Flavour of The Month: Sweet Treats
We asked Thilini Leitan, our LFS Student Engagement Officer about her favourite treat.
What is your favourite flavour and why?
My favourite flavour is sweet. I have a big sweet tooth and love all types of desserts; my favourites are cupcakes or cake but I enjoy any type of sweet treat. Sweet treats bring me joyful memories spent with my family and friends. They often remind me to take a breath and slow down at times when life can be chaotic and messy.
How long have you worked in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and what is your role?
I have worked in LFS for about five and a half years as the Student Engagement Officer. Part of my role is to develop and implement student engagement programming for undergraduate students. I work with our students and student leaders on experiential learning opportunities outside of their courses and manage the LFS Academic and Career Engagement (LFS ACE) Team who coordinate and facilitate academic, career and wellness programming for their peers.
One program that I co-manage is the LFS Mentorship Program, collaborating with my colleagues, Niki Glenning (LFS Alumni Relations Manager) and Allison Mander-Wionzek, (LFS Career Strategist) This program provides an asset-based community development model to connect LFS students with LFS alumni and other working professionals. Mentees gain insights into their career options and are inspired when hearing the career journeys of our mentors.
My portfolio of work includes student advising, orientation and transition programming, all to enables students to develop their leadership skills and give them opportunities to gain skills and experiences outside of the classroom
How has your experience as a UBC alum influenced your work and perspective within LFS?
As a UBC alum I am able to use my previous experiences and knowledge to create programming that meets the needs of our students. As a UBC student I found opportunities to learn about myself and what I wanted in my career, and I have leveraged my knowledge to support the students I work with today. By building upon my UBC network and taking opportunities as a student, it have a great foundation to develop spaces were LFS students can grow and learn.
What activities, programs, and extracurricular activities were you involved in as a UBC student?
As a UBC student, I participated in many different involvement opportunities that guided me to the career path I have now. I worked in Residence Life as a residence advisor and residence coordinator where I assisted in creating safe, inclusive and supportive living and learning environments for my peers.
I also worked at Jump Start and Imagine UBC which are orientation programs for new-to-UBC students. I undertook a Work Learn student position with several different teams on campus, for example at UBC daycare and the Centre for Community Engaged Learning. All of my experiences outside of the classroom supported me in finding my career path and gave me many opportunities to network.
What is the highlight of working in the LFS Student Services team?
I am passionate about working with students and supporting their personal and professional development. I enjoy seeing students grow and learn about themselves, strengthening their skills and gaining experiences. I really appreciate the connections I make with them, and I’m always excited to be able to assist them in their journeys and hear from them when they become LFS alumni.
Do you have some top tips for students graduating next month?
Be kind to yourself and celebrate! I know students can feel a lot of pressure to land a job and particularly the “perfect” job right after graduation, but that is not always everyone’s experience. It definitely was not mine. I encourage students to be kind to themselves as they continue on their career journeys and acknowledge that every role will teach you about yourself and is valuable in its own way.
Finding a job can take time and it is alright if you do not find one right after you graduate. Celebrate all of the things you accomplished as a student and all the experiences and skills you have. You have done so many things and your career journey may not be linear but it is yours to discover.
And finally, where on campus is your go-to place to eat and relax?
My favourite place to grab a snack on campus is the Great Dane coffee shop, which is on the other side of the campus from where my office is. I get in my steps and enjoy the fresh air, plus I really enjoy getting a sweet treat, particularly their pear and white chocolate scone.