At some point in your college search, you may have thought to yourself “Where am I going to live?”. Well it turns out, you’re not alone. Being new to Kamloops for me meant that I had to secure on-campus housing. On-campus student housing is an important aspect of the college experience. It provides students with a sense of community and a convenient location close to classes and activities. Student residences at Thompson Rivers University offer a variety of options to suit different needs and preferences, each with its own unique features and amenities. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at three of these on-campus student residences: North Tower, McGill Residence and East Village.
Co-op also known as cooperative education at Thompson Rivers University is a way to integrate applied knowledge into your degree known as work terms. Work terms are paid work experience that are either four, eight, or twelve months long and are typically related to your degree. After successfully completing three work terms or a total of twelve months you will be awarded special designation on your degree. For diploma programs you must complete two work terms to be awarded this designation. Co-op opportunities are offered in various programs, a list of which can be found here.
What is the Process?
Before applying for jobs you must complete a one credit course over the time of the regular semester (13 weeks or 6 in the summer). This course helps you build skills such as creating a resume that employers look for, writing a cover letter that applies to the position, working on interview skills so you are comfortable in this position, and much more. After successfully completing the course you are now eligible to apply for potential work opportunities. These can be found on a site TRU uses called Career Connections or on Indeed.
My Experience doing Co-op
I completed my class the Fall semester in 2022 and did my first work term in the Summer 2023 semester. Before applying for jobs I had a mock interview with one of the career ambassadors and I found this really helpful to prepare me for the real interviews I had. I applied for a few different jobs but chose to do a work term at the Future Students Office at TRU. The previous semester I was a Future Student Ambassador and this really helped me understand the basics of the job and what needed to be done. Some of the responsibilities I had was managing our social media pages and creating content to post, revamping the summer tour program, and leading both group and individual tours. I got to learn so much about TRU and the different departments which I found really interesting. I also learned new skills during my work term and how to use different platforms such as Microsoft Excel, WordPress, and Business Suite. After completing this work term I decided to come back as a Future Student Ambassador in a Team Lead position and so far I am loving it.
Benefits of doing Co-op
Co-op is a very unique and beneficial program to do during your degree. You gain relevant work experience while still being a student that looks good on a resume when you graduate. Many times students are offered positions after graduation from their co-op work terms especially if they complete more than one work term at the same company. If you aren’t someone who takes summer classes doing a summer co-op work term is a great option. Co-op is a great way to prepare yourself for the workforce while trying out different opportunities and getting paid to d so!
Pet owners are aware of the benefits of owning an animal, and the beautiful bonds of companionship that can exist between humans and animals. Moving away from home to a new place can be challenging. Leaving friends, family, and pets can be one of the hardest adjustments to overcome. We’ve all heard people say that pets are “just” animals, but they miss us just the same. Leaving our furry friends at home is difficult.
Applying to university can be an exciting experience. You are imagining what classes you will take, how you will decorate your dorm, and picturing all the fun things you will do with your friends. But there’s one thing you may not be thinking about just yet; How you will budget for all of this.
Luckily, I have already been through this, so in this blog I will go over some options and examples on how to budget for university.
As a TRU student in research, you get a unique, hands-on experience within your chosen program. Not all post-secondary institutions offer research positions to undergraduate students, but because TRU is all about building connections and sparking creativity, anyone can take part! There are even grants and awards given out each year that can help fund your education. Research is not just for science majors… there are plenty of opportunities within other faculties as well.
How to Get Started
Start the conversation about your interest in research with one of your favourite professors. You can also contact the TRU Undergraduate Student Research Office – they are happy to help! Most students wait until their 3rd or 4th year to partake. However, if you are an eager first- or second-year student, you are more than welcome to start the conversation too. You can also apply for the Research Rookies program to begin your journey, and later on become a Student Research Ambassador.
Why Do Research?
Research has many real-life applications that can transfer over into your future career. It can instill and foster a passion for helping others. It would also help enhance your presentation, networking, and communication skills. In upper-level years, you even have the chance to travel to various conferences across Canada to share your discoveries and hear about other research projects as well.
Types of Projects & Areas of Research
Areas of Research can include but are not limited to:
Science – microbiology, chemical biology, organic or inorganic chemistry, nuclear physics, human physiology, applied mathematics, etc.
Arts – geography, psychology, sociology, language and culture, etc.
Business – international relations, accounting, entrepreneurship, marketing and communications, etc.
Projects that have been done in the past at TRU:
Converting by-products to energy and using the leftover waste to make a fertilizer.
Understanding the relationship between canopy structure and hydrologic flow paths.
