Shad Program Assistant, Sachi Chan, shares her enriching experience working at Shad
Sachi Chan is passionate about mentoring youth. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a tutor and found the experience of helping other students learn and succeed academically incredibly rewarding. So, when a friend told her about a summer work opportunity at Shad, she knew the role would offer her the chance to put her mentorship passions into practice.
“A friend, who is a Shad alum, recommended the job to me. She told me that so much of what she had done at Shad would resonate with who I am and what I enjoy. I love mentorship and I love working with kids and helping them succeed, and a lot of my work experience related to that, to supporting other people. Shad offered a continuation of that.”
Sachi applied to be a Program Assistant (PA) for Shad’s OnCampus program and was hired as part of the team at the University of Waterloo campus. As a PA, Sachi was tasked with contributing to the education, mentoring, and safety of Shad participants, responsibilities she took seriously and found personally enriching.
“I am a big believer in an interdisciplinary approach to education. Shad introduces students to a variety of different topics and activities, and it just allows participants to explore their interests. The staff as well. I met other team members who chose to work at Shad because it gave them the opportunity to explore their interests alongside the students, which is great, everyone learning together.”
Sachi was blown away by the sense of community at Shad. Though she herself is not a Shad alum, she immediately felt as though she were a part of the larger Shad network, which includes thousands of alumni, academics, donors, and staff.
“Everyone connects around a set of shared values and goals, and everyone is working towards the same objective. There’s something really unique about spending a month with people who love learning and having these shared experiences that you otherwise wouldn’t have had. It creates a real bond.”
The summer that she applied to Shad, Sachi was at a crossroads in her own academic journey. She had entered university with the goal of attending medical school but had recently hit a roadblock. She was unsure what might be next for her and where she wanted to go.
“I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, what other interests I wanted to explore. I had planned on medical school for so long that I hadn’t given a lot of thought to what I might do if that didn’t work out. Shad caught me at that amazing moment when I was open to new things, and working with other professionals and gaining insight into my options and what different career paths might look like was so impactful.”
Following Shad, Sachi decided to apply to graduate school at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The program application process was extensive and required reference letters, one of which she secured from Elissa Gelleny, the Assistant Program Director at Shad whom Sachi had built a close relationship with during her summer working as a PA.
“The program I was applying to is competitive and I needed a number of reference letters, including an employer reference. In these situations, you need someone who is willing to speak well on your behalf and Elissa was incredible, she wrote me a great letter of support to help me gain acceptance.”
Sachi was grateful to have had that connection to lend support during an important life pursuit, without which she may not have been able to chase her dream of attending Oxford, where she is currently a student.
“I had been able to build a strong relationship with Elissa over the summer at Shad and it was great to have someone I trust who could speak on my behalf for something that was really important for me. She knew what I was passionate about and that this was the right path for me, and I knew she’d articulate that to the admissions board.”
Beyond the personal and professional connections Sachi gained at Shad, the role helped her build transferable skills that she’s been able to apply in multiple work and academic situations since.
“Shad really helped me to hone my communication and problem-solving skills. Working with teens is fun but has its unique challenges. You learn to manage conflict as well as how to approach situations with empathy and understanding.”
Because Shad brings together a diverse group of staff and students, teamwork is crucial. Learning to work effectively as a team was something Sachi loved about her experience as a PA.
“Teamwork was so important at Shad, and you learn how to lean on each other’s strengths and how to pair your individual skills in a way that makes the team stronger and more effective. There are so many instances in work and life where you need to work as a team, so understanding how to work well with others and how to manage personalities and skillsets is really important.”
As she moves along her academic journey and contemplates her career path, she’s grateful for the growth she gained from her experience working at Shad and the impact its had on her life since.
“One thing I really appreciated about working at Shad is that I came in thinking I was going to go teach high school students, and it’s going to be kind of one-sided, but it was a two-way street. I gained so much out of learning from the students and from the other staff. I don’t think I’ve been in many spaces where I’ve been around so many like-minded, passionate people who care a lot about community and promoting change in the world. It was an amazing experience that’s contributed so much to where I am today.”
