Student Life at Trent University

Xin Chao`,
My name is Linh Phan and I am an international student from Vietnam. I am going to my third year at Trent University, Ontario, Canada and my major is International Development Studies. Not until I came to Trent did I realize what is really meant by “student life”. It is not rigid and limited to a classroom setting. Neither is it all about late-nights and drinking. Student life is really what you make out of available services and activities at your university.

I consider myself lucky to be a student at Trent University, for its vigorous, encouraging and inspiring environment. In my first year, I stayed in Champlain College in the Trent Global Living and Learning Community. The group is comprised of more than 20 students, all of whom are passionate about global issues and open to cultural differences. I met friends from Thailand, Korea, England, Nigeria, America, etc. We lived together sometimes like a family and sometimes as a group of social activists. Besides fundraising campaigns, potlucks, and art-shows, we also organized a community service trip to Manitoulin Island to learn about organic farming and the First Nations People of Canada. All of these activities left a great impression on me about life on campus.

Trent has a vast number of opportunities for international students like me, who want to improve their leadership skills and contribute positively to the community. I was a part of the Trent International Student Association, Trent Southeast Asian Organization, Trent International Ambassador Program, Kawartha World Issues Center and Ontario Public Interest Research Group. Getting involved in these organizations not only helps with my personal growth, but also enables me to meet great minds and instills in me a sense of global citizenship. Trent has such an inspiring environment that I later took independent initiatives that benefit other students my age. I successfully co-organized Vietnam Youth Forum in Vietnam and Asian Youth Forum in Japan. I also had the chance to put my leadership into practice at Trent by chairing the World Affairs Colloquium- a biweekly lecture series that raise public awareness about global issues. Last year, we brought in guest-speakers to talk about Food Security, Global Warming, and Cross-Cultural Dating, to name a few.

I am still in the process of exploring the meaning of “student life” at Trent and my adventure only seems to get more and more exciting! Visit www.trentu.ca/tip to learn more about international student life at Trent.