Student Success Month | Spotlight 2
At UM, success isn’t just measured in grades. This Student Success Month, we’re highlighting the stories of Luke and Iman Jarkas. Connection and community helped turn a challenging start into a thriving student experience for Luke and Iman whose journey toward finding belonging and building connection began once they reached out and got involved.
Iman, now a 4th year student in the Faculty of Science, remembers the culture shock that came with transitioning from secondary school to university in her first semester. “In high school you know everybody and then you come here and feel almost paralyzed. I think a lot of that comes from now knowing what’s out there.” An opportunity for connection arose when Iman applied to the Qualico Bridge to Success program.
“The program is catered toward first year Indigenous students. Some students in the program come from places where they’re close to their communities and coming to UM can be a big culture shock,” she says. “The program helped build community and connections, and with transitioning into that first year as smoothly as possible.”
Iman has always loved the idea of helping other students. As an upper years student, she feels fulfilled getting to act as a peer mentor for other first year students in the Bridge to Success program.
Luke, a 4th year of his Computer Science degree, faced similar challenges with building a sense of community in his first semester. “In my first and second year I was really hungry for that community experience,” he explains. “I didn’t really know anybody at UM, but connecting with TAs in my courses was really helpful. Getting involved in student groups was huge for me.”
A conversation with one of his TAs introduced him to the Prairie iGEM Team. “It was a great opportunity to learn and meet students in other departments. It really opened my mind to what is possible—it’s one thing to go to school and learn whatever it is you’re studying, but it’s a totally different thing to try and build a project out of those skills. Community was a big part of iGEM, it was a way to meet people you wouldn’t have otherwise and make some friends.”
Both Luke and Iman have attended UM events that furthered their sense of involvement in the campus community. Iman volunteered for Welcome to the Herd to give new and prospective students tours of campus. “This opportunity was a game changer for me. I like playing an active role in the community. That volunteer experience had an impact on me and led me to the mentoring life.”
Likewise Luke discovered that events are readily available if you look for them. “There was a poster up in Armes that said ‘come see this talk’ and I signed up! The event had a local CEO as the speaker. It was a useful way to understand the industry that I’m heading into and a really good experience to meet other students.”
If you’re looking to gain a sense of community at UM, Iman offers these words of wisdom: “Building connections, going out and trying new things, are all investments for your future and your mental health. We’re all in it together.”
Student Success Month reminds us that wellness and connection isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether it’s through campus events or joining a student group, the journey to finding belonging begins with one small step.