Rachel Yu reflects on how working at the UBC Learning Exchange grounded her lessons in political science.
Name: Rachel Yu
Pronouns: She/her
Learning Exchange role: English Conversation Program Co-op; English Conversation Program Assistant Work Learn
Faculty: Arts
Program: Political Science
Hometown: Manila
- How did you hear about or get involved with the UBC Learning Exchange?
UBC’s co-op program does workshops for your first work term where you write a CV and do an interview for a sample job position. I chose the English Conversation Program (ECP) assistant position because it was like work I had done previously, tutoring kids in English. The workshop went reasonably well, so when I saw the listing for the actual position, I thought I may as well apply, and I got a response back! It was funny that it worked out like that. - What did you do at the Learning Exchange?
What didn’t I do! I helped coordinate the English Conversation Program, helped set people up in sessions, and led the choir. But what I took away and what I did were different from my expectations and job description. I didn’t expect to do as much community engagement, becoming more aware of the area of Chinatown and learning about its history. I got to connect with the local community there, including newcomers to Canada and immigrants, and learn about their experiences. Choir was my favourite part, though. It was a weekly gathering with Chinese seniors where I helped them learn English through music. I loved being able to share that experience with them. - Did your understanding of the Downtown Eastside change? If so, how?
I wouldn’t say that what I knew was surface level, but when you’re not living in or frequently around the area, what you know is what is presented to you in the media. So, I had a certain perception of the Downtown Eastside. Being in the space and engaging with the community allowed me to appreciate it more, and getting to know members of the community was really impactful. It shows you a much richer perspective of what the area is: it has so much history and character! That was really fun for me to learn.
I had the opportunity to visit the Chinese-Canadian museum on Pender Street and that was big for me as someone who is also Chinese. My family wasn’t a part of that wave of immigration, but that’s my community. Seeing the progression and history in Canada was important to me. Chinatown and the Downtown Eastside have become really special to me. It’s a space that holds a lot of memories and when I go there, I feel a connection. A lot of people can pass judgement about what the Downtown Eastside is without spending time there. But actually being there, talking to and engaging with the people in the community, it’s so much more than what we are taught. - How did your experience at the Learning Exchange influence your academic and/or career path?
I thought I was going to go straight into my master’s because I didn’t have a strong idea of what to do after graduation. I wanted my first co-op experience to help me figure out what I did and didn’t like doing. What I didn’t expect was liking it so much! I felt very personally and professionally fulfilled at the Learning Exchange.
Being a political science student can get demoralizing at times: you’re faced with so many big problems and questions and it feels like you have no ability to change anything. You can get lost in theories without real-world applications. Work at the Learning Exchange allowed me to focus on the present, my community, and what is in my control that I can do. Career-wise, I definitely now know that I want to be involved with and doing hands-on work in the community. And academically, this job has made me more hopeful. I want to ground my studies in Vancouver, focusing on local issues and how we can benefit the city. At the Learning Exchange, I met so many people that impacted my experience in a positive way. - What do you think the Learning Exchange may have learned from you?
I feel confidently that I taught people something with my choir. We were able to laugh and not take ourselves too seriously. And we were a tightly knit group: if you stopped by, you could see how much we connected with each other. We used music to get to know each other and find joy. I had the opportunity to translate Chinese songs for us to sing in English. Those songs meant a lot to all of us and became a way to learn how to tie different cultures together. And I did hear from the English Conversation Program coordinator that, come our performance, the choir sang the loudest she had ever heard them!