"From Humber to York: A Journey of Learning and Growth in Canada"

Introduction

In 2023, I moved to Canada, prepared to live independently for the first time. It was difficult to adjust from India's mild weather to Canada's harsh winters. In addition to getting used to my new environment, I had to deal with the challenge of obtaining a job so that I could continue my education. I sent out a lot of applications and applied online, but I got rejected a few times. After two long months, I finally met my cousin, who assisted me in landing a position at the ice cream company La Diprie. Accepting this job was exciting for me because it would be my first in the food industry.

With a job secured I enrolled at Humber College's Lakeshore Campus in a marketing management degree. There was a gorgeous lake next to the school, which was serene and picturesque. Seeing students from throughout the globe was one of the most incredible experiences I had while attending Humber. The best part was that I got to meet individuals from all backgrounds and cultures, so it wasn't overwhelming.
The instructors at Humber were approachable, encouraging, and constantly willing to offer assistance. The campus was well-equipped, and I had a great time traveling there. Along the process, I made a lot of friends, and it has been a really fulfilling experience. In addition to offering me an excellent education, Humber College has been a place where I felt welcomed and inspired.

 A new academic journey began in January 2024 when I joined York University's School of Continuing Studies (SCS) for a Digital and Content Marketing program. This decision not only enhanced my professional competencies but also ensured a suitable work-study balance. The program coordinators were considerate of students' schedules, offering various time slots to accommodate different needs. One major advantage of SCS was its friendly environment. When I set foot on the campus, I felt it was the right place for me. The instructors are professionals in their fields and are always willing to help. The program boasts an educational curriculum focused on practical experiences, preparing students for the professional environment through face-to-face lectures, discussions, and other class activities.

Faculty and Campus Facilities

My professors significantly influenced my studies include Rahim Katchi, Melyssa Cummings Lipsey, Leigh Mitchell, Tim Campbell, and Doris Montanera. York University has one of the largest and multi-located campuses I have visited, with amenities like a TTC subway station nearby, a gym (membership required), fresh food options, and a common room with indoor games and a food court. There is a food court with various eateries known as York Lane to accommodate students and staff. SCS is well-situated and has a serene, spacious environment with trees around the campus. It has general and individual workstations, cafeterias, and washrooms. Regarding delivery of services, the help desk uses a QR code to make the inquiry process faster. These amenities are essential components of the educational process.

Key Skilled Learned and Their Real-World Applications:

• Website Analytics and SEO: In Rahim's and Melissa's classes, we learned about website analytics, social media listening tools, and SEO, which have provided me with insights into website performance optimization.
• Video Creation: Under Doris's guidance, I practiced scriptwriting and shooting captivating videos, enhancing my technical content and presentation skills.
• Content Creation: Doris also taught content writing, including blogs, articles, and social media posts, helping me develop a versatile writing style.
• Short-Form Content: From being involved with concepts on social media tools like Instagram and TikTok, I have learnt how to capture the audience’s attention and disseminate our messages within the shortest time possible.

Interactive Learning Experience:

At the School of Continuing Studies at York University, the students do not just listen to lectures. Rather, they are exposed to practical training through engaging workshops and group assignments where they get a chance of applying theoretical concepts in real-life scenarios.

Every instructor has his own way of fostering interactive learning. For instance, in Melissa’s class, we played Kahoot quizzes that helped us compete with one another as well as kept us engaged. In other cases, instructors facilitated brainstorming sessions that required solving complex marketing problems together, thereby improving our critical thinking. Additionally, we participated in discussions that analyzed present-day marketing trends and successful campaigns whereby we gained vital insights.

Therefore, these interactive aspects greatly help to integrate students who are keen on digital marketing into a community. This type of experiential learning is what has prepared us for actual challenges of a marketer’s job.

Expertise from Instructors and Professional Input

The faculty at York University is impressive beyond words. Their commitment to our education, and personal growth exceeds ordinary classroom teaching.

For instance, consider educators such as Rahim and Leigh. They went an extra mile by organizing guest speakers who gave us real life accounts of things that happened to them. In this case, we had sessions on branding ourselves and optimizing LinkedIn profiles towards getting jobs in the current market.

What makes this program different is that professors are approachable. Also, Leigh, Dorris and Melissa have all been so supportive; they always make time for helping me with my questions or assignments. I have not come across any other teachers who are as willing to support students at both academic and personal levels.

Career advancement

My professional growth has been so much influenced by this program. The knowledge of skills I now have help me move forward in digital and content marketing at the highest pace. They have further aided my discovery of other tools, adding an additional skill to my career—content creation and management. This program was a perfect opportunity for me to learn digital marketing tools which I yearned for. The most important thing that was facilitated by networking is that our lecturers organized in-class guest speakers for us. Therefore, students could interact with industry experts on a personal level. Teamwork was another crucial aspect because most projects were group-based, teaching us about how important it is to work together and communicate well.

Areas for Improvement

Although SCS is academically rigorous, there are areas where there can be improvement. Furthermore, they could organize more events and extracurricular activities to help students unwind after classes, make friends and learn some soft skills too. Moreover, quizzes would be helpful as there are no exams. More quizzes would mean more chances for good marks by students. The classrooms themselves are big enough; however adding more fans would enhance the comfort during summer time heat.

Tips for Future Students

I highly advise that you take the SCS Digital and Content Marketing Course. Educative as it is practical, with engaging lecturers and speakers who offer valuable insights from the industry. It’s an affordable program that attracts students from various backgrounds. Here are some tips for future students:

Get Ready for Group Projects: Group projects count up to 50% of my grade, so preparation and understanding your teammates is a must. The main goal is to do well, hence making teamwork effective.

Time Management: This involves balancing part-time employment with college. I used Notion, an app for recording all my homework on a daily basis and this is something I would suggest to others who take the course in future.

Join Classroom Activities: In-class activities are also important; therefore ensure you participate in them.

Conclusion

The School of Continuing Studies has been such a rewarding experience for me personally. The mixture of strong academic content, practical training and supportive learning environment had equipped me well enough for my upcoming vocation in digital & content marketing field.