Help with ECs

[strawberrySS]

Hey guys,

I'm currently struggling with my ECs. The only thing that I have done so far is volunteer at the hospital, and work a part-time retail job to help pay for school. I have a problem with putting myself out there, and reading everyone else's extra curricular experiences really discourages me  .I've tried looking at some EC opportunities but I just feel like I don't fit into a certain group because I don't have any special talents or am an extrovert . Anyone have suggestions on ECs that I could look at? 

I highly appreciate the help in advance!

[Bambi]

1. Ensure GPA under control

2. Follow your interests

3. For volunteering, you want to experience & demonstrate compassion, empathy, kindness and to contribute to the welfare of others, e.g., play therapy with patients at hospital, play cards or board games, listen, chat and take their minds of their medical problems

4. Make a long term commitment in whatever you undertake

5. Adcoms are seeking well round active citizens who have a life outside of academics

6. Use CanMEDS competencies as your guide

7. Welcome to the Forum 

[strawberrySS]

On 12/2/2018 at 7:48 PM, Bambi said:

1. Ensure GPA under control

2. Follow your interests

3. For volunteering, you want to experience & demonstrate compassion, empathy, kindness and to contribute to the welfare of others, e.g., play therapy with patients at hospital, play cards or board games, listen, chat and take their minds of their medical problems

4. Make a long term commitment in whatever you undertake

5. Adcoms are seeking well round active citizens who have a life outside of academics

6. Use CanMEDS competencies as your guide

7. Welcome to the Forum 

Thank you so much for your help! 

[Bambi]

Do not compare yourself to others. Only you walk in your own shoes. One of my most meaningful volunteering was unorganized, it was helping out a wheelchair bound elderly neighbour, I took her for wheeled walks to the park so she could smell the flowers and watch the children play, I ran errands, did her shopping, her laundry, we chatted endlessly and I learned so much from her. She was an important motivation for me in the pursuit of medicine. I came from poverty, brown bagged my lunches as drinks and meals were unaffordable. I walked to university to save on public transport costs. All this built character and helped develop me into the person I am today. My friends partied, whereas I had to study constantly, so I lost all my so-called friends, but it was well worth all the sacrifices, as I did attain my goal. And from work, you develop CanMEDS competencies. Put yourself out there in uncomfortable situations, e.g., work in customer service where you deal with irrate customers who take out their frustrations on you, as you remain composed and calm while resolving the issue. The more difficult the situation, the more you grow and develop! I used to be shy but I put myself in situations where being shy was just not possible.

Each of us have special talents, we just need to discover what they are. Life will unfold. Tackle it head on. Be brave, go for it, a step at a time. You will learn so much about yourself in this process of discovery. Whatever you do, interact with others. This will allow you to enhance your communication skills and will give you more confidence in yourself. 

[OwnerOfTheTARDIS]

Do fun stuff! Volunteering at an animal shelter or community theatre/art program or as a sports coach are great ways to bulk up ECs while relaxing and letting off steam from school. My volunteer/EC schedule was pretty crazy in my 3rd and 4th years of undergrad and the only reason I could manage it was because nothing I did really felt like work.