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Passion Exploration Action Plan
The University Experience Panel (UEP) is a grassroots initiative led by high school students and alumni in Richmond. Our vision is to make choosing post-secondary programs easier and our mission is to help high school students gain insight on different post-secondary programs. We hope to achieve this goal by providing high school students with an opportunity to connect with current post-secondary students who will share their experiences on being in a post-secondary student and aspects regarding their program.
​We decided to focus on senior students because they face many difficult decisions in their final year of classes. Some examples include deciding what to do after graduation, applying to post-secondary institutions, researching school programs and finding work or volunteer opportunities that will benefit their future. In addition, this group has also been especially impacted by COVID-19 as avenues to find help with university applications have decreased, extracurricular activities have been removed or transitioned to being virtual, and graduation events have been modified. Therefore, it is imperative we assist high school seniors through this difficult period. Prior to the pandemic, activities that connected high school and university students were already limited. However, the pandemic has suspended the few present. Through these networking opportunities, we hope to instill confidence in students before they enter post-secondary.
Speakers
Minaho Chiew
Minaho is a Youth Development Coordinator with the City Centre Community Association. As an active member of the community, Minaho will be sharing her experiences and insights on community engagement and opportunities. She will also go over values and communities of care, building solidarity through community power/capacity and resources for reaching out.
Cayley Stewart
Cayley is a Youth Development Leader with the City Centre Community Association. She has had a diversity of experiences working within the City of Richmond, many of which were offered as a result of her connections. From her first volunteering position to where she works today, networking has played a crucial role in her professional journey.
Tarek Ghazzaoui
Tarek is a building engineer with over 10 years of experience in Design Technology, with a keen interest in business management, change management and innovation. Tarek had the privilege of working with and managing interdisciplinary Business in Management teams of up to more than 70 members on major construction projects ranging from $200M to $2.2B, including airports, hospitals, and factories.
Henry Yao
Henry Yao was elected MLA for Richmond South Centre in 2020. Through his work with several local youth-focused organizations, he has helped youth to develop career-building and leadership skills, while fostering a deep desire to better their own community. He has worked hard to make sure young people have the opportunities and mentorship they need to thrive.
Alyssa Chen
As a current UBC medical student and pharmacy graduate, Alyssa has undergone many rounds of interviews in the academic and professional fields. She will be sharing the skills she has learned through interviews that have allowed her to form meaningful experiences through volunteer and work opportunities.
