Student Success Month | Spotlight 3
Sometimes the hardest part of our academic journey is admitting that you can’t do everything on your own. This Student Success Month, discover that support doesn’t just help you survive the semester it helps you thrive. For students like Krish Bhalala and Lou Hofer, seeking out help was key to navigating unfamiliar territory and staying on the path to success.
Lou Hofer, a 2nd year graduate student in the Faculty of Education, recognized what their blind spots were when it came to academic success based on past experiences. “I wanted to be a more efficient student. I came to UM having had a very difficult time asking for help in my first degree,” says Lou. “Something I really struggled with was citations.”
Having these ideas in mind, Lou decided to talk with their professors who offered guidance and suggested resources. “This time around I made sure to look at the syllabus and note our course’s citation standards. In my last degree I struggled with asking for help, but this time around I did more research on resources and connected with my professors.”
“If you’re struggling, go to your prof and ask if there are any additional resources that they would recommend.” One such resource, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) was another aid in their journey. “The ALC has citing guides on the website that helped me,” Lou adds. “If you don’t know where to start, contact the ALC. Whether it’s content you’re struggling with or creating routines, they have strategies for academic success.”
Likewise, Krish Bhalala, a third-year computer science student, had faced a different kind of struggle in his first year at UM. “My first-year grades weren’t as good as I wanted and I was taking this stats course for data science but my prof didn’t always attend office hours. I was struggling with the assignments.”
At the time, Krish was still looking for resources that could help him succeed. “I asked the TA how to improve in the course and that’s where I learned about the Stats Help Centre where my TA was a Help Centre Leader. Once I went to the Stats Help Centre things started to click,” Krish says with enthusiasm. “The Help Centres aren’t limited to one topic either. They’re interdisciplinary. If the content you’re learning has a topic that is covered in that course, you could go to either the Stats Help Centre or Math Centre.”
Both students now encourage others to use campus supports early and often. Krish says, “Look for one entry point if you’re struggling. You can reach out to your professors and ask how to succeed in your course or for appropriate resources based on your needs.”
At the UM, asking for help isn’t weakness it’s wisdom. During Student Success Month, we aim to celebrate students like Lou and Krish who remind us that asking for help isn’t the end of the road, but the beginning of a greater journey.