André’s story

Enhancing the student experience for peers through Jump Start program

By UBC Public Affairs

André’s story
CategoryStudent
NameAndré Tate
FromJamaica
ProgramEconomics
ActivitiesStudent Representative at Association of Professional Economists of British Columbia, Sauder’s Finance Club, Jump Start student leader

 

If André Tate, a fourth-year economics student from Jamaica, had one piece of advice for the international students arriving at UBC this week, he would tell them to just dive in.

Getting involved in campus life made Tate feel “empowered to do many things.”

Tate found the transition to UBC and Canadian culture difficult. He spent a good chunk of first year hanging out in his residence room alone, a radical change from his academic life in Jamaica. Before beginning second year, he decided to volunteer to be a Jump Start student leader, helping the incoming class of students with their transition to university.

Many international students who end up at UBC are leaders in their high schools and communities back home. “They often have high expectations for themselves at the post-secondary level but coming from different cultures and circumstances means that they need some additional support,” says Caroline Rueckert, program director for Jump Start, a program that helps to ease the transition to UBC and Canada. They also have the opportunity to connect with their Faculty and build important relationships that will serve them throughout their UBC careers. Throughout first year, students are grouped together by faculty into Learning Communities and meet regularly with two peer mentors and a faculty mentor. This helps build a community and provides additional support to help students navigate their studies.

“It gave me a chance to break out,” Tate says, explaining that after Jump Start he plunged in to other extracurricular activities.

He joined Sauder’s Finance Club and became the executive in charge of sponsorship for the Pacific Venture Capital Conference and Competition. He spent a summer volunteering with a venture capitalist and has been elected to the board of the Association of Professional Economists of British Columbia as the student representative.

Tate also wanted to do something to enhance the student experience for his peers. He hopes to bring influential economists, like a representative from the Bank of Canada, to UBC so economics students can hear about their work. “Meeting people who are doing what you want to do is inspiring,” he says. To make this happen, he founded the first Canadian chapter of Oikos International, a student-run organization that focuses on sustainable economic management.

Ultimately Tate intends to return to Jamaica where he hopes to use what he’s learned and experienced to strengthen the country’s economy. He is one of only five students from Jamaica studying at UBC and it was only because of an International Leader of Tomorrow scholarship that he had the opportunity to pursue studies here.

“I know so many friends from high school who could do so much but the money is not there for them to get the same experience as me, to come to a school like UBC,” he says.

Students from over 150 countries study at UBC. The university boasts such global representation in part because it offers support for students like Tate, who are from regions like Palestine, Vietnam, and Swaziland, where there is less opportunity to study abroad.

“We are living in an interconnected world and today’s students will need to work with people from a multitude of backgrounds and experiences,” says Angela Redish, vice provost and associate vice president, Enrolment and Academic Facilities for UBC’s Vancouver campus. “To provide UBC students with a true opportunity to engage as global citizens, they must have the chance to meet students from every corner of the world.”

Photo: Martin Dee.

Read the full story at UBC News.

Latest Stories

Previous
Richelle smiling on the stairs at UBC Okangan

Arts student Richelle on studying Indigenous Literature at UBC Okanagan

student

Arts student Richelle on studying Indigenous Literature at UBC Okanagan

"UBC has given me countless amounts of opportunities and support throughout my academic journey. Specifically, within the Indigenous Program Services Department where I was able to create community and connect with other Indigenous students." - Richelle A-B., Bachelor of Arts
Rahman sitting on stairs at UBC Okanagan

Manufacturing Engineering student Rahman on how his passions helped shape his university experience

student

Manufacturing Engineering student Rahman on how his passions helped shape his university experience

"The close-knit community of the campus fosters a very supportive learning environment. I find it very easy to get to know people here and have personalized interactions with both my profs and peers which have been very instrumental in my success so far. The natural beauty of the Okanagan has encouraged me to integrate more outdoor activities into my life, which I find helps my mental and physical health. Overall, the Okanagan campus has not only been a place of academic growth but also a source of personal development. The connections I've made and the skills I've developed here are invaluable and something I will be carrying with me for a long time in life." - Rahman G., Manufacturing Engineering

Global Resource Systems alum Julia on the benefits of a smaller faculty

alumni

Global Resource Systems alum Julia on the benefits of a smaller faculty

"My program, Global Resource Systems, was the perfect fit for me, as I got to apply my passion for sustainable food systems with environmental science, all while focusing on real-world action through an interdisciplinary lens. I was encouraged to take my learning outside of the classroom and apply my learning in other settings, and with so many options, it meant that I could create the exact right combination of experiences to fuel my aspirations and unearth new goals along the way." - Julia T.
Elleda standing in front of a concrete wall

Political Science student Elleda on why transferring to UBC was the best decision she ever made

student

Political Science student Elleda on why transferring to UBC was the best decision she ever made

"When I originally came to UBC as a transfer student, I was unsure of what I wanted my academic and career futures to be. I had just spent a year studying musical theatre in the United States, and realized it wasn’t the right path for me. After taking a campus tour of UBC Vancouver and speaking to the incredible student ambassadors, I knew transferring to UBC was a step onto the right path. Two years later, and it is the best decision I have ever made, though it was extremely scary and nerve-wracking at first." - Elleda S., Political Science
Noah reading a book in the Indigenous Centre

Supporting Indigenous students in higher education

Inspiring educator Noah on pursuing his passions to help Indigenous communities
alumni

Supporting Indigenous students in higher education

"My passion to support Indigenous educational methodologies allowed me to work with my local Syilx community building more connections between community and education for Indigenous youth. This passion drove me to build relationships across both campuses and use UBC’s vast web of connections across the globe to earn credits, work experience, and conduct research to shape my own unique educational experience." - Noah C., Bachelor of Arts
Peter I standing on stairs at UBC Okanagan

Transitioning from Nigeria to the Okanagan

A Computer Science student in the Faculty of Arts, Peter gets to pursue what he loves at UBC Okanagan
student

Transitioning from Nigeria to the Okanagan

"Coming out of high school, I knew I absolutely loathed physics, wanted to avoid math at all costs, and loved solving complex problems with computer science. As such, finding out about the Computer Science major in the Bachelor of Arts at UBC was monumental for me because it meant that I could tailor my degree to prioritize my strengths and help me avoid my weaknesses." - Peter I., Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Abby with her laptop on the UBC Okanagan campus

Embracing new opportunities

Management student Abby on discovering her passions at UBC Okanagan
student

Embracing new opportunities

"The ability to be in a smaller tight-knit community while having access to the resources of a larger intuition is a large reason as to why I chose the Okanagan campus. I love being a big fish in a small pond and getting to pursue different opportunities in a competitive yet supportive environment has allowed me to put myself out there, learn from my mistakes, and more importantly try again! I also love that I’m not just a number, my faculty and professors know me by name and we’re able to have meaningful conversations about their research, shared interests, and their journey of getting to where they are today." - Abby N., Bachelor of Management
Jamie walking outside the Longhouse on the Vancouver campus

Inspired to become a better person

How Jamie has connected her Kinesiology degree with her Indigeneity
student

Inspired to become a better person

"When I chose to study Kinesiology at UBC, I knew I wanted to find ways I could connect my degree with my Indigeneity. Throughout my degree I have been a member of multiple committees that promote equity and diversity for Indigenous peoples, taken courses directly related to Indigenous health & wellness, and have learned from numerous Indigenous professors and mentors in Kinesiology. All of these experiences have strengthened my desire to use my degree to connect with community and advocate for Indigenous representation in health and physical activity spaces." - Jamie C., Bachelor of Kinesiology
next