Science Student Leader: Rosha

Meet Rosha (she/her), an Integrated Sciences student who first volunteered as a First Year Orientation Leader and later returned as a Senior Orientation Leader. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and playing cards.

If you’re interested in getting involved in the science community like Rosha, check out the Orientation Leader role.

What did you learn as an Orientation Leader that you'll carry with you beyond your role? 

As an Orientation Leader, I learned how meaningful it is to connect with new people and create a welcoming environment for students beginning their university journey. Being someone who new students can depend on for guidance and support while navigating a large campus, such as UBC, showed me the impact that mentorship and reassurance can have during such a big transition. This experience helped me grow into a stronger communicator and made me more aware of the needs of those around me, which are skills applicable in both an academic and professional setting.

What was your favourite part about being an Orientation Leader? 

I think my favourite part was the friendships I built along the way. Two of the other Orientation Leaders in my group became my friends, and working alongside them made the role even more enjoyable. It was a great feeling to have some more familiar faces on campus and know people from different programs and backgrounds, and it was especially rewarding to see all three of us return as Senior Orientation Leaders!

How did you feel that your leadership made an impact? 

I approached my Orientation Leader role with the perspective of a first year student, focusing on sharing practical tips and advice that I wish I had known when I first arrived at UBC. It was really rewarding to answer students' questions and watch them go from feeling nervous at the start of the day to becoming more excited and confident as they learned where to go and what resources were available to them. Some students even reached out to me later in the year for guidance, which made me feel like they saw me as someone they could trust and depend on. 

What pleasantly surprised you about the Orientation Leader experience?

Looking back, what surprised me most about the Orientation Leader experience was the impact it had on me and my personal growth. The role pushed me to grow not only as a student but also as a person, and it motivated me to challenge myself further by returning as a Senior Orientation Leader. Over my two years on the Imagine Day team, I met so many incredible people, developed valuable communication, mentorship, and leadership skills. I'm very grateful to have had that opportunity.   

Minor edits may have been made to responses for grammar or clarity.