy's feet will be on the wall. They have almost finished the planning for the Cambridge open house and with the help of Cliffy; Kyla was able to get Old Dutch foods to sponsor our orientation. It won't be long before student life will not be buried under mountains of work but instead mountains of potato chips. Keep an eye out for more updates from Cliffy and his sidekick Kyla.

Last week we finalized the swag order for Orientation. We will be doing the tri-highlighters, but this time one tip is a highlighter eraser! Which I think is pretty cool. I am also doing the proof sign off this week for the Orientation Leader clothing. Things are really starting to take shape. We have registration out for the table exhibits and mature student Welcome Session. We also have been working on the Orientation Leader manual, training presentations and more.

Yesterday Kyla and I made a new game for Orientation. It is called Flight of the Condor! Participants will test their condor flying abilities by sending paper airplanes off the second floor atrium down to the lower atrium. You want to get your plane to land as close to the final marker as possible to win! I think it looks awesome and I hope people enjoy playing it.

It was also a big day yesterday because we had our Orientation Leader mixer! About 30 of our OLs joined us for games, pizza and laughs in the multipurpose room at the Rec Centre. It was really great to get to know the OLs and put faces to names. We can't wait to run Orientation with them!

I can't believe Orientation is just over a month away!!

Sarah DeBoer
Orientation Intern

Hello everyone!

I have had a busy few weeks! Phase three is full throttle and this week I finally had time to sit down and edit 87%(not actual figure) of the footage. It's looking swell, and only two more services to be filmed, so everything is going GREAT. Two weeks ago we had filmed a new student for the Respect Video, but do to technical difficulties, which is basically the camera shutting off 16 times during the 45 minutes interview leaving the clips to be corrupted, we only retrieved five minutes worth of video. Which means RESHOOTS! WOOHOO!
On another note, Thanks to Emily, a fellow intern, I have the song yellow submarine by the Beatles stuck in my head.
So now for my movie review(s). Since I didn't have a previous updated blog I will do two, very quickly. Transformers and Horrible Bosses.
TRANSFORMERS is well, exactly what you see in the trailers: clanging metal, cheesy dialogue, Michael Bay's explosions all of it. Overall it was the best film in the franchise, and most satisfying. It was a great summer action movie, but make sure to get some rest after because this film has so much action and CGI that you will need days to sleep. Action wise: 4/4. Overall: 3/4.
HORRIBLE BOSSES is much funnier than the Hangover 2. It is very clever and funny, and has an interesting plot that will attract any working person who has had a bad experience in the workplace with their bosses. Funny wise: 3.5/4. Overall: 3/4.
Until next time, have a good summer!

In the department of Student Life,
Worked an intern who loves Chai tea,
And she told us of her life,
In the land of submarines,

So she had an interview,
To be part of the Respect Team,
And she waited to hear back,
In our yellow submarine,

We all live in yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine,
We all live in yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine.

And after her internship,
She will be a new Respect Rep,
And the team begins to cheer.

(Trumpets play)

We all live in yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine,
We all live in yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine.

As we work 7 hours a day(7 hours a day)
Every one of us(every one of us) has all we need,(has all we need)
Post-it Notes,(Post-it Notes) and colourful markers,(colourful markers)
In our yellow(In our yellow) submarine.(submarine) ( Haha! )

We all live in yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine,
We all live in yellow submarine,
yellow submarine, yellow submarine.

Design is just so much fun!! I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing my projects go from sketches, to concepts, to final products these past weeks!

I have finished half of my term here at Student Life and even though it's only half way through I feel like I have learnt a lot. Learning is interesting, and exciting, and a little scary sometimes! Working at Student Life has helped me believe in the work that I can do. Everyone here is very encouraging to give it your best because truly, that is all we can ever give! I am always so thankful of being here and being lucky enough to have such an amazing team of both interns and supervisors.

Last week Ryan and I ran all of the photoshoots needed for the Respect Posters, it involved working around everyone's schedules and finding a time when we could all meet. I was happy with how natural people looked in the photos and how great everyone was in being available and helping out. There would have been no photos without them! The posters are now ready for print and I'm excited to see how they will turn out!

Switching to the second half of my work term means I have a new lovely supervisor, Bonnie. The first project I had to do was to design a logo and promotional poster for the Student Life blog... where you are now! I am really happy with how the logo and the poster turned out, it's different than the usual posters coming out of Student Life and I hope it attracts attention and creates more traffic to the Student Life website! I learnt a lot about Photoshop (The program I used to create the poster) while making the poster. Learn by doing is my favourite part of working here, and I am so excited to do and create all the new projects that come with entering the second half of my work term!

Check back for more updates from my fellow co workers and me!

