I wouldn't be surprised that I wound up in the provincial government, as that was always somewhere I thought I wanted to work. My undergrad self however, would never have envisioned this type of work in public engagement, as it really wasn't even in the realm of ‎my imagination at that time, but I think I would smile and say "that's pretty cool work."

I had zero exposure to a post secondary environment prior to showing up for my first day. I hardly knew anyone who had attended Memorial and I had never even set foot on campus before‎. In spite of that circumstance, however, I was determined to figure out what I needed to know so I found myself buying the University Calendar (you had to purchase them in print form for $5 from the bookstore then) and reading it from cover to cover many times. It was filled with lots of helpful information and where to seek out specific help for academic and student-life issues. I also lived off campus and had roommates that I was thankful were going through a similar culture shock so we were able to lean on each other.

I sought out many of the on campus support centres such as the Writing Centre, math tutorials as well as the services of the Registrar's Office and Academic Advising Centre. They were always helpful even if only to reaffirm a decision I was considering or reassure me I was on the right path. I also utilized the employment centre and volunteer bureau to help find part-time work on campus and gain skills that were instrumental in preparing me for entry into the workforce after graduation‎.

Yes, many on multiple occasions. They played a very important support role over the course of my undergraduate degree.

Many people may be surprised to hear that I really had no extracurricular activities in my time as a university student. I was a bit of a late bloomer and didn't discover volunteering or public service until my final semesters at Memorial. If I had to do it over I certainly would have made better use of the opportunities to be more engaged, not only because I later learned how influential those experiences would be in shaping my career, but also because Memorial has such diversity of options to choose from.

The summer before my final year I accepted a summer job as a student assistant in the Dean of Student Affairs Office. I was one year away from graduation and my resume had no way to demonstrate what skills I may have had. Despite having to pay rent for the summer (which pretty much took all of my pay cheque) I knew I needed to build my resume with real experience, positive references and skills that would be relevant after graduation. I credit that decision for being the tipping point to the career path I've experienced since. I gained fundamental skills about working in a professional, office environment that I still draw upon every day. It also helped me identify my own strengths and interests. That summer (and the two semesters following where I continued to work part-time) was a defining moment in my career.

No, but I wish I had.

While it's important to be practical about your choice of area of study, you must choose an area and courses that ‎you have a natural curiosity for. You must be interested in learning about the subject. Otherwise you won't make it through those tough periods of hard work and discipline that comes with any type of advanced education. Having a genuine interest in what you are learning, will greatly enhance your success.