Risha Rohilla

Tag: education

  • David Guan: Empowering First-Gen Students in Higher Education

    David Guan: Empowering First-Gen Students in Higher Education

    My parents did not attend university, and while my older brother, did, he dropped out after his first year.  During my undergraduate studies, I looked at my peers in their lab coats, all looking comfortable and confident. Being swallowed by my ill-fitting lab coat only compounded the pressure to succeed and the consequences of failing. I questioned if I belonged in higher education and whether there was a space for people like me.

    When I found mentors on my journey who truly understood what it meant to feel like an outsider in academia, I felt safe, acknowledged, and recognized. Through their guidance, I began to view my background as a strength rather than a hindrance.

    Despite my initial feelings of inadequacy, I persisted in finding my place in higher education and developed an understanding of others who face similar struggles. I soon realized that one of my goals is to democratize access to education and provide mentorship so that those who might feel like the “other” don’t have to feel that way for long.

    This blog is one way to contribute to that mission. When I decided to create it, I knew I wanted to use this platform to elevate and empower underrepresented voices, just as my mentors did for me.

    I’m excited to share the first interview in this series, with David Guan. David is an experienced educator and administrator who has experience in educational program design at the K-12 level as well as post-secondary. For the last 12 years, David has been helping students reach and surpass their academic goals. 

    Q: Can you share your experiences as a first-generation university student when deciding to pursue a master’s degree? What led you to that path?

    David:

    I faced a set of unique circumstances and challenges as a first-generation university student. There was no one in my immediate family to learn from regarding post-secondary education. Once I got admitted to UBC, I was pretty much left on my own to navigate. Course selection, picking a major, decision to do co-op, whether to take summer school, what to do if I failed courses; these were all major decisions I had to figure out. I was lucky that my family was emotionally supportive during both my degrees and I was able to find mentorship and advice through my college friends and university resources to be able to make informed decisions on the other matters. After graduating from my B.Sc. Chemistry at the end of 2016, I explored the job market in Vancouver, BC and the economic situation at the time led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Chemistry at SFU. Although I don’t directly work in the field, the soft skills gained and the social and mental development of going through a rigorous graduate program have proven important in my career in Education and Business. 

    Q: How can students craft compelling personal statements that stand out? 

    David:

    Many schools are using broad-based admission to take into account accomplishments other than just GPA. I am supportive of this approach because I believe that each student is much more than their grades. They come from their unique experiences and backgrounds. My advice to students in crafting their personal statements is to be genuine. It’s your story, you should know best how to market yourself! Get involved early in meaningful extracurriculars that align with your interests and goals. By doing so, you will have plenty of content to showcase yourself when you apply for college. 

    Q: What struggles have you noticed that first-generation university students endure?

    David:

    I observe that many first-generation university students have been pressured into school by their parents. Oftentimes, their parents work a blue-collar career and they want a better situation for their children. This is very reasonable! However, sometimes the family pressures are overwhelming and students end up in degree programs they do not enjoy. Often, the students can grind their way through their programs and end up in financially rewarding careers but many times, the enjoyment of what they do is not there. They were influenced to be on that path early and it’s all they’ve known so eventually you reach a point where the barrier to a career change in your 30s or 40s is too overwhelming to consider. My advice to students is that you have a long working life ahead of you. As longevity, retirement age, and inflation goes up, this timeline is probably only going to extend. Money is only one part of the equation in life. You should strive to do something that you want to do! 

    Q: How can first-generation students take ownership of their education and set themselves up for success without paying for expensive mentorship/tutors/guidance? Are there any free resources you recommend?

    David:

    The reality of the situation is that growing up, my family did not have the financial capability to put me into personalized tutoring solutions. I got enrolled into low-cost summer group classes, and that helped me out. Other than that, I was a very competitive person growing up so academics was another outlet for me to compete with my peers. At a young age, students are sponges so I recommend that parents surround their children with meaningful educational influences (i.e. books, hands-on building kits, a group of friends to explore outdoor activities). These don’t necessarily have to blow a massive hole in your budget. Replacing some screen time spent on modern internet mindrot with family time walking in the park can be a gamechanger. 

