This blog is an archived post written by Christina during her 4th year in the Environmental Management stream.

 

 

 

I had a few goals coming into the BES program: Some were as simple as making new friends who shared similar interests and some were linked to career growth and development like graduating university. Coming into first year of university, I was pretty nervous as most people are when starting a new chapter of their lives. I only knew one person - Katie - who I met at one of the events for incoming BES students in the spring and I had never attended a university lecture before. These are normal feelings to have: nervousness and excitement.  But, I am proud to say that I have met my goals thanks to MyCrewYU: Those around me on campus that helped me focus myself and achieve all that I have in the past three and a half years.

Going to BES events, like De-Stress Day, BESSA (Bachelor of Environmental Studies Student Association) events, and even orientation events are super helpful when trying to make new friends, especially ones that share a passion for the environment. The Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES), BESSA and the Peer Mentors do a great job of holding events throughout the school year to help us engage and make connections with one another. I would highly suggest going to some of these!  This is where I met some of my closest friends, like Katie.

A big part of MyCrewYU and who I can thank for meeting my personal goals are the friends I’ve made in the last four years here in the BES program; people like Katie, who is BESSA’s VP of Finance and Megan, who is Environmental Studies' Peer Mentor Coordinator. We have pushed each other to get involved with the Faculty and have become better because of it. My friends have helped me immensely throughout all the exams, assignments, papers, and have kept my spirits up during all the stressful times.

Another goal of mine was to graduate university and gain knowledge on the environment and conservation. The BES program has helped with this because I get to study environmental topics in all my FES classes, as well as learn new skills in the GIS & Remote Sensing certificate (blog post on this coming soon!) I'm taking with my BES degree. I am also on track to meeting my goal of graduating university, as I am currently in my last term of my BES!  One of the main draws for me to the BES program at York was the opportunity to study abroad at the Las Nubes Ecocampus in Costa Rica. It was one of the only goals coming into the program that I knew I wanted to meet before I graduate, and I was lucky enough to have been able to study there last summer! (Be sure to check out my blog post on my experience there).

Two people that helped me achieve these academic goals and a big part of MyCrewYU are Leesa Fawcett and Gail Fraser. They are both FES professors and were the first two faculty members I met from FES at the Ontario University Fair (OUF) four years ago when I was still deciding where to go for university. They helped me when I was struggling during my transition from wanting to be a marine biologist to an environmental conservationist and were vital to my decision in choosing the program because of their support and caring nature in my career development. Gail Fraser is the professor for ENVS 1500: Introduction to Environmental Science. Leesa Fawcett also taught my favourite course from my BES: the Natural History course I took in Costa Rica last summer.  She is also my advisor for my directed study this year- my fourth and final year.

Another member of MyCrewYU is Ann Tsirgielis, our Student Success Coordinator. Ann has helped keep me sane, through the tough classes and course selection processes.  She has been there to help me go through anything and everything.

My last goal was to get a job that would teach me valuable skills that would help on my resume and job progress in the future. FES helped me get this by having work-study positions available to York students. I am currently one of the Recruitment and Communications Assistants for FES. I help with a number of tasks for recruitment including helping at events such as OUF, Open House events, and running environmental campus tours for prospective students. This position is teaching me invaluable skills that I can now put on my resume and carry onto future jobs.  MyCrewYU for professional development have been Lily Piccone and Alison Ozog, two staff members from the Recruitment and Admissions team for Environmental Studies.  They have taught me so much in the time that I’ve known them and have helped prep me for the work force as well as been there for career advice.

With fourth year wrapping up, I'm really proud of everything I've accomplished in my BES.  I also want to thank you to MyCrewYU for helping me out every step along the way and preparing me for what's next.