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“I really loved the movie, Cars. When I became a member of the Grebel Orientation Committee, I knew straight away that Cars simply had to be the O-Week theme,” explained Isabel Song, a third-year Honours Science student who lives at Conrad Grebel University College. “Planning O-Week required significant time and effort, but when I sat in the Grebel dining hall, watching the movie Cars, surrounded by Cars-themed decorations, people wearing Cars-themed t-shirts, after a week of Cars-themed games, and skits performed by people in Cars-themed costumes, I knew it was all worth it.” 

Isabel is quite involved in the Grebel community. Along with being a member of the Orientation Committee, Isabel is also a Grebel Ambassador, serves on the Chapel Committee, sings in the Chamber Choir, is rehearsal pianist for the upcoming Grebel musical, co-leads Tuesday Night Worship, and assists the Chapel Choir Director. Regardless of her busy schedule, Isabel prioritizes school by treating her Grebel extracurriculars as breaks from studying.  

She realizes that having activities that aren’t studying that she must commit to, is a healthy approach to university life. Isabel’s peers are also willing to help her out when stepping back from a role becomes necessary due to school. 

Being a leader is a way to give back to Grebel. As a leader, Isabel has developed new skills, saw examples of effective leadership through her peers, and learned more about herself and what she wants to do in the future. “I have realized that I find work most fulfilling when I’m directly interacting with people, something that was really apparent when I was working as a Don and as an Ambassador. In contrast, this past summer I worked as a Research Assistant, and while it was interesting, it lacked the interpersonal connection that I’m looking for in a job, which is valuable to know.” 

“The community at Grebel is what makes these roles fun, because you get to work with and learn from other creative and community-minded people, so much so that it often doesn’t even feel like work at all.” added Isabel. “In all honesty, I’ve had so many leadership roles because what goes on at Grebel just happens to coincide so well with things I already enjoy and want to be involved in. I would hear an announcement calling for applicants for a leadership role at a Community Supper, think to myself, ‘that sounds kind of cool,’ and the rest is history.” 

“Extracurriculars have made my university experience so much richer and more enjoyable. The things I will remember from my years at university are certainly the opportunities that I have been a part of, the skills I have developed, and the friends I have made,” Isabel noted. For prospective students, Isabel emphasizes the importance of balancing school and extracurriculars by getting “settled at school before taking on too much. I didn’t hold any leadership roles in my first term. But once you get the hang of the whole school thing, you should find places to get involved!” 

“For activities and causes you are passionate about, there is undoubtedly a club or group of people who enjoy it also, and it’s worth your time to seek these things out or create them yourself,” added Isabel as a final thought. 

By Tasbiha Ansari