Why was the Leadership Workshop Great for Students?

By: Fanjing (Lydia) Lu, Student Member

Fanjing (Lydia) Lu gives a reflection of the OHEA leadership workshop on November 17, 2018 held at Brescia University College in London, Ontario.

Participants had the opportunity to learn so much from the speakers.

Why is this workshop is great for students? 
The leadership workshop, Career Leadership by Influencing the Community, hosted by the Ontario Home Economics Association (OHEA) provided students the opportunity to learn more about themselves, upgrade our career profiles, get to know our interviewer better, and connect with professionals in our field.

Career Development
One speaker, Cathy Enright, shared many career development tips with participants. Participants practised their elevator pitch and were encouraged to rethink our value proposition and passion. Students tend to question what we can do with our degree. We constantly forget what our passion is and what we want to do with our careers.

The moment Cathy finished her presentation, I ordered the book Strengthfinder 2.0, which she recommended to read. I was inspired by her saying that she is a “maximizer”. I realized how important it is to know ourselves when we are young. Everything we do would be so much more meaningful if we have more understanding of who we are, and what we want.

Non-profit Organizations
It is a knowledge building experience working for non-profit organizations!  Cailin Whincop from Girls Inc. of Durham gave us a comprehensive introduction of non-profit organizations in Canada. I realized some of the organizations I volunteered for are in fact non-profit organizations. I did not know that before coming to this workshop!  

My biggest take away for this is the more information I have, the better image I can showcase to others, and I can market my personal brand.

My Final Take Away
I realized that Home Economists are the first ones to advocate for consumer rights, which to me is very impressive. Many students at Brescia University College can apply to become Professional Home Economists (P.H.Ec.). It is valuable for us to have the knowledge equipped and learn more about how students can make changes!

​I strongly encourage students and young professionals to attend these events, seek out opportunities and connect with like-minded people. Just like what Stacy Olesky said, “be open to possibility, opportunities, and even the signs.”

There is much more than what we can expect.

About Fanjing(Lydia) Lu:
I’m currently in my fourth year of Honors Specialization in Nutrition and Family Studies at Brescia University College. I knew of OHEA when I switched my program to Human Ecology. It was the one of the most brilliant decisions I had made as I realized how important it is to do things I’m passionate about.

​I am now involved with Student Life Centre as Mentee in the Professional Mentoring Program and was one of the Wellness Education Peer last year. I have also involved in a few other community organizations in London throughout my years at Brescia. I strive for the opportunity to learn and develop, and hope to make changes in the community.