This blog was written by Kimberly Nicolasora

Now that summer has come to an end, we’re officially back in business! With many events returning in person from classes to workshops, and even socials, the Fort Garry Campus is alive with students. In other words, you will no longer find a vacant spot—unless you read our May Blog that showcases some of the University of Manitoba’s hidden gems! 

September is not only the season for gambling with the weather app daily, but it’s also the season to get involved! From Asper’s Student Action Groups (STAGs) to community groups within the University of Manitoba, there are many opportunities for you to develop your skills and meet other students with similar interests.

First Year Committee

The Asper School hosts numerous events, opportunities, and student groups. A recurring message you may have heard at Asper is to “get involved”. However, as newer students, it may feel overwhelming where to start. 

If you’re a first-year student who possesses amazing leadership qualities and is not afraid to be a voice for others, then becoming a First Year Representative may be the role for you! Megha Jaryal, a second-year student majoring in International Business and Finance, is currently a Manager of Corporate Relations with the CSA and was previously a First Year Representative for the 2021-2022 committee. 

With harbouring regrets about not becoming involved with student governance in high school, Megha decided to run to become the First Year Rep on impulse. She expresses how, 

“It was a great opportunity to gain experience and meet new people while we were still doing school online. It definitely enhanced my first year of university experience. I got to meet a lot of people my age, as well as older students who know the ins and outs of the university. [Becoming First Year Rep] opened up many opportunities in my first year, and more so in my second year.

[While being in university], you need to step out of your comfort zone and do the things you never had a chance to do before. It’s a little scary at first, but definitely rewarding! As a very studious person in high school, just know that grades or courses aren’t the only things that university has to offer. Take advantage of all opportunities that are provided to you, and don’t be afraid to reach out and connect with other students within your year. You have more in common than you think!”

Becoming a First Year Rep is one of the many opportunities you can do in Asper, however, if the role itself isn’t something that interests you but you still wish to be involved, the First Year Committee (FYC) provides other chair positions (Fundraising, Charity, Social, Marketing, International, and Finance) and the general committee. 

We have Eric Bao, a third-year student majoring in Accounting, who was one of the Marketing Co-chairs for the 2020-2021 FYC. He shares how joining the FYC changed his entire Asper experience for the better! 

“It opened my eyes to all the additional opportunities that Asper has, such as case competitions, CSA involvement, and STAG positions. Even as a third-year student now, I’m still super close with everyone from my FYC. Working with like-minded people who also share interests in getting involved made learning about Asper’s extracurriculars significantly easier.

I initially joined FYC because I knew nobody in Asper during my first year. Most of my high school friends went into different fields instead of business, so I thought joining the committee would be a great opportunity to make some new friends. Additionally, I wish I had gotten more involved in high school so I did not want to experience that feeling of regret again in university.

My advice to any first-year Asper students is to seek discomfort. Don’t be afraid to try every opportunity available to you as you won’t know if you enjoy it unless you do it first. I never thought I would be involved as I am in Asper, but taking the initiative to sign up for those opportunities was the most important step. I never regretted getting involved in Asper since I always learned something in the process.”

With both of our student features sharing their feelings of past regret, I couldn’t help but reflect on my thoughts—as a former FYC member as well! Time, as you get older feels relatively quicker than in your former years. So, before you know it, the once nervous First Year Student will soon become a proud alumnus of the Asper School. Each student only has 4-5 years of undergraduate studies, therefore, to fully maximize the resources the Asper School has to offer it’s best to become involved when you’re younger before the pressures of finding jobs or taking more difficult classes get the best of us. 

On a personal note, one of the best things about joining the First Year Committee to me was to meet older students who helped shape my current experience. With no working experience or professional ties within the business community, the best time to put yourself out there is within your earlier years. Like everything in life, as you continue to do actions repeatedly, such as attending networking events, you become more and more confident within the space. As students, your grades do matter. However, as you think ahead to your future, your GPA in your first year won’t matter as much as the experience you gain and the friendships you made. 

If you are interested in applying to become the First Year Rep, please complete the candidate nomination package here and send it to [email protected]. 

Nominations close Tuesday, September 20th at 4:00 PM. For any questions, please reach out to the CSA Vice President Internal, Betty Mae Ferrer at [email protected]. 

Asper Mentorship

Our September issue became more sentimental than we initially planned. However, the Asper School and the greater Winnipeg business community genuinely care about the development of the students, making the Asper Mentorship Program one of the wonderful opportunities currently recruiting for both Mentors and Mentees. 

The CSA Mentorship Program connects newly admitted Asper students with experienced mentors who have similar personal and professional interests. Mentors provide mentees with guidance, advice, and support to help them successfully navigate their early years in their degree. All of the mentors and mentees involved in the program will have opportunities to come together throughout the school year through different events, including group networking, one-on-one connections, and fun team challenges! Members of the program will have the chance to interact with other mentors and mentees. 

Students eligible to become a mentee are those who are entering their first or second year in Asper, while students eligible to become a mentor have to be at least in their second-year. This is an excellent way for the first-year Asper students to make friends with like-minded peers while expanding their networks early on in their careers, and for upper-year students to give back to their community! 

To apply, fill in the application form before the deadline on Friday, September 23rd, 2022.