Humans of TRU

Logan Ira Yake, from Fort St. John. Bachelor of Arts in English and an undecided minor. . . Off record, we talked about how you went right out of high school into school and then took some time off and are now coming back. Maybe dive into a little bit of that? .... I came here right after high school because my parents said they would pay for it right out of high school. So internally I was like, I much rather not pay for it myself yet. Though I quickly realized I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I wasn’t really ready. I had no idea what I wanted to study or do. I mean I was 18. I wasn’t really a person at 18. I’m 26 now and I still feel like I’m 18. . . What really made me come back? I was working as a truck driver. I absolutely hated it. I mean it's not like I absolutely. I enjoyed parts of it. But overall I wasn’t happy. So yeah I figured to give it another shot and try something different. . . How has university made you more self-reflected of yourself and how has it helped you grow in so many ways? . . I think the biggest thing University has done for me in self-reflection is giving me time and the ability to do that self-reflection. Especially in the English program. It’s a very personal thing. To be in your self-worth within your writing or assignments. It's all your words and that’s all you are. I mean you’re more than that but I hope you get the point from that. . . What’s something going on in your life that you’d like to share with the HoTru Fam? . . I’ll say this. I feel like the discussion around mental health is really really important., I’m reading a book called For the Love of Men by Lis Plank. It's about the toxic ideals of masculinity and how men don’t share enough with each other. They don’t talk about these things internally. . . So recently I started going to counseling. That’s one of the biggest things in my life recently. That has been so sooo good for me. I absolutely recommend someone should get a chance with it. You really can have someone who can help you untangle your mess. And I really hope we as a society become almost more like that kind of talk. If more went to counseling I think we would see each other better. We’d be able to reflect on those conversations we have with our own counselors and then relate them to everyday conversation. . . Lastly, I’ve been doing a running theme on this sonder video. Just speech about whatever comes to mind after watching it. See more

Narain Spolia, born in Vernon but raised here in Kamloops. Majoring in physical geography and environmental studies. Also, a supplemental learning assistant & peer academic coaching. . How do you think volunteering can help you grow as an individual? . So, volunteering, in general, has been such a big part of me and who I’ve become. At TRU specifically, it wasn’t really until the second year that I started to get more involved. At that time I didn’t really know a lot of peop...Continue reading

Reese Miyamoto-Mansfield, working towards her education degree. Part-time scholar, full-time baller. Technically in their first year, but don’t ask her about it. Transferred from the University of Tel Aviv in Israel. . What brought you to TRU & Kamloops? . I was born in Israel but I’ve actually been in Kamloops since highschool. My dad is from Canada in the first place. I’ve been a part of this community for quite a while and even work part-time as an elementary teacher. I’m... even involved in this silent auction in an hour. Its to help raise funds for the Indigenous tribe who are struggling over hereditary laws and are trying to ward off a pipeline. . My friend (Brock Butcher) is just in the social work program and he was one of the coordinators or something like that so... I went to high school with him. He’s actually my neighbour. I’m really interested in it too. But I heard it from him. Yeah. .. What made you want to become a teacher? . I used to do this thing called one to one reading, which is a program they do in BC where volunteers spend their time with kids who aren’t super good in reading. Like a little bit lower down than where they should be at or ‘should be at’, . So you spend one on one time with a student who isn’t very good at reading to help them build their confidence in reading. they should be at or ‘should be at’, . So you spend one on one time with a student who isn’t very good at reading to help them build their confidence in reading. . It wasn’t a paid thing, but it’s a volunteer-based. I used to do that alongside my studies and then I realized, oh this is actually really awesome! The kids are super funny and cool so, haha and then I decided maybe I’ll do this for money. . When did you start doing that, in high school? . Yea I started, let me think It’s gotta be at least 4 or 5 years now. Yea. I’ve only done it for 3 and a half but I took a break in between. . So if money and abilities weren’t a problem, what would you do with your life? . You know, probably nothing ideally. I don’t know, I honestly don’t know. I think I would enjoy still working at a school even though I wouldn’t need to just coz I really like the environment. I like being around people with impressionable minds because they’re so funny. They’re really funny. See more

Jenna Lee Churchill, from the one & only Armstrong B.C. #Represent. Studying History with a major & English as a minor. . As an Armstrong aficionado, when did you fall in love with the city? . I think I’ve always loved Armstrong but don’t think I appreciated it until I left. When I’ve talked to some people, coming to Kamloops wasn’t that big of a deal but for me it was a huge change. It was just like crazy different. While I’ve learned to like Kamloops and it has grown on me ...Continue reading

Lauren Christie, from St. Albert, Alberta Canada. A third-year Bachelor of Tourism Management. Student wellness studies ambassador in the Wellness centre. . What is the wellness centre and what brought you into the field of wellness and mental health on Campus? . I wanted to join the wellness centre because I lived in residences last year. I watched people become very unwell to say the least. I watched people move away from home for the first time and lacked support essential...Continue reading

Shawn Read is originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada and is a long-term Chair of the Career & Experiential Learning Department at Thompson Rivers University. . What can you tell students about the Career & Experiential Learning Department? . The Career & Experiential Learning team is a pan-campus department that is dedicated to helping students connect to experiential and work-integrated learning opportunities. We have a number of programs and services that we off...Continue reading