Self-Reflection
Description of the experience, activity or event:
I attended a networking event called the Hub Networking Mixer at the Ted Rogers
School of Management campus on Monday, October 23, 2023, from 12 p.m. to 2
p.m. This event provided students with an opportunity to meet and network with
recruiters from seven different organizations who were educating us about the
exciting co-op, internship, and new graduate opportunities they had available. Their
primary objective was to engage students with their programs and benefits, and
possibly hire some students to work in the summertime. This event was a valuable
experience for me as it allowed me to exercise and develop my curiosity. Although
my initial intention was to simply engage in conversation with others, I found
myself becoming increasingly intrigued by the organizations present and the
benefits they offered as I became more comfortable with my surroundings. I chose
to attend this event to gain a better understanding of co-op programs and their
benefits. My aim for attending was to become more familiar with co-op
opportunities in general, as I find them intriguing.
Feelings and thoughts about the experience:
As someone who struggles with social anxiety, being around a large crowd can be
daunting. Naturally, I felt a bit nervous and anxious at the start of this experience.
However, being in the company of my friends helped me stay calm throughout the
majority of the event. We took the opportunity to ask the recruiters questions about
co-op programs, which added to our knowledge and made the experience
worthwhile. Afterward, I felt a sense of relief knowing that I had gained valuable
insights into certain programs. I feel that I have achieved my objective of
understanding the numerous benefits these co-op programs offer and now have a
better understanding of what I would like to do in the future. During the event, my
goal was to acquire knowledge that could help me make informed decisions post-
graduation. I wanted to feel more comfortable asking questions, as I've been too
scared to do so in the past.
Evaluation of the experience, both good and bad:
In my opinion, this experience proved to be informative as it aided me in
understanding the various co-op programs that are available and their advantages,
which can assist me in securing a promising career in the future. One of the other
good highlights of this experience was connecting with a recruiter who studied
business management at Toronto Metropolitan University. They provided valuable
