Fundraising with a ... lid?

What do you get when you combine the spirit of competition, 6 faculties, a dumpster, and gallons of paint?

2 Fs: Fun and Fundraising!

The Federation of Students launched their Colour Me Educated Campaign this week with a bang!

A dumpster was situated in the middle of the Student Life Centre holding, 1 student representative from every faculty and one Federation of Students (FedS) representative, 7 students in total. With the Campus Response Team camped out on the sidelines, the purpose was to raise enough money to reach each faculty’s goal, which acted as “bail” for the release of the representative from the dumpster. However, once bail was met, every $2 exceeding the target amount meant an additional minute in confinement.

Reaching almost 20% of their overall goal of $7,000, the campaign launch raised $1,223.75.

Engineering $316.01
Applied Health Sciences $228.02
Science $161.40
Arts $157.10

Math $138. 05

Environment - $119. 01

FedS $104. 16

So what was this all for?

The Colour Me Educated Campaign, in its second year, is raising money for the Pathways to Education program which supports underprivileged youth (students in grades 9 – 12) in gradauting high school and pursuing post secondary education to break past barriers and the cycle of poverty in their community. The area of Kitchener, being one of the 5 communities in Ontario/ Quebec with this program, has two very at risk communities and yet has been able to see students achieving higher grades and improved attendance rates through the program's tutoring, mentorship and overall support.

And the paint?

Well the fundraising doesn't stop here. It will continue over the next 9 weeks and the faculty that's able to raise the most proceeds will receive the opportunity to drench the President of the University, other administrators, and FedS executives in paint (the colour of their faculty).

The Federation of Students have so many wonderful initiatives for the student body at uWaterloo but they also have a large part in reaching out to the greater community. By raising funds for Pathways to Education, the students at uWaterloo are given the opportunity to support an organization that helps students, just like them.

So come on Arts students! Lets show our support and colour uWaterloo Orange!

Kierra's Waterloo Favourites: What is under uWaterloo?

 One of my favourite things about Waterloo are the .... Underground Tunnels!

1. From the the Environment 1 Building to the Modern Languages Building and Arts Lecture Hall.

2. From the Arts Lecture Hall to South Campus Hall and the Tatham Centre.

3. From the Environment 1 Building to Hagey Hall.

They are very accessible, safe and make getting to class quick and easy without having to step outside! They especially come in handy during a snowy Winter morning, a rainy Spring afternoon, a cool Fall evening, or a hot Summer day.

Next time you are running to class in the rain check them out!
Stay tuned for more of my uWaterloo Favourites.

All The Colours Of uWaterloo

A Waterloo Winter Adventure

On Tuesday I attended a photography exhibit, showcasing student submissions, in the Student Life Centre (SLC). The exhibit, arranged by the One Waterloo Campaign, focused around the question, “what does diversity mean to you?”

The collections of photographs were beautiful. Each one was so different from the next as the illustrations ranged from gardens, to buildings, to people, even candy and shoes. Collectively they portray the same message about diversity.

The exhibit, being a celebration of uWaterloo's diversity, was a wonderful representation of the One Waterloo Campaign's purpose. Founded in September 2005, One Waterloo was created to develop a unified environment of tolerance and respect at uWaterloo. Through awareness campaigning, they encourage ongoing discussions about diversity and discrimination prevention.

The more I thought about diversity, the more I began to see how important it should be in our university experience. Every student is different so why shouldn't our education reflect that? Well, that's exactly what being in an Arts program is all about! You have the opportunity to express yourself and explore your passions.


The Arts faculty is the largest faculty at uWaterloo. We have 7400 students which means our community has a broad and diverse student body. This is reflected in our:

• 6 unique and innovative entry programs (Honours Arts, Arts and Business, Accounting and Financial Management, Social Development Studies, Computing and Financial Management, and Independent Studies),
• 30 Arts majors (from Fine Arts, Geography and Environmental Management, Italian Studies, to Sexuality, Marriage and Family studies),
• and a total of 425 degree options students can choose from.

Each student is recognized as being unique and is encouraged to make their undergraduate experience custom to their set of interests and goals. With over a hundred different classes, offered by professors from a wide range of backgrounds, your academic experience at uWaterloo has the potential to be filled with variety, not to mention all the opportunities available for you to gain experience outside the classroom (as mentioned in previous post).

You should leave university not only with an undergraduate degree but as a well-round person ready to apply your knowledge in various settings. uWaterloo supports every student in exploring who they are as an individual which makes us a strong unified community.

So when thinking about university, don't ask yourself, "will I fit in?". Instead ask, "what will my diversity add?"

Read about the Diversity Gallery in uWaterloo's official student newspaper, the Imprint.

My First Waterloo Winter Adventure: Clubs and Societies Day!

How do you really get to know a place?

This week I learned, you can only truly know an environment by familiarizing yourself with the people that are within it. My first adventure of this term was to the Student Life Centre (SLC) on campus for “Clubs and Societies Day” in the Great Hall.

You may or may not be aware that uWaterloo is happily overflowing with Student Life. Today it was even more clear to me that uWaterloo is a community that prides it’s self in student involvement, community outreach, and most of all diversity!

As I walked into the Great Hall of the SLC, I was immediately taken back by the sea of colourful booths, each representing a different club, society, association or charity, and even more by the large crowd of students. Some students were there to promote their club or society/ association, while other students were strolling through the various rows of booths, checking out their areas of interest.

If you're anything like me, you'd find that once you finished with one booth there would be another one that catches your attention. Whether it's your faculty’s student union, your program’s society, an intriguing charitable outreach project, an ethnic based club, or maybe a club centred on your favourite hobbie/ past time, you wouldn't have any trouble finding an opportunity to get involved on campus! You may, however, find yourself perplexed in having to decide which one to choose.

