Early on in my undergrad, one of my favourite professors told me that the best thing that you could do for your future self is to have published works under your belt.
Sure, he was talking to a class of communication studies undergraduates and sure, having any kind of writing experience in the communications industry is a major asset. However, I believe more than anything else that this holds true to just about everyone.
As a student with a million things on the go, the last thing that anyone is able to think about is spending time writing a piece to be published. I get that. When you’re juggling between assignments, midterms and paid work, you’re spread entirely too thin. There are barely enough hours in a day to do the work that you’re responsible for.
There are many other reasons that you can use for not making the jump. It can be daunting to share a story that you’re passionate about with your peers, let alone sharing it with such a large audience. It can also be intimidating to join a new network of people who are already established.
There are so more many reasons to put yourself out there, however.
Getting work published not only links you to an organization, but it also builds your network, broadens your reach and enables you to connect with a pretty significant range of people. Once you have a piece in your name, you have an edge on other candidates for jobs, volunteer opportunities and have a stronger pool of individuals to network with.
If that scares you, don’t sweat it. When I first started writing for a publication, I would be so nervous to send my piece out for editing with the thought that any criticism would mean that I’m not a good writer. When my piece would be published, I would turn my phone off so that I wouldn’t be able to see any bit of critique.
Over time, I learned that criticism is crucial to becoming a better writer and since then, I’ve been able to leverage myself with my experiences contributing to different publications to become a better-rounded individual.
One of the easiest ways to get your name out there is to contribute to your campus media organization. If you have a story to share, a piece you want to investigate further or even something you want to bring attention to on or around campus, connect with us. The Silhouette is always looking for volunteers.
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Devra Charney / Silhouette Staff
Mac students have been working off campus and volunteering in a new frontier: North Hamilton.
The Hamilton branch of Frontier College, which promotes reading and literacy in high-need areas of the city, is undergoing plans to start a new homework club program beginning in October 2013.
Community Coordinator Shannon Stevens said that it aims to partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton in order to reach out to more target areas. Stevens emphasizes the importance of the University to the success of the literacy programs, as the majority of volunteers are McMaster students.
“We’re exploring one program in the community at their Sanford location, and we’re exploring a possible school partnership, but we haven’t decided which school. So it will be similar to our other homework club structures where it’s a registered program, kids come, and we help them with their homework after school.”
Volunteer tutors from Mac are needed from September until late spring, as the Teen Homework Club continues to operate in the Central Public Library in May and June in order to help high school students prepare for final examinations.
Frontier College runs nine programs in Hamilton during the school year, largely aimed at new Canadians and students for whom English is a second language.
Fourth-year Arts and Science student Chetna Mistry is an organizational team leader for the Dr. J. E. Davey Elementary After School Homework Club. She sees the program as necessary for a demographic that would otherwise face difficulties in keeping up with schooling.
“The Dr. Davey program is unique because it serves students in mostly underprivileged communities. We get a lot of refugee immigrant students who are at really low reading levels, and that requires our volunteers to be extra aware of their situations and willing to really help out and be really patient with them.”
Gerry Smith, Principal of Dr. Davey, agrees that the program plays an important role for students and parents as well as for the school system. It fills a need in Hamilton’s downtown district for students whose parents are unable to help them with schoolwork.
“In our school, we have a lot of people who, at home, school wasn’t exactly their thing, or they’re new to Canada and aren’t able to support their kids, so at least for twice a week we have an avenue where kids can go and get the support with the homework they need. And that’s invaluable.”
He added that it gives students who lack the motivation to do their homework the chance to study in a constructive environment where help is readily available. The volunteers are able to provide the one-to-one attention that many of his students need in order to focus on their classwork.
“A lot of these kids don’t do a lot of structure, or you can’t count on them to do homework at home, so it’s an opportunity for them to go somewhere and also just get an extra push with reference to curricular objectives that they wouldn’t if they just went home.”