Thanks!
Mariangelica Forero
Graphic Design Intern

What a fun past two weeks this has been! I went on a tour of the new Cambridge campus, dressed up as Cliffy, won a RIM Brickbreaker competition and handed out freezies to students waiting in line to pay fees at the registrar's office!

On top of all the fun activities, I have also been working hard on Orientation. We have drafted the invitation for the different services to attend Orientation and have an information booth set up. I am using the form feature in Google Docs to track registration for the tables. It is so cool! I will definitely be using it again for my courses.

I have also started to work on our Orientation Leader training. We are find fun and interactive ways to do AODA training (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act). We are also developing the structure of the day and what would be most beneficial for the OLs.

I am sure the weeks ahead will be full of lots of fun too!

Once upon a time at Conestoga College the condor roamed free throughout the campus spreading respect to everyone he met. Then one day because of the construction that they are doing at the beautiful Cambridge campus, there were 4 different colours of paint left out. At night when it was very dark the Condor stepped into the bucket of paint and left foot prints all over the walls. Due to the condors helpful nature his foot prints help direct students where to go on their orientation day to get their student card, bus pass, parking pass and OSAP. He then went on a tour with student life to go and see the new campus and spread his joy. All week the Condor and Orientation Intern Kyla have been working hard together planning the open house for Cambridge, planning out their orientation leader training and games and fun activities to do on orientation day at Conestoga. Check back in 2 weeks updates about the condor and Kyla.

"Where is Tim Horton's?"

"Do you have a band-aid?"

"Do you have lipstick?"

These are just a few of the questions that the Civic Engagement Intern answers at the Info Desk. But she not only serves the people of Conestoga College in the Student Life Centre, she has also conquered the Condor Dance with CLIFFY in the Amphitheatre, participated in a commercial shoot in front of the Green Screen, and attended workshops where she learned about how to use one's brain in the Blue Room, and Aboriginal Services in a Tipi!

Her summertime journey includes visiting the Cambridge Campus, attending a Stella and Dot Trunk Show in the SCSB Lunch Room and of course, Canada Day festivities with her family in her Hometown.

She has successfully emailed out invitations to the Get Involved Fair from her desk in Room 2A101-2, and has begun to pick-up donations for Family and Friends Orientation from the Recreation Centre.

Where will she go next!?

Check back in two weeks for more about the not-so-secret life of the Civic Engagement Intern!

Time flies when you're having fun! Mariangelica checking in again to update you on the fun days here at the office! This past week was good and busy! I went on vacation and got back last Sunday the 19th so the following Monday was a day to catch up on emails, refresh my memory on any projects I left pending, and get back into the swing of things!

Respect Posters, a Family and Friends Orientation brochure, Get involved Invitations, and other fun design jobs were part of last week. All those projects carried on to this week, and are all in their Final stages.

This week I will be conducting Respect Poster photoshoots with some past and current students who have agreed with the messages being presented in the posters! I am very excited to get photography started, as it is something I really enjoy!

Last week the college did some E3 workshops and I got to be part of a workshop put on by Aboriginal Services and it was ran by Myeengun Henry. I was very interested in their culture and their stories. He updated us on all of the new things they will be putting up at the college, including a real tipi that will be officially up in September.

Thanks! Check back for more, biweekly!

Mariangelica Forero
Graphic Design Intern

I am learning so much about the school and our community each day! Last week, we went on a tour of the Waterloo and Guelph campuses. I was really impressed with the Masonry building at Waterloo. You should all check it out! The beautiful designs they make out of bricks is amazing! They have one arch made entirely of bricks that can support 4000lbs!

I was also fortunate enough to be able to attend a workshop put on by Aboriginal Services and facilitated by Myeengun Henry. It involved learning about the history of the Aboriginal people of Canada and their current journeys into Post-Secondary institutions and we participated in a friendship ceremony with traditional drum playing. All of this was facilitated in a tipi they had set up outside by the Sanctuary. The tipi can't stay up for the summer, but look for it in September when it will be up for a longer duration of time. There will also be a new medicine garden and other outdoor services coming soon.

Orientation planning is going great too. I have been working with local companies to provide sponsorship for the Orientation Week and working on getting our Orientation Leader clothing. We are also working on some fun games and activities to play during Orientation Week. If you have a great idea that you would like to suggest for Orientation, be sure to send it to orientation@conestogac.on.ca!

Check in bi-weekly to see what other fun things I am up too.

Hello! Your friendly neighborhood Broadcasters here...BRANDON!

