This article was written by Avery Groeneveld
Events
As the summer wraps up, it’s important to make the most of your last days of freedom! Before you’re drowning in syllabi and group projects, be sure to check out the final few events of the 2021 Shinerama campaign.
As this blog has covered in the past few months, the Shinetoba team has been working hard this summer to raise funds and awareness in support of cystic fibrosis patients and their treatments. The summer has been a busy one, with August holding a successful car wash where students volunteered their time and soapy buckets to help this great cause. If you missed out on the car wash, however, don’t fret! The Shine team has been working hard to organize another event that will get you up and moving! Get ready to sweat, because Shinerama will be holding a workout class on Saturday, August 28th at Kings Park. This exciting class will be held by the amazing Allyson Gin and it is open to anyone interested in attending, no skill level is required. If you’re ready to get your blood pumping, the event is funded through donations, with as always, all proceeds going towards the amazing cause of fighting against CF. If you plan on attending, be sure to bring your yoga mat and check out @Shinetoba on Instagram for more details!
Looking forward to this new academic year, you may be worried about connecting with your classmates. With a majority of classes still taking place virtually, it has never been more difficult to get to know your fellow students… but the CSA is here to help! If you are interested in making a difference in the life of a new Asper student this upcoming year, you should consider applying for the CSA Mentorship program!
What is the Mentorship Program?
This program is an exciting opportunity for Asper students in their second year and above to be paired with a new Asper student in order to provide guidance, friendship, advice, and of course mentorship! Mentors and mentees work together to get to know each other and be familiar faces in a somewhat virtual schooling experience.
Why should I apply?
Being a mentor is a great way to not only boost your personal skills and experience, but to also make a difference for a new student, we’ve all been one and whether official or not, we’ve all had those mentors in our lives who have provided us help when we needed it most, and with this program, you get to pay it forward to another student. The experience is also great to put on a resume and it does appear on your co-curricular record.
How does it work?
Mentors and mentees are paired together based on personal and professional interests. Because of the diverse population in Asper, the CSA encourages students of all majors and also international students to apply! Mentors and mentees will have the opportunity to connect and build their relationship on a personal basis, and also through events and initiatives taking place throughout the year.
How do I apply?
If you’re interested in becoming a mentor for the upcoming academic year, visit https://www.aspercsa.com/students/mentorship/ to learn more and apply today!
Student Stories
We all hear constantly about how important work experience is while you’re obtaining your degree. Getting professional exposure is a wonderful way to build experience, connections and a skillset for when you graduate into the workforce full-time. Work experience can also be a valuable way to confirm your interests and cement the discipline you want to major in. But although we all agree work experience is a wonderful thing to get… how exactly do you get it? The world of applying for positions and building the perfect resume can seem daunting, but if you’re interested in getting some guidance through this process and university credit to boot, you might want to consider the co-op program! Asper’s co-op program is now officially recruiting for this upcoming academic year. The application deadlines are as follows: the deadline for CPA intake is August 29th and general intake has a deadline of September 27th. The co-op program opens you up to amazing support systems and resources to fully prepare you for your professional journey and connect you with companies that could possibly be your first step. In Student Stories this month, the CSA Scoop connected with Haley Jonsson, an Accounting Major who is entering her fourth year in Asper this fall, to learn a bit more about her experience in the co-op program and some advice she may have for students who are interested in the program!
Haley grew up on a cattle and leafcutter bee farm with her two pet pygmy goats named Banjo and Winston. Before she entered the co-op program, she didn’t have any professional work experience aside from farming and she found the co-op program to be instrumental to her feeling confident and finding success in professional landscapes. In her first co-op placement, Haley began as an Accounting and Advisory Student at BDO Canada during the summer of 2020. Despite beginning her role in the middle of a pandemic, Haley gained great experience and skills throughout her summer and progressed to a role as a Student in the Indigenous Executive Management Services Department at BDO. She worked in this new department for her second placement in the Winter of 2021 and will return for her final placement in the upcoming Fall in the same position. When speaking of why she found her time in co-op valuable, she mentioned one of the reasons she applied for the program was because she wanted to ensure she would enjoy the work that accompanied her accounting major, and through her placements, she has discovered a passion for the work she performs!
When discussing advice Haley has for anyone considering co-ops, Haley highlighted the following: “Apply for a lot of jobs, step outside your comfort zone, and [look] for jobs you may not normally consider! Co-op terms are a time to see what you like, and even if the job doesn’t totally align with your major, you will still gain valuable experience! Also, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, as most people are there to help you and want to help you succeed!”.
For anyone interested in learning more about the co-op program or applying for the upcoming year, visit https://umanitoba.ca/asper/student-experience/asper-co-op-programs and follow @aspercdc.coop on Instagram!
University Life
Back to School season is right around the corner! Although you may still be soaking up those last few rays of sun, it’s important to consider planning ahead before the first day of classes. Check out below for a few tips and tricks to get your head in the game before those fall colors are filling the air!
Tip #1 Textbook Reminders
Be sure to check out aurora for your textbook list based on the classes you’re registered for, but remember that there can occasionally be discrepancies between the book required for the course and what individual professors prefer. Occasionally your professor may not need a book at all, or sometimes a digital code is required to complete assignments and they can only come from brand new books or the manufacturers’ websites. There are also sometimes additional materials such as tutoring books or compilations of previous midterms and exams that can help to get you prepped for success! Be sure to keep an eye out for the Shinerama textbook sale this fall to get some amazing deals, and used books can often be found through websites like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace as well.
Tip #2 Planning Your Schedule
When getting prepared for the back-to-school season, many of us may create a google calendar, homework app, or maybe even a classic paper planner to keep us all organized. However, one important thing to keep in mind this year is planning for both in-person and virtual commitments. With the fall semester offering some classes in person and some virtual, many will be operating with a hybrid schedule, balancing different settings of commitments for different days. Be sure to check in aurora how the classes you’ve registered for are being offered so you don’t show up to campus when a zoom link would have been sufficient!
Tip #3 Don’t Forget about Financial Aid Opportunities
The last time you may have heard about scholarships and bursaries was in your senior year of high school, but there are still plenty of opportunities out there to help you along financially while you earn your degree. Both the University of Manitoba and the Asper School of Business offer many different Scholarships and Bursaries for students from various backgrounds. There are postings specific to majors or community experience, most bursaries are related to financial need and they are a great way to support yourself while you’re in University. To check out some Asper specific scholarships check out https://umanitoba.ca/asper/student-experience/awards-and-scholarships
There are different deadlines all over the year so be sure to get your applications in before you miss out!
Want to keep up with all things CSA? Follow us on Instagram @aspercsa!