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    July 17, 2024
    Paulina Cano Cazares, Student Applicant Support

    Meet Paulina: My Most Memorable Experience as a UCalgary Student

    Transitioning into a university environment can be quite challenging, especially when you realize you are starting your first year in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. Regardless of the social challenges presented by it, I can confidently say my experience at the University of Calgary has been truly unmatched. It is here at UCalgary, that I got to learn more about my passions and ambitions and how to achieve them successfully.  

    Going into my fifth and final year of my Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, I can share that my courses have been both immersive and multidisciplinary. I’ve had the opportunity to learn two modern languages (French and Arabic), to specialize my education by studying a specific region (Latin America), and even explore thematic courses in security, strategy and international organizations. As an aspiring diplomat, this academic path has been incredibly fulfilling and fruitful. Along the way I’ve also discovered new interests that led me to customize my degree – adding Anthropology and History as minors and Latin American Studies as an embedded certificate.   

    However, my most memorable experiences have been centered around my involvement with several Student Union clubs, such as the Latin American Student’s Association (LASA) and the Faculty of Arts Students’ Association (FASA), where I created a sense of belonging, unity, and community in my overall cultural, personal, and academic experience. At first, as a student coming from Mexico, it was a bit challenging to find people with similar cultural backgrounds, but through these clubs I had the privilege of meeting like-minded peers and creating lasting friendships I still cherish.  

    Another highlight came this summer, when I was given the opportunity to volunteer as a Campus Tour Leader and welcome both prospective and newly admitted students to campus. From showing them where their classes will be, to letting them in on a few campus legends, and most importantly, sharing about the culture and lifestyle at UCalgary, it was fun to share my experience and familiarity about life as a Dino with prospective students and their families. I now work with the Undergraduate Admissions team, greeting applicants and prospective students as they enter the Prospective Student Hub to discuss their decision to choose the University of Calgary, just as I did five years ago. I could not have asked for a more extraordinary, supportive and inclusive team.   

    This is my final year at UCalgary, and I can proudly say my experiences here have been nothing if not successful and abundant. I hope to hone-in all of the hard work, dedication, and insight I have practiced here and integrate it all into my future endeavors. 


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