Holly Barsoum
Coordinator, International Student Programs
University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
Coordinator, International Student Programs
I coordinate social programs to help new international students transition to life in Canada.
I am constantly doing program assessments and evaluations and making changes to my programs according to my analyis and the input of students and other stakeholders. I interact with student participants via e-mail, social media, and focus groups to hear what they have to say about our programs. I am responsible for coordinating and co-facilitating volunteer training, as well as planning social events for participants throughout each term. I also supervise a part-time student employee each term.
Here's the first step for high school students
Have a desire to travel and learn about other cultures, and then make it happen. Real-world experience will provide insight and perspective that is difficult to learn in classrooms, and will also make you more understanding of the challenges faced by new international students in a foreign country. If travelling isn't available to you, there are other ways! Volunteering with new immigrants to your country or with English-language learners are both fantastic options.
"You can't make a living playing outside."