Ekta: Learning Differently, Together Victoria Surtees

In this special episode recorded in Chandigarh, India, we catch up with Lovesangeet Singh Aulakh. After graduating from UFV and Fraser Valley India with a Bachelor in Business Administration, Lovesangeet returned home to India in 2018 to launch a successful start-up. Lovesangeet tells us how his experiences of receiving packages from his family shaped his current business, Countryside Express. He reminds us of the power of community in supporting international students who are far from their families and encourages faculty to make time and space to encourage young entrepreneurs like himself.

Mohammed Bearingwala, an analyst in UFV's IT Services and a UFV graduate, talks about the differences between his experiences in College in Mumbai, India and at the University of the Fraser Valley. Touching on grading, exams, tutoring, and course schedules, Mohammed shares insights and experiences that shift our thinking around teaching and learning.

Claudia Daboin and Nikiel Lal, Kinesiology students and former executives in the Student Union Society (SUS), talk about what it means to advocate for students and the importance of mental health. From the UFV breakfast program to Kickback, they share how students are supporting students in meeting basic needs and building community. They also provide us with important advice for instructors on creating a safe space to talk about mental health and remind us of the importance of recognizing students as humans first.

Dawn Nansumba, a varsity soccer player and nursing student, shares how she learned to use her voice as a student of colour. She reflects on how powerful it was for her when instructors acknowledge racialized experiences in the classroom and encourages faculty to find ways for students to tell their stories their way.

Shanga Karim, a creative writing student and journalist from Kurdistan (Northern Iraq), dispels myths about Kurdistan and shares what surprised her about her university experience... everything from the role of advisors to public campuses. She reminds us that immigration is also about learning to be a new version of ourselves, and provides some advice for faculty and staff who want to support students in that process.

Mehmet Ercan is a political science and media communications student from Istanbul. He shares how the earthquake in Turkiye impacted him and his engagement with school, encouraging us to think about how international students cope when disasters happen in their home countries. A strong advocate for study abroad, he also tells us how 9 months in the USA when he was in high school changed his life. He provides advice around using games to engage learners and teaches us a little about the Turkish language... and his love of cowboy boots!