Taking Opportunities and Meeting New People – Meet Meaghan McDonald

Each new semester at CBU begins with Week of Welcome (WOW), a week full of fun and educational activities designed to welcome new students to the Caper family. Hosting so many events across campus would not be possible without the help of WOW Leaders. These are students who give their time to help ease new students into their CBU journeys. One WOW Leader who is returning for yet another new semester is Meaghan McDonald.

Meaghan is a CBU student in the fourth year of the Bachelor of Science program majoring in Psychology. Though she grew up in Louisdale,  Meaghan is a Denesuline First Nation member of Fond Du Lac Denesuline, First Nation of Saskatchewan, with about 1,100 members living in the community. 

Following her graduation from Richmond Education Centre/Academy, Meaghan started in the CBU Nursing program and worked as a CCA at a local nursing home. After that, she moved on to the Bachelor of Science program while working around the CBU campus as a WOW Leader and Game Day staff for countless Capers soccer and basketball games. “I wanted to become a WOW Leader so I could give other students the chance to experience a Week of Welcome they’ll never forget,” says Meaghan. “One thing I learned about being a WOW Leader is how important they are to the student community. As students ourselves, our role is to greet new students so they feel welcomed, comfortable and at home.”

Working in various student roles at CBU has helped equip Meaghan with skills she will carry forward into future roles at CBU and beyond. “Volunteering at CBU has taught me how to communicate and interact with different types of people from all over the world, along with how to properly prepare for larger events and gatherings,” says Meaghan. “They have also taught me about leadership, setting goals and taking the actions to meet them and helped me improve my communications skills.”

Meaghan is someone who loves to meet new people. She takes as many opportunities as she can to volunteer and socialize in a variety of settings, another reason CBU is the perfect place for her. “My favourite part about attending CBU is getting to meet new people; everyone at CBU is just so friendly,” she says. “The class sizes are not as big as other universities, so you are able to get to know your professors and fellow students quite well, making it easy to ask them for help when you need it.”

Meaghan says the mentorship and guidance resources offered by CBU are incredibly helpful for both new and returning students, and encourages all students to get involved. “At CBU, we are exposed to so many cultures and have the opportunity to create lasting friendships,” says Meaghan. “Don’t let the little things stress you out, don’t dwell on the past, stay positive and keep moving forward!”