The word 鈥榙edicated鈥� comes up a lot when people talk about Computer Science student Brandon Poole.
It鈥檚 no wonder: Brandon is so involved with activities outside of classes that he says he sometimes forgets he鈥檚 a student.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much going on, so much to be a part of 鈥� it鈥檚 easy to feel at home in this community.鈥�
In his first year, Brandon joined the C (CSS) as secretary, now he鈥檚 society president. He鈥檚 been a teaching assistant every semester he can 鈥� he loves teaching. He鈥檚 also working as a communications assistant, managing the faculty鈥檚 social media accounts.
Impact that resonates
For Brandon, it鈥檚 all quite intentional.
鈥淧eople think they have to go out of their way to volunteer but I think change on a global scale, which everyone seems to want to do, can really start where you currently are. So, when you鈥檙e a part of something that is very localized like the CSS, you can build that in such a way that it affects people outside of your faculty.鈥�
He sees the Course Representatives idea as an example of that. As CSS president, he鈥檚 working with Associate Dean Academic Christian Blouin to address issues within classes when they come up, instead of waiting to discover problems through course ratings at the end of the semester. At the start of the term, they reach out for volunteer Course Representatives from each class.
鈥淲e give them a handbook with all their resources so they can act as a funnel to ensure issues get to the relevant people.
鈥淔or example, let's say you鈥檙e a CR for a course I'm in and I say, 鈥楬ey, this due date is unreasonable but I'm afraid of talking to the prof because I don't want it to reflect negatively on me.鈥� The CR takes this information and anonymously passes it on to the prof, who then addresses it either with the CR or with the class as a whole. It works and it's amazing.鈥� Now other faculty societies are watching with interest.
Reaching for goals
Brandon discovered Computer Science in grade nine when the option came up as a recommended career choice on an aptitude test. 鈥淚 loved computers and when I realized I could spend my life on computers I thought that sounded great.鈥�
The only problem? Brandon wasn鈥檛 a big fan of math and the Computer Programming class offered in grade 12 required advanced math and pre-calculus. Brandon really wanted to take that class, so he decided to put in the work.
鈥淚 knew it was going to get harder and harder,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 goof off because I had to get the skills that would help me get through the next class.鈥�
Just as he was about to achieve his goal, the Computer Programming class was cancelled. Though disappointed, he decided to shift his focus to getting into his choice of university, hoping he鈥檇 like computer programming when he got there. He did.
Vibrant community
Any doubts Brandon had about his choice of major were quickly erased when he got to the Faculty of Computer Science and discovered the incredible sense of community. That鈥檚 one of the reasons he鈥檚 passionate about contributing.
鈥淓veryone gets to know your name, especially if you come to the Learning Centre,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 don't think you'll find that in very many faculties, that space where people aren't always competing and they'll set aside 20 minutes to help you with a first or second year course. People really care and I think that's a very rare quality.鈥�
Brandon also speaks highly of the co-op program. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if I鈥檇 have any of the options I鈥檒l have if I didn鈥檛 do co-op. I have lots of industry contacts from my placements.鈥�
His dedication and ingenuity have earned Brandon the Faculty Leadership Award, Computer Science Society Leadership award, Citizenship award, TA award and elusive Root award 鈥� only given out every few years to a student who has made a lasting impression in the faculty.
Brandon realizes that level of involvement isn鈥檛 for everyone, but he encourages new students to approach their university experience with an open mind.
鈥淭ake your first year to see all the opportunities around you, discover what interests you and be really dedicated to that one thing. To actually build something takes time and understanding and if you're too spread out you won't be able to make the opportunities happen.鈥