When the 39th University Rector, Niki Boytchuk-Hale, spoke on stage at Duncan McArthur Hall—our largest auditorium on campus at my orientation—I didn’t fully understand what the Office of the Rector did, but I knew I wanted to be part of it. There was something different about seeing a student leader welcome the incoming class with such sincerity.
The office’s motto, “Be a leader and a servant,” stuck with me and has completely reframed what leadership looks like to me. This mantra was displayed clearly throughout her speech to the arriving students as Niki didn’t just speak as the Rector; she spoke as a Concurrent Education alumni, someone who had walked the same path that I was just beginning. What stood out most was how she emphasized that your program doesn’t define your path. There’s no single “right way” to do university, and there are more ways to get involved than you might think. For example, her first campus job was at the Queen’s Pub, and somehow it led her to gracefully represent over 30 thousand students to the university administration.
Inspired by her speech, I asked how I could contribute to the office. A few months later—after a formal application and interview process—I joined the team as the Rector’s First Year Intern. Initially, I thought I would be doing very stereotypical “intern things,” like coffee runs and printing. Instead, interning with the Office of the Rector has been one of the most rewarding parts of my time at Queen’s. I have had a hand in reforming student supports through the Rector’s Bursary, coordinating logistics for the most prestigious student honour, the Tricolour Award, and contributing to work that prioritizes student voices, like promoting the on-campus, provincial, and national elections that all occurred within weeks of one another.
As someone who has made themself available to countless students, a piece of advice I’d give to any first-year student would be to get involved. I know it sounds cliché, but it’s repeated for a reason. Whether it’s through a varsity sport, intramurals, Orientation Week, the AMS, or student government, there’s truly a place for everyone at Queen’s. Getting involved is how you find your people, develop your sense of self, and discover what truly matters to you.
Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.
The things that feel unfamiliar at first—showing up to a club meeting alone, applying for a role you think you’re underqualified for, and raising your hand to ask a question in front of peers—are often the things that help you grow the most.
I didn’t just stick to one path in my first year, putting myself out in unfamiliar spaces often, such as when I ran in the Undergraduate Trustee election and took on a role as an Orientation leader.
Some of the best parts of life come from saying yes when it’s easier to say no.
I know I said one piece of advice, but now you have three: don’t underestimate the small things. Introduce yourself to your classmates, chat with your professors and teaching assistants after class, and visit buildings that you’re curious about, or email the student leader you really want to work with.
Getting involved doesn’t have to mean taking on huge tasks; it just means showing up and being open to making new connections.
If you’re curious about the Office of the Rector, we can be found in the JDUC building or online. The Office of the Rector changed my path, and it might change yours, too.
At your service,
EJ
Tags
First Year in Focus, Rector's Digest, The office of the Rector
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