In this video we learn what it means to build, ride, and live motorcycles from the perspective of Shinya Kimura.  What motivates someone who builds bikes that look like this?

For those that don’t know, Shinya is a very renound motorcycle builder from Japan who now works in America.  Check this out for more information: Wikipedia and his company Chabott Engineering.

R.

Don’t fret! The BCIT Open House is coming up! This FREE event only comes every 4 years so be sure to check it out! It is on Friday April 13^th (9am to 4pm) and Saturday April 14^th (9am to 3pm) at the Burnaby Campus. At the Open House you get a chance to see student created displays, meet BCIT students, learn about BCIT programs, and test-drive applied hands-on learning and win prizes

This is especially important to those who are on the fence about what program they should apply for. Having the chance to find out about all the programs and courses at one time is a big time saver! Those who have already selected what program they want, it doesn’t hurt to come and see what kinds of things you will be learning in the future. It can also solidify your decision on which program is right for you.

I wish I was able to volunteer at such a great event but unfortunately I will be in Cranbrook for a Clinical placement from April to June. It sounds like a great event to attend and I would recommend that you pencil it in your planner!

http://www.bcit.ca/openhouse/

Some useful websites

A snapshot of my agenda, crossing things off feels just as good as smiling!

So, after Angela’s presentation I’ve been trying to smile whenever I feel panic coming along, and it really does work!

Even if you’re fake smiling, your brain takes notice and you start to feel more relaxed. If you’re in the library or something, and feel like smiling to yourself is just too much, then take a break! Watch some funny videos or look at cat memes… that’ll do the trick.

My point is, while it sometimes feels like your classes are your life, try and put things into perspective. There is no point in feeling down or overworking yourself – chances are you will be less productive and hate every minute of it. So, put on a smile and get to work. Set some small goals and when your achieve them, take a break – watch something funny, tell a joke to a friend and then get back to it.

A great place to have a laugh is the BCIT Memes page on Facebook

If you haven’t seen my posts on student housing and the residence advisor opportunity then have a look here.

Good luck.

R.

Had an excellent field day on the North Shore last Friday.  We started the day off in North Van looking at some forest fire prevention practices which had been undertaken by the district.  The process involved clearing out some of the small diameter high risk fuels (little hemlock trees) in strips of forest adjacent which were adjacent to a number of homes.  In addition to removing potential forest fire fuel this treatment opened up the canopy, letting in light and making the forest less intimidating.

This Doug fir seedling was planted by renegade boyscouts

In the afternoon we drove up to the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, one of the usual haunts for SRMT field days.  Here we did an exercise on seral stages and forest succession.  We would go into the woods, assess vegetation species to identify the Biogeoclimatic site series for the landscape, and determine the age of the forest stand using an increment bore.  This tool allows one to pull out a narrow sample of the tree bole so the tree rings can be counted to determine age.

Tiefer is boring.

It was really awesome to be out in the forest again.  This was the first field day of the term for those of us in the Environmental Community Planning option and it was a welcome change from the classroom.  The fresh air helps keep my brain awake and I am ceaselessly amazed by all the wonderful plants and animals which can be found just a short jump from the city.  Now that we’ve hit the middle of the term we seem to have a few more field days which are imminent, so hopefully I’ll have some more cool stuff to share very soon.

Oh deer.

There's nothing like marshmallows found in cereal....mmmm

*note: this post has recently been updated

You must all be so nervous about your interviews! Here are some last minute pointers!

1. Dress the part. Yeah, I know that this isn’t exactly a job interview but hey it’s a CAREER interview. Try thinking about it in that perspective.

2. Be prepared! The more prepared you are, the more you can show off your fabulous personality!(check out my previous post on where the interviews are)

3. SMILLLLLLLLLLLLLLE! Smiling never killed anybody!

4. Have confidence….but don’t be cocky. Remember the point of this interview is to SELL yourself. I like to walk into interviews thinking that it’s in the bag….I just have to dazzle them with my personality :) hahaha

5. Be nice to the other two people who will be there during your interviews. Yeah I know they’re your competition….but you never know who will end up to be your classmate!

6. RELAX! Talking really fast or really quietly won’t allow effective communication.

7. Get a pep talk from somebody on your support team! I called my boyfriend before my interview and it really calmed my nerves.

8. Don’t get freaked out if you freeze up. It just makes things worse! Just ask to move on to another question and come back to it later on.

9.There were three people interviewing me. Once of which, included the program head. I remember I was so nervous when I got Anne, the program head first. I wanted to warm up a bit with the other interviewers. Then I told myself, the order didn’t matter. They all have a say in whether I get in or not. They are all equally as important to sell to.

*your interview experience may be different from mine

10. Bring me cookies. Just kidding….I would probably get fat anyways since there’s so many of you guys getting interviewed! Just relax and enjoy the process….it’s going to be a long one.

