Time truly flies so fast because I cannot believe it is the end of my second year in university and the end of my first year in GRS! It has been such a blessing to be in this class and I cannot be more excited to have GRS next year. Reflecting over the past year, I have learned a lot, not only from GRS but many of my other classes. In my sociology class I learned about the power of power; in my food and nutrition class I learned about the importance and processes of aspects of food science; in my land and foods systems class I learned how to interact with group members and stakeholders; and in my statistics class I learned how to carry out research techniques and prove whether the results truly are significant.

While I have learned some amazing new ideas and concepts throughout all my classes, some of the greatest things I have taken away from this year have come straight out of GRS. GRS has continued to push me and motivate me to be my absolute best and consider my actions in regards to others around me. I have learned the importance of serving people and that it is what motivates my heart. I have also continued to learn the importance of food security and the subtle complexities behind it. And beyond this, I have learned to have a greater appreciation for nature and the earth. How? During one of our classes, our class helped to move tools, posts, and plants from the old orchard garden to the new. Although I have worked in gardens before, I had never felt so happy to do so. I loved the feel of the earth between my hands. I loved working together with others to overcome a common goal. I loved that feeling of success, of fulfilling what was not thought possible which at the time was taking down several posts at once! It made me realize my passions truly were at the ground level, working with communities and holistic foods. It also reminded me how lucky I am to be in such a wonderful program with so many caring people – my classmates and also Roxana, Brent, and Mercedes. Although I knew this year would be full of new concepts and greater understanding of various events and situations, I never would have imagined being where I am today and being so happy about it. I still have a ways to go, but I know I will get to where I need to eventually with GRS.

So look out GRS, I will be back in third year, excited to learn more in September!

Instead of a class discussion in GRS, one night was dedicated to bringing people together regardless of age or faculty. A dinner was organized and many in the class, other professors, alumni, and organizations came together to discuss important issues facing the world. I found this to be such a rich experience to learn about a diversity of topics while also getting to know more people within my community. One of the things I enjoyed was just being able to sit down and eat together with people. Often times, it is hard to schedule a meeting, let alone a dinner, to spend time and connect with people while talking about issues such as sustainability and food security. It was also really neat hearing peoples’ personal experiences and how it related to where they are today.

The various issues brought up during the dinner were also fascinating and gave me an amazing opportunity to learn about new organizations. For instance, I never realized that immigrant workers had such difficulties receiving proper medical attention and that there was actually a clinic that set out to address this issue. I was so surprised to learn that this was something occurring locally, but also so proud that some compassionate individuals took it upon themselves to initiate something that could help these immigrants. I also learned more about the issues of fair trade and the benefits of community farming. Previously, I knew fair trade was beneficial to many rural farmers but I did not realize what strategy utilized the process best for the locals. After some discussion with people involved in that field though, I was happy to learn that those farming in a community were more successful since they were able to have a larger say and have a stronger collective voice. Moreover, this also allowed for more support and connectedness among the farmers, which I also believe is a key aspect to successful farming. In this sense, the dinner was a great night which facilitated many great conversations and got many brains thinking!

Just before the end of the night, I remember being able to draw with my group on the paper table covers as well as on the blank canvas, which ended up being one of the many highlights of the night. Our group member ended up drawing some (fair trade) fruits around the earth to signify the importance of fresh, wholesome food. As well, one of the people in my group wrote in Chinese characters, “Do you know where your food comes from?” which is an important question that everyone should consider. Where one’s food comes from not only affects you and your local surroundings, but also situations worldwide. I also want to note that the group member who wrote in Chinese was not Chinese but took it upon himself to embrace other cultures and languages – truly inspiring and a great example of what GRS is all about!

All in all, the night was a success and such a fun way to learn and connect. I hope that I can continue to make time to learn more and share more ideas with others in order to move forward and make more sustainable choices that better the world.

During one of our class discussions in GRS, we talked about the various cultural contexts and ideas. To start, I remember Roxana explaining how she came to Canada and how she had limited financial support initially. Looking at how for she has come from that time is truly admirable. On the other hand, it also reminds me of many others who want to chase the, “American dream.” Those often in less economically developed regions see North America or Europe from the lenses of commercial movies or music, often only considering one side of the storyline. Rarely do people see both the good and bad aspects, blinded by the golden dream where it is believed everyone lives a perfectly affluent life, without any forms of corruption in the government and no people suffering or living without basic needs. I find it so difficult and heartbreaking when people are set on the belief because often times, people leave their family and home to be in a harsher environment where they feel in order to belong, they must rid themselves of their own culture. The fact that globalization has increased rapidly over the past few years does not help the issue.

At the same time, I realize that this is not always the case. Both my parents came to Canada from a country far away, China and Poland, yet managed to settle in Canada happily and are living relatively well currently. Throughout the process of settling in Canada however, they have never forgotten about their roots or where they came from. Both often still carry out many of the same traditions they held at home which I find to be a huge blessing. I think that everyone should remember where they have come from and where their family are from; it is an important piece that shapes who you are. It is also important to consider a dynamic interaction with one’s past; not simply just remembering, but acting in response to it. There is so much traditional, cultural and rural knowledge that many of us often overlook and once generations pass, it may be too late to recover them. Addressing these issues is something I hope to be able to work on in my future career. I myself am still learning about my own family history and I hope no one ever loses that passion.

In one of our GRS classes, an alumnus of UBC came in as a guest speaker to talk about his experiences so far after university. Although I do not remember his name, I remember the topics and ideas of discussion, many of which have really stuck with me. The speaker talked about how he has visited multiple countries in Africa, but he always tried to make it a point to use the country’s name rather than simply saying he had visited Africa since every country is different. I never really thought about the importance of this point previously but when he brought it up, it made a lot of sense to me. Context is always changing, whether it be continents or countries, especially over time. In that sense, it is important to be specific and consider the cultural, temporal, and geographic implications of each situation.

Another point he brought up was how important it is to stick with your values and hold onto your integrity. I also strongly believe in this idea and really appreciated when he said that when you go to work, you should always remember why you went initially and if you do not, it may be time to finish up your career there. One should always be one hundred percent committed and dedicated to their job, not any less. The cost can often be your income or even your life and in that sense, it is important that you believe in what you are doing all the way through. Otherwise, the outcome goals of your work and your own well-being or accomplishments may not reach its full potential.

One of the most significant things I took away from the discussion was when he said that if we are in a position to serve, we are in a place of privilege. Many people are not in a position where they are able to help others, not having the means to do so. This message really spoke to me and I hope to always be humbled and remember how I have always lived fortunately; I have never been without a home, I have never been hungry, I have never been unable to meet my needs, which is something many in the world cannot easily say. He also talked about how we should forget about the large corporate logos and just remember that it is about serving others. A large brand name holds no meaning if its only goal is financial profit rather than truly caring for others and the world. Moreover, he brought up the point that there is always room for improvement in your work – the people you are serving deserve it. When put this way, how can you not push yourself to do better, to try harder? At the end of the day, it should always be about the people you serve.

With all the meaningful points brought up in the discussion, I really enjoyed the class. It was a great reminder of the importance of context, sticking to your values, and most importantly, how our work should ultimately be about serving others before yourself.