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Getting used to life in a foreign country was hard at first for Ulpanay Djoldasova. She was away from her home in Uzbekistan, far from her parents, her routine of activities, and everything she knew. With only her older sister to depend on, she joined Knox College and hoped for the best.
Djoldasova got her wish granted. By making use of the many on-campus employment opportunities, she became an Admission Ambassador, a Resident Assistant, and Student Athletic Trainer. She’s now busy, fulfilled, and developing as a professional in various ways.
“Being an Admission Ambassador helped me a lot to be open with people and opened my mind to diverse experiences. It helped me learn the ways of communicating with people and making sure that they understand what I say,” she says. “Being a Resident Assistant for the last year and a half has helped me be a mediator between people and help them resolve conflicts. Also, I learned that making sure people felt comfortable around me was important, and it helped me do my job better.”
As a Student Trainer, she helps her supervisors who work with injured athletes get ready for upcoming games. “Some of the duties were to tape the wrists and ankles of athletes and make sure they were ready physically,” Djoldasova says. “Setting them up to certain body scan machines was also a part of my job.”
“I think all of my employment opportunities have prepared me in different ways for my future profession,” Uzbek student Ulpanay Djoldasova says. Source: Knox College
“I think all of my employment opportunities have prepared me in different ways for my future profession,” Uzbek student Ulpanay Djoldasova says. Source: Knox College
As a Biology major on a pre-medicine track, talking to patients, being a mediator, and getting early exposure to treating minor injuries will be useful in Djoldasova’s future profession.
Such experiences are common among international students attending Knox College. Like Djoldasova, those employed on campus get plenty of practical engagement and chances for professional exposure – all whilst earning some money along the way.
At Knox, working on campus takes place during college’s flexible trimester, where students only need to take three classes over a 10-week term. This flexibility lets students balance jobs and academic schedules as they work part-time for up to 10 hours per week. During vacation, students not returning to their hometown can work full-time for up to 40 hours per week within the college’s compound.
Alongside working on campus, international students at Knox College can take part in over 80 organisations. These are 100% led by students for students.
“I am part of the UNICEF Club as Chair of the Executive Board. Part of my job is to do my best to advertise our club on campus and attract more members. Here, I also get the opportunity to present my ideas during our weekly meetings,” Djoldasova says. “I am also part of our Dance Squad. We are a dancing cheerleading team on campus and perform at basketball and football games throughout the year and support our Knox Athletes.”
These clubs and groups bring students closer. And as they’re free to pursue their passions and projects, they get to be creative and innovative as well. Ridham Dholaria, a computer science major from India, saw this as an opportunity to get involved with as many organisations as he could.
Indian student Ridham Dholaria held six different campus jobs throughout his time at Knox College so far and has been involved with over nine campus clubs/organisations. Source: Knox College
Indian student Ridham Dholaria held six different campus jobs throughout his time at Knox College so far and has been involved with over nine campus clubs/organisations. Source: Knox College
“Initially, I was mostly involved in South Asian clubs, the International Club, or any other clubs if my friends were going with me,” he says. “As I began to feel more comfortable, I started attending events on my own and fully immersing myself in campus life. Student Senate, Badminton Club, Union Board, AAINA club, I-Club, Islamic Club, Student4Sustanibilty, Adventure Club, STEAM Club, etc. were my involvements.”
Dholaria is part of the Red Room Tutoring programme offered at the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) as well. This initiative employs 60 to 80 students as tutors in subjects like mathematics, sciences, and modern languages, giving them another indirect avenue to prepare for their future academic and professional endeavours. “My role as a Math Tutor allowed me to deepen my understanding of mathematical concepts while also improving my communication and teaching skills,” he says.
For the CTL’s Writer’s Block programme, 12 to 15 top-performing students from various disciplines help their peers improve their writing skills. These tutors must be endorsed by faculty, excel in the CTL 202: Teaching Writing course, and complete certified training. In return, they gain beneficial experience to teach writing or secure graduate assistantships as they move on to graduate school. Some tutors have even gone on to present their work at professional conferences nationwide and even publish their research.
“One piece of advice I can give to prospective students considering attending Knox is to be open to learning new things and take full advantage of the liberal arts education offered here,” says Dholaria. “Embrace the opportunity to explore diverse subjects, even those outside your initial area of interest. This approach can lead to unexpected passions and a more well-rounded educational experience.”