This week has been quite slow for myself, but I've been keeping busy. Since Monday I have been organizing hard-drives so that our files are easier to locate and days later I am finally done! Been a rough two weeks with my brother being in the hospital, but I got my G2! Which is exciting and my brother is perfectly fine. He had a silly accident where he fell, tripping over the dog, while wearing my steel toes, head-first on the sidewalk. Other than that, I am preparing for our film shoots next week and the weeks coming. I am booked almost everyday, which will be awesome because I will be busy and extremely productive.

I figured I would do something pretty cool for all of my blogs and that is I will do a small movie review of the best movie I have seen the last few weeks. For the first review I choose SUPER 8. Directed by Lost creator and Director of Mission Impossible 3 and Startrek, and Produced by none other than Steven Spielberg. This movie is a homage to early Spielberg films such as: E.T., The Goonies, and also has elements of Abrams Cloverfield. This movies is very sentimental, touching, powerful, scary, and intense. The perfect summer movie. I recommend this movie highly out of all of the remakes and sequels this year. The most original movie in years. I give it a 4.5 out of five.

Hope you enjoyed my blog and check in every two weeks to see what I have been up to. Thanks!

The last two weeks have been very busy. Last week I did a lot of work on the Orientation Recruitment posters which are now up around the school. We are hoping to get more people the sign up to be an Orientation Leader for this fall. I am also working very hard at contacting the current Orientation Leaders to make sure they are all up to date with the planning. This week has also kept me busy working on planning the Mid- summer mixer for our Orientation Leader .Tuesday we had the chance to go and visit the other campus for Conestoga. This trip was so much fun. Now we had the chance to experience all ends of Conestoga and our ready to plan a great Orientation Event. Stay tuned for more updates in two weeks.

In a not-so-far-away land of Student Life, the Civic Engagement Intern works diligently on many projects. She staffs the Info Desk, she does campus visits to Waterloo and Guelph, and she plans the Family and Friends Orientation and the Get Involved Fair. She watches videos on TED.com, and makes Prezi presentations for meetings and events.

When she goes bowling with the super-team, she does the "granny bowl", and only she can pull off getting more than one foul for stepping over the line!

Her volunteer projects includes cutting out colourful shapes, photography, and the ever-energetic CONDOR DANCE!

What will she do next?!

Check back bi-weekly for more on the adventures of the Civic Engagement Intern!

Hello! My name is Brandon Zyma. I am going into my second year of Broadcast Television! I am the Production Intern for the Student Life Department. It has been a thrilling time working for the department. The best people I have ever worked with. I definitely love working at the college. I am in Broadcast Television to gain experience behind the camera in positions such as: directing, producing, editing, script writing and much more. My all time goal is become a professional screenwriter as well as director. I love putting my creative ideas into words and then into film. I love movies!

Working with everyone involved in the Student Life department has been wonderful and exciting. Everyone is very welcoming and always encouraging. This summer, as a Production Intern, I am working on shooting the "Phase Three Orientation Video: Your Services" video, for the college. It's going to be fun and challenging as well as a different experience for myself; I am looking forward to every minute of it! There are fifteen areas being incorporated and shooting has already begun.

For any updates on my projects and all kinds of stuff this summer, check back every two weeks for an update.

Brandon Zyma,
Productions Intern, Broadcast - Television

Hello! I'm Mariangelica Forero, a Graphic Design Student here at Conestoga, I'll be entering my third year in September, and I am currently working with Student life as the Graphic Design Intern.

This experience has been incredible so far. Often in my program I would wonder where I would end up, or what opportunities may be waiting around the corner. I wanted to find a place where I'd get to use all the skills I had been learning and be able to network with the people around me. I heard about the opening at Student life and here I am.

Along with all the fun projects I get to be a part of and produce, I have met some amazing people. It's like we are a big family with many different skills, stories and backgrounds, and everyone bounces ideas off each other. Everyone in the office is super friendly and caring and I have gotten to meet some fun students that regularly visit the office!

Some of the projects I have been working on include working with the Respect Campaign, where I had to design T-shirts that will be sold at the Bookstore here at Conestoga. Along with making many concepts and voting on them in the office, we thought it would be best to survey the target market, the students. I went around to the cafeteria, library and anyone I ran into in the halls and asked which T-shirt they would buy! It was fun to be able to see the reactions to my work, and to hear the feedback straight from the students! Other projects I'm working on include making Respect Reps posters and building the brand branching off the Respect Campaign; and submitting Spoke Ads for Get Involved, Connect, and Orientation that you will find in the Orientation Issue of Spoke.

Mariangelica Forero
Graphic Design Intern

Hi, my name is Sarah de Boer and I am a second year Business Administration Management student.