    As students move into their teenage years, I recommend that you take advantage of your school resources. Of course, they aren’t as personalizable as a paid third-party solution but they are still there to provide you guidance. You can take the knowledge they give you and try to individualize it to your own circumstances and goals. Depending on your independence as a learner, some group studying sessions with your classmates may be sufficient to achieve good grades. For seniors in high school, there are a plethora of free resources online including Khan Academy, Codecademy, Duolingo, YouTube, Varsity Tutors, countless worksheet packages posted by teachers, and many more to help you study.  

    Q: What affordable tutoring/mentorship programs do you run and are available for students? 

    David:

    At Illuminate Academy, we have many affordable learning options for students. We are a community-centered organization and exist to inspire and cultivate interest in traditional school academics as well as learning in general through interest-based programs. Our goal is to not only to foster better students but to help mentor individuals so they can better thrive in the modern world. On our membership model, the rate for tutoring is as low as $58/hr. This is substantially cheaper than most programs in Canada. Included in the membership model is also unlimited access to our interest-based learning camps. In short, you get more high quality service for less! 

    Thank you to David for taking the time to share his invaluable insights and experiences! I hope this interview serves as a source of guidance and encouragement.

    And to all the readers, thank you for joining me on this journey. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and conversations to come!

    With gratitude,

    Risha

  • Life Lessons I Learned Coaching Kids in Sports

    Life Lessons I Learned Coaching Kids in Sports

    Children were my blind spot. I wasn’t around them nearly enough to understand their language. This was partly why I decided on a summer position at SportBall in 2022, coaching children and families. Two years and a promotion later, I am now responsible for mentoring our new hires. 

    Here are four lessons I learned as a SportBall Coach: 

    1. Engaging children and keeping their attention in a fun, silly, and conscious way. During my first training shift, I pretended to squawk like a chicken to explain an activity to a parent-tot class. Forced to throw my pride out the window, I felt slightly embarrassed before feeling liberated. Not only did I let loose and be goofy, but I brought smiles to everyone’s faces. I also learned that positive reinforcement is the best way to manage behaviors. If a group is wild and unruly, I look to find the children quietly waiting for instructions and announce that I like how they are listening and have their eyes on me. I watch the rest of the group promptly sit in line like dominoes. Praising and noticing positive behaviors can also be applied to life outside the gymnasium. Praising friends, significant others, and our peers makes them feel engaged and acknowledged. 
    2. The walls of a local community center nurture a sense of belonging. Last week, I met a mother and her five-year-old son, who moved from Iran to Vancouver 6 months ago. The young boy had previously enrolled in a Montessori soccer class, but his mom noticed he didn’t enjoy it. His mum stayed in the gym for the 3-5 age range class. He was laughing the entire time, with a grin reaching his ears. At the end of class, she shared her recent immigration story and had tears welling in her eyes. She expressed gratitude for me, the class, and the joy it brought her son. She leaned over and gave me multiple hugs. It was so endearing. SO heartful. This is why I love being a coach. 
    3. Patience transforms relationships. Patience is the ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay. I now know that it comes with experience and empathy. It can be frustrating when kids don’t listen to instructions or seem uninterested in participating. The most significant shift in my thought process happened when I looked at the WHY. When approaching situations in class, I seek to understand the player’s perspective, which allows for open conversations. One of my go-to statements is, “You can join in again when you feel ready.” Practicing patience helps us avoid becoming irritated and provides the ability to understand life from the perspective of another. By surrendering to the things we are powerless over, we can focus on what we can control–our thoughts and actions. 
    4. Consistency = Discipline = Freedom. The importance of a rule is learned by consistently having it enforced.  As simple as this sounds, it can be challenging to sustain. Following through with what we say we will do gives power to our words. Yesterday, I coached an energetic group of four-year-old boys who had trouble sitting still and waiting for instructions. I noticed their parents taking deep breaths amidst the screeching screams. I announced that we would not get special stickers if we didn’t do our best listening. This helped briefly. At the end of class, the boys are usually given two types of stickers. Once it was sticker time, I brought out one kind of sticker and explained why they did not get two choices. For the next class, they now know that if they use their best listening skills, they will have autonomy over which sticker type they choose. Though I am not a parent yet, I am thankful to learn that consequences teach the link between behavior and reward, which empowers them to make better choices in the future. 

    The lessons I’ve learned from coaching have extended beyond the sports arena. My experiences illustrate the power of purposeful support, demonstrating how it can build resilient kids who live more fulfilled lives. Empowering children with the mindset and tools for self-regulation will create a society where respect, love of the game, and teamwork take precedence.