The discovery of why natural mortality in marine invertebrates is so much higher during the juvenile stage than in the adult stage.
Creating inclusive sport programming and identifying the barriers to participation.
Exploring the importance of receiving a traditional name.
And hundreds to thousands of other fascinating projects!
Competitions & Conferences
TRU Undergraduate Research Conference
In a Nutshell – Undergraduate Thesis Competition
Undergraduate Research and Innovation Conference
The Canadian Society of Microbiologists Annual Conference
Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition
The Western Division Canadian Association of Geographers
There really are too many to name!
What is Entails
Getting involved with research looks a little bit different for everyone. Remember, this is your educational journey, so make the most of it! TRU is a community empowered by research. Regardless of what you are studying, you can put forward ideas to be incorporated into the project, work on your research project during times that work best with your schedule (dependent upon your supervisor), collect data and analyze the results, document the critical information found in a professional manner, and most importantly, have a profound impact on your community.
Personal Experience
My experience with TRU student research thus far has been a success in multiple ways; I get to work in a chemical biology laboratory, apply the knowledge I have learned in class, meet new friends, and most of all, do what I love! Doing research has allowed me to explore various branches of science, as well as challenge my intellect. It also supplements my studies in more ways than one – expanding my horizons, going above and beyond what is covered in lectures, letting my curious mind wonder – the possibilities really are endless, and they can be for you too!
Written by Future Student Ambassador, Kayla. Posted on December 6th, 2023.
If you aren’t like me and didn’t grow up in one of the best places to enjoy winter (cough cough Kamloops), then let me take you through some of winter activities you can do in and around Kamloops that will make you love the winter months. All of these activities are outdoors and always more fun with a friend!
Harper Mountain
Harper Mountain is a ski resort is 30 minutes from campus and offers lots of activities for a full fun day in the snow. Harper is known for its night skiing and insane tubbing tracks. Harper Mountain is close to Kamloops and has a cozy resort feel.
Sun Peaks Resort
Next is Sun Peaks Resort. Sun Peaks is a bit further away from Kamloops at a 45-minute drive. However, the drive is definitely worth it as Sun Peaks is the second largest ski resort in all of Canada. The skiing here is to die for, seriously I’ve been skiing here since I was little and I’m still not tired of its terrain variety. But if you’re not into downhill skiing, don’t worry Sun Peaks offers many other activities such as:
Skating
Tubbing
Dog Sledding
Nordic Skiing
Sun Peaks is a destination resort right in our backyard! There is so many activities and not to mention the bustling village that you can ski right into and go shopping.
Other Activities
If you’re not into the ski resort vibe don’t stress, there are plenty of winter hikes available around Kamloops, skating on local lakes, and yes more Nordic skiing at Stake Lake. If winter is not your favourite season, it can be just dress for the weather and go have some fun!
It feels like my future student days were ages ago, but it was only Fall 2019 when I first applied to university. From Fall 2019 to Fall 2022, a lot has changed. First off, I’m not in high school anymore, and secondly, I am now a TRU graduate and a 1st-year student in a completely different TRU program. When I initially applied for university in Fall 2019, I only submitted one application to one university. I put my full faith into that one application, and although that seems stressful, I was applying for a non-competitive program, and I was confident I would be accepted. Amongst the non-competitive programs TRU offers, I was applying for the Bachelor of Arts intending to major in psychology. My parents really wanted me to go to university and my sister suggested psychology could be of interest to me.
Whether you grew up in Kamloops or the city is new to you entirely, I’m sure we all struggle sometimes when it comes to picking out the best spots in town. Lucky for you, I love food and I love going out to get food. Especially since it means I don’t have to cook it! Thus, here we have: Abby’s Stars – Restaurant Edition. I’m about to tell you my top 3 favourite places to eat in Kamloops using my favourite star level rating system. Each of these restaurants have a variety of dishes that are sure to attract your tastebuds, while staying in your student budget!
With the Fall semester behind us, winter is well and truly upon us. Although there are lots of lovely things about the winter season, it’s easy to forget them in light of darker, shorter days, and cold weather. So if you’re looking for some fun ways to beat the winter blues, here’s a list of four things to do in Kamloops this winter. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life, or you’re new to the city, you’re sure to find something that will give you an excuse to go out, grab some friends, and have some fun this winter!
Do you ever want a little bit of time for yourself? As university students, we feel a lot of pressure with assignments, work, and keeping up with our family and friends. Sometimes you may feel you cannot rest even in your own room, but let me tell you that you will not be alone. We all feel the same at one point in the semester. However, I want to let you know that there are places on campus where you can relax and chill for a little bit to restore your energy and complete the semester.
