Undergraduate / Activity or employment opportunity / Queen's Commerce contribution / decision to persevere & to quit [6]

QUESTION 1

Choose one extracurricular activity or one employment opportunity you have listed above. In 300 words, or fewer, describe the impact of this experience and the greatest learning outcome for you.

I have traveled to over 25 countries and volunteered in Cuba and Ecuador. In the summer of 2015, I volunteered at a school and taught English to children in Cuba. I brought study materials, pencils and books to the children to improve their learning experience. I helped the children with their English by being patient and having a positive attitude. I learned from this experience to treat every student with respect and dignity no matter their situation. I had a mix of students some better learners than others. I learned to adjust my lessons to each student and provide them with individualized learning. I realized that not every student learns at the pace of their peers. Teaching students in Cuba expanded my horizons and I became more open-minded to people. Working with students from a different culture allowed me to foster empathy towards others. The greatest learning outcome I had working with children from impoverished areas is that realized how lucky I am to be living in Canada. Some of the children did not have proper clothing or books and I helped them in this area. Having good people and interpersonal skills is important in business and education to maintain rapport with students and staff. My ability to work collaboratively with other teachers was important in my volunteer work. Working collaboratively with others is an important skill to have especially in group work activities and projects in the Commerce Program at Queen's University. I enhanced my knowledge of working with others in difficult situations when colleagues did not understand the course material, were not patient with others and did not listen to others. My volunteering in Cuba had a lasting impact on me and I wish to share that with others in the Commerce Program at Queen's University.

QUESTION 2

Based on your research about the program, what contribution do you plan to make to Queen's Commerce? Please answer in 300 words or fewer.

I would like to make a positive contribution to the Queen's Commerce program. My choice is to be apart of the QMAC Marketing Conference - the largest undergraduate marketing conference for universities in Canada. In my first year of studies, I want to become a delegate to the program. Learning about the process of the conference is important to me. It would give me a foundation for future positions in the conference. In my third and fourth year of studies, I want to become a Speaker's Coordinator and have a Co-Chair position. Having higher positions of authority in the conference would strengthen my interpersonal and organizational skills. During my time at the QMAC conference, my goal is to bring in quality speakers and enhance marketing knowledge for delegates in the future. I want to support students and provide them with many professional marketing opportunities.

QUESTION 3

In 300 words or fewer, describe a situation in which you made the decision to persevere, and a situation in which you made the decision to quit. What did you learn from both experiences?

When I was tutoring a Grade 4 student in French language, I had a difficult parent. The parent was always asking me questions about what I was teaching and constantly checking in with me about the student. I remained cool and collected with the parent. Although it was difficult at times, I decided to persevere. I realized that I was competent and brought a lot of experience to French language instruction. The parent was overly concerned about their child and I understood that. I showed the parent my qualifications, lesson plans and materials for the student. After a while, the parent backed off and gave me the lead with the student. I learned that sometimes it is not always good to come to conclusions about people. I have to put myself in the parent's shoes. The parent might have some reason to become concerned over their child's learning. I learned to never give up and keep going despite obstacles.