Our baby phantom

I can see some differences between clinical at BCIT and Co-op at SFU. First of all, one of the main differences is that gaining experience is part of the Sonography program while Co-op was just an option at SFU. Another thing, at SFU there was a lengthy process. There were workshops, interviews to get into the program, applications, and other paperwork that needed to be completed. At SFU you could gain a certificate for completing the Co-op program while at BCIT, there is no physical recognition of our efforts but then again it’s just a piece of paper J Also….unfortunately at BCIT my clinical is NOT PAID while Co-op is paid. Yeah I know it sucks majorly…but that’s the price I have to pay to gain such great experience. The positions offered in Co-op were kinda related to the degree. I remember Kinesiology positions included being a coach, kinesiologist, shoe salesperson, orthopaedic bracefitter (what I used to be), office clerk, etc. I don’t know how much experience you can gain being an office clerk. Also, the Co-op positions are based on interviews which mean some people may be left without a position during a Co-op term. Well…the Sonography program has a dedicated Clinical Co-ordinator which means we are guaranteed positions for our clinical terms. There is no application or any worries. We are told of our placements ahead of time and are expected to make arrangements. The positions are what we will be expected to do in the REAL WORLD.

Abdominal scanning

One big thing I like about clinical is how closely BCIT works with our clinical placements. I feel safer knowing that I’m not just thrust into the hands of just anybody! Our clinical liaisons have been trained. There are goals set out for each clinical for us to reach. Our instructors visit us during our clinical during site visits to ensure that we are reaching our targets. We also have a Clinical Manual to read before we start our placements. Right now, I am taking a Nursing class and a Clinical Orientation class. I feel that they are really preparing us for our placement. Our labs have really been prepping us this semester too! We have started to put our images together to form a routine.

Gynaecological scanning

So now back to me….I’m am super de duperly excited about clinical. Ever since I finished my first semester, I can’t stop thinking about it. Being in school is kind of a drag because every day I have homework to do and my weekends are quite limited. I can’t wait to actually have some ME time! Of course the best part of clinical is using what I learned in school. I hated going to SFU and taking lame courses that I knew I would never use…ahem ORGANIC CHEMISTRY! <BARF> I’m also really excited about seeing pathology in real life. In school, all we do is scan young healthy 20yr olds. Recently, I found out that I am being sent out to Cranbrook from April-June.

Taken from Clinical Placement Policies document:

“Each term is 11 – 12 weeks long. Many of the terms are divided into 2 separate rotations. Two (2) of these will be 5-6 week cardiac rotations. The remainder will be arranged to provide experience in abdominal, obstetrical, gynaecological, vascular and superficial imaging.”

Sooo exciting! I have never lived away from home or been on a plane! For the first time in my life, I have to find a place to rent, cook for myself, take care of myself….yikes! We were told that at least one of our clinical rotations has to be outside of the lower mainland (…further than Chiliwack). Hopefully this will be my only one! Honestly, I really wanted to be closer to home. The placements are all located within BC and Cranbrook happens to be one of the further ones. It doesn’t shunt my enthusiasm though! I talked to another Sonography student who was sent there and she loved it. I’m also super excited about scanning obstetrical, gynaecological, and superficial structures. For obstetrics, we have just been learning about scanning through our theory class. Gynaecological scanning was learned through our theory class plus we had a few lab hours scanning a phantom. We have learned about superficial vessels such as the carotids and the leg veins which were so tricky. I’m excited to refine those skills. So much to learn!

Echocardiography

EV phantom

Carotid scanning

Leg vein scanning

This project was created and inspired by Jill Vassallo, a student in the Marketing Communications Program, who graduated in May 2010. Jill was ambitious, courageous and a very hard worker, entering the program right out of high school. In September 2010, four months after graduating, Jill passed away from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a disease she had been fighting since the age of four.

Cupcakes from our fundraising bakesale. We raised over $550 for BC Children's!

It was Jill’s dream to help kids to not feel sick while they were undergoing treatment. She was passionate about the Child Care Department at BC Children’s Hospital, which organizes fun activities for the children and brings in guests to the hospital.

I did not know Jill, but I remember being at SIFE’s first general meeting in September of my first year at BCIT and learning about Jill through a video that her friends had created about her. I was inspired by her story and decided to help with the challenge. Participating in this challenge and working with the Go Jill Go team has been amazing and very fulfilling. We still have about 20 days left and everyone is doing amazing with their challenges and collecting pledges!

Week 1: My first DIY project, an incense holder inspired from Pintrest!

Many students have chosen to do health and wellness challenges, like going vegan, or running three times a week. Others have decided to take a photo a day or to not buy any food on campus for 30 days! I have decided to kick my habit of drinking Coke and to make a DIY project once a week.

Last year $6000 was raised for BC Children’s Hospital and the Go Jill Go team made it onto the BC Children’s Telethon! This year our goal is $10,000.

I encourage everyone to learn more about Jill and the Go Jill Go Challenge. You can view who is participating and donate to our Superhero page through the Go Jill Go website.

Have a look here for the specifics and the application information.

The information session is tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Housing Office Lounge (SW11).  The application deadline is February 16 at 4:00pm.

Good luck to all that apply.

R.

If you remember I recently posted a documentary that me and a few of my peers produced called ‘My Gay Life‘ Well, it’s time to do it again… a documentary that is. This one is going to be produced by me, and I am quite excited. The goal of this documentary is to get the other side of of the transit system; the bus drivers and the problems they face.