How does one find their place amongst a large student body, like the one at UBC?

For me, developing a sense of belonging at UBC involved two things: getting involved and giving back.

I began to join clubs like the Microbiology and Immunology Student Association and the Equity Ambassadors Peer Program. These opportunities gave me concrete avenues to directly give back to my community, giving me the sense of purpose and belonging that I had previously been lacking. I was able to use the skills that I’d learned in and outside of my classes to plan social events that fostered new friendships. I developed a mentorship program to help younger students, ran academic events to help students plan their next steps, and supported social justice initiatives on campus. I could see that I was having a positive impact on my immediate community and this helped me define my role.

Having this deeper connection with UBC through my roles on campus has enabled me to get the most out of my degree experience. I developed better friendships, my grades improved, and I learned a lot of transferable skills. Giving back and getting involved were the two key things that made a hugely positive difference in my time at UBC.