This summer I am working at Student Life as an Orientation Intern in partnership with Kyla Cook. Planning for Orientation is in full swing and lots of new and exciting things are happening. If you are a returning student and interested in becoming an Orientation Leader, it's not too late! Contact me at sdeboer@conestogac.on.ca to learn about how you can be involved.

Since I started at Student Life, I have been working on our potential list of companies to contact for give-aways and prizes at Orientation. I have also begun to tackle the daily schedules for Orientation Leaders. The next step is to start figuring out what branded items to hand out in the Orientation bags. Last year we had triangle highlighters - I am excited to see what neat ideas we can think up for this year!

Besides Orientation, I am also working on a research project for Student Life. We are trying to find ways to ease the transition from High School to College life. And we are also trying to find ways to keep Orientation Leaders involved after Orientation is over. I have been checking out what other schools are doing, and beginning to shape what we would like to see here at Conestoga.
It is going to be a busy and fun summer ahead!

Sarah de Boer
Orientation Intern

In April I completed my first year of Fitness and Health Promotion here at Conestoga. I love getting involved with events around the school such as Health and Wellness Week and other fund raisers. I am really excited to start putting all my creative ideas to work to help make the falls orientation bigger and better then it has ever been. I am especially excited that I get to plan the open house for the new Cambridge Campus. My goal is to make that event so amazing that it will be hard to top it next year. With the help of my Intern team, and my orientation leaders I'm hoping to make this orientation hard to forget.

As an Orientation Intern I, along with the other Orientation Intern, are in charge of getting orientation all ready to go for fall 2011. At this time we are putting together our list of Orientation Leaders and making sure that we have all their contact information. This week we sent out our first newsletter to our Orientation Leaders which keeps them up to date on our planning process throughout the summer. We are also in the middle of getting sponsors for this event by contacting local business. I'll keep you posted on how it all turns out!

Kyla Cook
Orientation intern

I have just finished my first year of the Recreation and Leisure Services program here at Conestoga, as well as having graduated Human Services Foundations the year before. With Student Life, I have participated in fundraising for United Way in Fall 2009, as well as helping to plan and implement activities for Cultural Diversity Week Fall 2010, and a combination of Celebrating Cultural Diversity and fund raising for Big Brothers Big Sisters earlier this year. I have also been participating in the Connect Leadership Workshop Series, with only 4 more to attend to receive the certificate.

As the Civic Engagement Intern, I am working on a few projects including planning the Friends and Family Orientation and Get Involved Fair. I am also creating a Data Management Plan for Student Life that will consolidate all of Student Life's initiatives' student evaluations. Lastly, I am helping to plan and develop a new and exciting initiative called "Be a Part of the Conversation". This project, although still in the works, is going to be something that you're definitely going to want to check out!

To find out more about my adventures and projects working with Student Life, check back bi-weekly for updates!

Emily Morley
Civic Engagement Intern

Hello everyone!

My name is Kezia and I am in the General Arts and Science program. As soon as I got to Conestoga, I noticed the sense of community and understanding at Doon Campus. This is all thanks to the Respect Campaign and the wonderful staff and students at Conestoga.

Through various events at the college such as Random Acts of Kindness Day, Respect Week and Thank You Day, I got to be a part of this exciting initiative to provide awareness of our diversity and to promote civility on campus. I also got to improve some of my own skills, like leadership and communication, while working with some wonderful and interesting people. At bi-weekly meetings, we took part in team building activities, collaborated on ideas and planned for Respect events. On event days, we facilitated and promoted around the school, providing leadership and sending the welcoming message of respect.

Being a part of the Respect Committee has given me a chance to grow as a person and be more involved with my campus community. This is a wonderful experience for anyone looking for a bright and positive future!

- Kezia Tatton
General Arts & Science Program - Year 2
Respect Committee Volunteer

Hey Guys,
I am George Kusumose and I am currently taking Practical Nursing here at Conestoga College. I joined the Respect committee last January. Since then, I absolutely enjoyed working with Respect and had the chance to get involved in many of its events. What attracted me to the Respect Committee is its enormous commitment to make space for every culture in the College campus where students can share the differences that makes this student setting a more wonderful one. Meeting students from different countries, understanding their culture, knowing the social and political situations in other countries are some small but BIG benefits I found being in Respect Committee.

It was a great experience for me to be part of the Respect Week as well. Smile Day, Differences Day and so on are some small steps that literally made a big change. I believe these attempts made the college atmosphere more refreshing and, above all, helped the students to understand what is happening around the world. Given the fact that only a good community can create a better state, it is highly appreciable to understand the differences of our community and to spread respect. I assure you guys; our Committee is the right destination for that!!

Thanks,
George Kusumose
First Year, Practical Nursing

George, Rahwa, and Dave volunteering during Respect Week 2011