The atmosphere was full of excitement and the desire to get involved was contagious. Every student I talked to was eager to share with me what their club or society was about, their experience, and happy to teach me something new about the community around me.

I still can't believe how many different booths I saw. From the:

• Marketing Club's superhero in a Morphsuit,
• The Latin American Student Association dancers,
• Fashion For Change,
• The Federation of Students' One Waterloo and Colour Me Educated stands,
• To the Arts Student Union, and much more!

There is something for everyone! You can check out a full list of uWaterloo's Clubs and Societies on the Federation of Students website to see which ones interest you!

As I left with my array of stickers, pins, candy and pamphlets in hand I thought to myself, it's not about buildings or reputation. It's about the students. It's about getting involved and making the most of your experience.

Inside the Student Life Centre, that is exactly what being at uWaterloo is about! 

This is my story. What does yours look like?

For many prospective students, today is the day you sent your applications in to the universities of your choice. While you continue to work hard and await those fateful replies, you may have mixed feelings whether it's apprehension, excitement, or both. I personally remember this being an anxiety filled time and so I thought I'd share with you my experience. We each have a story to tell and this is mine ...

Part 1

I remember being so conflicted when I began the search for a program, let alone a university! In high school I really enjoyed my business, economics, and accounting courses and so had begun to see myself in a business related career. And yet, knowing this, I found it hard to picture myself letting go of the social sciences and humanities that I had grown so accustom to and loved so much. But I thought that this is what choosing a program was about, choosing one area of interest over another. 

I began my Grade 12 year thinking: what a difficult decision! How do I even begin looking at admission booklets. Do I research Arts programs or Business programs? So I attended the Ontario University Fair in Toronto, still undecided and as confused as ever, until I visited the uWaterloo booth. I am not going to be cheesy and describe the moment I was introduce to the Arts and Business program as some heavenly epiphany ... actually it was kind of like that and I had to refrain myself from hugging the university representative I was talking to .... but I can mainly describe it as a moment of excitement and relief. Excitement for the future, and relief that I was able to find a program that appeared to suit me so well.

To say the least, it had summed up everything I was looking for: I would be able to take a variety of business courses from economics, to accounting, to human resources management while exploring courses in an Arts major that I could declare at the end of my first year. I would also have the opportunity to apply my learning and gain work experience in co-op, as well as having an option to specialize in an area such as Digital Arts Communication, or International Trade, just to name a few. I couldn't believe how many choices I had available to me through this program and in return the opportunity to acquire a very well-rounded education.

From that epiphany onward I am grateful that my quest was quite easy having found a program and a University all at once. As you may have done today, I pressed that apply button and kept my fingers crossed. I continued to discover that uWaterloo was not only a place I could enjoy learning at, but after several campus tours and visits, a place I could love living at! It was such a surreal moment to receive a package from uWaterloo that said, in big bold letters, “YOU'RE IN”, and yes, there was a great deal of jumping up and down. However, the work was not over yet!

Part 2

The panic began to set in. What will my Arts major be? There were so many options and areas that I found to be interesting. I couldn’t even imagine beginning to choose. Even though I knew you don't declare a major until after your first year at uWaterloo, I didn’t fully comprehend this and I thought I needed a set direction before going to university. So, I chose Speech Communications as my subject of major interest because, to be honest, I felt that it seemed to hold the most promise for a fruitful career in the future. But after a few weeks of classes, I realized Speech Communication wasn't the right fit for me. Now I was worried about what would happen next if I wanted to change my prospective major. Would I be able to? I've since realized that I had come into university with the wrong mentality.

My first mistake was being panicked about not having it all figured out. I am so grateful that I chose a university that emphasizes that it's okay to arrive at university with a handful of interests and to take your first year to explore them. My next mistake was choosing an area of interest not based on a subject I was truly passionate about. If I can give you only 1 piece of advice it would be that you can never truly succeed if you are not passionate and love what you do (and in our case, study).

And so, that's how I ended up here, half way through my second year in Arts and Business, majoring in Sociology (which I absolutely love!), and starting my first work term. Maybe my journey has been a lot like yours, or maybe they are very different, but at the end of the day it's important to remember: it's okay to be nervous. I definintely was. It's okay to not know 100% what you want your future to be like and its okay to change your mind.

Don't limit youself but instead look for new opportunities. Be open to new things and most of all... enjoy your journey. It's your story to tell.

"A beginning is only the start of a journey to another beginning.” - Unknown

Here comes a new year, bringing a new term, and new steps/adventures in our journey.

Hi!  My name is Kierra and I'm a 2nd Year Arts and Business Student majoring in Sociology and specializing in Human Resources Management here at the University of Waterloo (uWaterloo).  As the torch of Arts Communications Associate is passed on each term from one co-op student to the next, I'm honoured and overjoyed to have the opportunity, this Winter Term, to share with you my experience as an Arts student.

I've had an amazing journey over the past year and a half as I've discovered so much about myself and how to translate my passions into my studies. This is what uWaterloo and the Faculty of Arts offers and more! Looking forward to your future can be nerve-wracking; there is no doubt about that! However, uWaterloo is truly a place where students are supported in exploring all kinds of unique opportunities, while having countless resources available on and off campus. As a uWaterloo student you're provided with advantages and experiences that will benefit you long after your academic career comes to an end. And the best part? There is something for everyone here!

The uWaterloo and the Faculty of Arts has become my home and I hope you join me! Over the next four months I will be sharing with you about why uWaterloo and the Faculty of Arts is such an exciting place to be, taking you along with me on my Waterloo adventures, and sharing some of the tips and tricks of how to get the most out of your university experience.

There'll be many updates and interesting things coming your way, not only here but on our Facebook Page and Flickr.  

So ... lets begin!

~Kierra.