I’m Anthony and coming to UBC last September brought a lot of changes. I really enjoyed my transition to university, and the Trek program greatly helped. Many aspects of my life changed moving to university, one being that I no longer could volunteer in my own city. When the Trek option (out of the discussion section option or Trek option) presented itself, I was eager to be engaged with my new community.
My Trek placement was at Visions 180 at Grandview Elementary School located in the Grandview Woodlands community in East Vancouver. The Visions program is an afterschool care program that provides a variety of fun and educational activities for the students as well as an afterschool snack. The Visions program provides the community a minimum cost afterschool care program to grades two to six students from 3 until 5 pm. At visions, I made and gave out the afterschool snack, as well as assist with the “super science club.” Participating in the Trek program allowed me to continue being engaged with the community, got me off campus, introduced me to a variety of amazing children and adults, and helped me learn a lot about myself and the world.
Living at UBC this past year, I found it was very easy to stay confined to the wonderful little city of the campus. Staying inside the boundary of the campus, it was quite able to forget what the world was like outside. After quickly getting comfortable going to school and living here, I found myself existing in a little bubble separated from the world off campus and all of its qualities, the great and not so great parts. One reason that I encourage participating in the Trek program is that it will help get you off campus. The Trek program also helped me navigate my first year here at UBC. By participating in Trek, I strengthened my connections with my peers also doing Trek at the Trek dinners and our discussion meetings.
If you have the option to, definitely participate in the Trek program. Even though it might seem like some effort and a time commitment to travel to a placement, it is definitely worth it. The Trek program attached to Sociology 100 was truly enriching, the course content materialized through my many experiences at my placement. The TREK option greatly supported me in many aspects, one being academically. Looking back at the learning outcomes from the syllabus for Sociology 100, my experiences through the Trek program significantly enhanced my learning. I believe that enhanced by the Trek program, I have acquired a better understanding of “the intersection between biography, history and social structures” (Greer). As well as how to appraise “how your own experiences have influenced your assumptions about society and situate your own life choices and chances in a sociological context” and have explored “sociology’s powerful message that each of us has a personal responsibility to either accept society as it is, or change it for the better” (Greer)
What I learned in class became more than hypothetical and became tangible. In front of my own, I saw examples of gentrification, welfare, social class and education, that were discussed in class. I strongly believe that by experiencing the class subject matter, I got a deeper understanding and connection. What we were learning about had more meaning as I was observing and immersed in the challenges we were studying. Also, the program let me offer what I could to the people I was meeting. The Trek Program for me, was a great way to expand my network of connections. At the placement, I met a variety of great students, teachers, volunteers (some of which were from UBC), staff, and community partners. Through meeting all these people, I made valuable connections.
I am continuing my connection to my placement, even with the end of the Trek program. I have created a relationship with the people that I do not want to give up. I really appreciate how Trek has let me to offer what I could to the community. I am very grateful for the opportunity, the relationships that I have built, and the chance for me to grow. If you have the option to, definitely participate in the Trek program.