Beginning my journey of lifelong learning at York University School of Continuing Studies was certainly one most profound experiences I have had throughout both my academic as well professional career. York University is known for being diverse and inclusive, while also offering a variety of classes aimed at appealing to anyone's interest or career goals. I will be reflecting on my 8 months of journey at York U, sharing the course I took and some of the things that would have made my journey easy at York.
HOW YORK U COURSE SHAPED MY PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
The course I opted for was January intake and it specialized in Digital and Content Marketing. The course is developed and prepared to offer hands-on experience and discussion of the specific material that has direct use in the real-life environment.
As a student in the School of Continuing Studies, my course had 8 different subjects, focusing on digital marketing techniques including influencer, paid, email, search engine optimization, social media, content, and so forth.
The journey was thrilling and enjoyable. The value of ongoing education in digital marketing was among the most important things I learned from the training. As soon as the course began, I could see how the material I was studying would be useful in real-world situations. I appreciated how the course balanced theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. With the help of our professors, we worked on real-world projects, developing marketing plans for actual companies, which helped build the gap between classroom learning and industry practice. One unexpected benefit of the digital and content marketing course was the portfolio of work I developed. The projects we completed in class and as group activities became valuable additions to my resume and will help me out during job interviews. It not only provided me with essential skills and knowledge but also opened my eyes to the exciting possibilities within the field. As I continue to grow in my digital marketing career, I'm grateful for the strong foundation that course provided and the passion it ignited at York University.
IMPACT OF EDUCATORS AND FRIENDS ON MY CAREER PATH
I now realize that the teachers who helped me along the road, rather than just the material, had the biggest impact on my career. The chance to study under professors who were not only experienced academics but were also pros in their domains was one of the most memorable aspects of my time at York University. Each professor added quality knowledge of real-world expertise to the classroom, enhancing our education with case studies and useful insights. Their knowledge, encouragement, and love of teaching were invaluable in helping me develop professionally and get through the challenges of my line of work.
Along with their knowledge, the teachers have a passion for what they do. They were pretty chill and understanding. Beginning to the end of the semester they were very helpful and went the extra mile to help every student who had a hard time understanding difficult ideas and prepare them for their academic career. They provided in-class assignments which helped us in attending classes and were present for all the activities in class which helped us in growing and learning every subject in detail.
I once had an emergency that required me to travel to see my parents in India. Because of the strict attendance rule in the classroom, I initially believed that the professors and teachers would not permit me to take time off. However, after I explained my circumstances, they all understood and gave me a 14-day leave of absence, which relieved me of a great deal of stress. Along with giving me all the course materials I needed for the assignment and supporting me with my portion of the presentation, my group members were also really helpful and cooperative when I arrived for the presentation. Overall it was an exciting and enjoyable time all around.
In addition, with so many students from across the globe, it also brings an added level of understanding in considering how wildly different cultures learn. I made a lot of friends during the course and my interactions with every person from diverse backgrounds and cultures expanded my views on a few things, opening up to me the kind of issues that were global in nature. My group mates were very helpful and cooperative as we face a busy life here due to the part-time job and studies, every group friend of mine helped me in this journey making it fun and exciting.
CHALLENGES FACED BY STUDENTS
While I had an extremely good experience at York University, a few issues stuck out for us students, like the lack of a smartphone app to keep track of different events and activities on campus. Also, there was not a proper student center or recreational room to play, relax, and spend their free time at the School Of Continuing Studies. While the university offers a vibrant academic environment, the lack of a dedicated space for students to unwind and socialize presented some hurdles.