Category: practicum Page 1 of 3

In late 2020, during my senior year of high school, I was certain that I wanted to become a dietitian. However, in late April 2021, I realized that I was not interested in pursuing a career in healthcare (or having any chemistry classes). I wanted to pursue a program where I would be able to express myself creatively, which is something I have always enjoyed, while still being able to build a successful career. After doing some research, I applied to the communications and media program at CMU, and it would turn out to be one of the best decisions I could make for myself.

Although I had an idea of what to expect from the program, it still exceeded my expectations (and it continues to do so to this day!). I did not expect my experience to be as rich and diverse as it has been in the past four years. To any applicants interested in learning more about the communications and media program or life at CMU, I have four insights to share with you.

1. Communications is a broad area of study and CMU will allow you to explore it all.

There is a great number of areas that you can explore while studying communications at CMU. Throughout my degree I have taken classes such as Public Relations, Marketing, Graphic Design, Radio, Journalism, Oral Communication, and Digital Video Storytelling. This enabled me to explore all the career possibilities I could have with a communications degree and prepared me for the job market, as I have acquired a great and diverse number of skills during my time at the university.

2. Get involved with student groups as much as you can!

Student groups at CMU will provide amazing opportunities to connect with peers with similar interests, engage with staff and professors, as well as network with professionals in your field. I am currently the Communications Student Association Co-Director. This role has allowed me to connect and collaborate with other peers from diverse areas of study such as communications, business, and sciences, create networking opportunities for students, develop my leadership and cooperation skills, and discover my passion for event planning, marketing, and advertising. Being a student leader has helped me grow professionally and personally, and it certainly has been one of my favourite parts of being a CMU student.

3. It is a lot of work, but extremely rewarding.

While studying communications, you will spend countless hours recording, designing, editing, shooting videos, writing, brainstorming, learning how to use new software, and practicing for presentations and speeches. However, once you see the finished product, you’ll realize that all your hard work was worth it. Through the hands-on work you are doing in the classroom, you are practicing and preparing for future job opportunities, developing your creative skills, and building a rich portfolio that will be key as you begin your professional career. I completed my work-integrated learning placement in the summer of 2024 at Birchwood Automotive Group, where I continue to work as a marketing intern. Skills that I have acquired in the classroom, such as video production and editing, photography, graphic design, and creative writing have been extremely helpful in my daily tasks and projects at Birchwood.

4. You will receive all the support needed throughout your degree.

As CMU is a relatively small school, you will usually have around 20 classmates in each course. Smaller class sizes allow you to build meaningful connections with your peers and professors. Your instructors know your name here; you are not just a number. Transitioning from high school to university was challenging for me, however the support and feedback I received from professors and staff during my first semester helped me adapt to university life. I am extremely grateful for all of the assistance I have received and continue to receive from CMU as I continue to develop personally and professionally.

Choosing to study Communications and Media at CMU was the best decision I could have made for myself, and if you ask me, it is the right decision for you too!

Manuela Mariño Calixto is a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student, majoring in Communications and Media.

When I made the leap from business administration to social work at CMU, I thought I was simply transitioning into a career focused on helping people. What I didn’t expect was how deeply the program would challenge and transform me, both academically and personally. I was used to structure, reports, and numbers, but social work introduced me to something quite different: deep personal reflection, cultural awareness, and even role play. Yes—role play! Here’s what I wish I’d known before starting the program.

1. Indigenous teachings will deeply impact you for the better

One of the most meaningful parts of the program for me has been learning from Indigenous worldviews and practices, whether it’s understanding the significance of the medicine wheel or perspectives on land, community, and healing. It has not only informed my approach to social work, but it has also enriched my own personal life. Indigenous teachings aren’t things you learn about for the sake of assignments—they change how you think, live, and connect with others. The teachings have truly grounded me in new ways of understanding healing, spirituality, and connection.

2. Social work is multidisciplinary

Initially, I imagined that I would mainly be learning about casework and advocacy with a focus on how to help people and communities. I had not figured how deeply social work intersects with other disciplines. Like seriously, why would I need to be in a science or theology class? At first, it felt intimidating to draw connections across disciplines, but it’s this overlap that makes the field unique. I’ve come to understand that social work doesn’t operate in its own bubble. CMU’s course advising support has been invaluable in navigating this journey.

3. You don’t just think about social work—you do it

One of the biggest surprises for me was how experiential social work is. Coming from a business background, I didn’t expect to be doing so much role play, mock interviews, navigating difficult conversations, and learning how to sit with tension. These moments can be uncomfortable, but they’ve also been the most powerful. They’ve helped me develop critical skills like empathy, active listening, and boundary setting. My prof made it look so easy to even record myself on video!

4. You won’t go through it alone

Something else I didn’t anticipate was how deep the friendships would become in this program. CMU is a smaller university, and since our social work program includes a lot of discussion, you end up really getting to know your classmates—not just as students, but as people. There’s a sense of a shared journey, especially when you’re tackling complex topics or heading into practicum. I’ve made some of my closest friends here. They’re the kind of friends who truly understand what it means to hold space for others, and who are willing to hold space for you too. This has really been helpful whenever I am homesick. The hugs, the chocolates…

5. Field placement is exciting and very real

Field education starts in third year, and it’s one of the most formative parts of the program. You’re placed in real community organizations, working with people facing complex challenges. It’s a big step from the classroom theories and can be overwhelming at first. However, I am not expected to know everything. The point is to grow. I am doing my placement with a settlement agency for newcomers and refugee claimants. Here, I support clients to settle in Canada, assess social services, and build community connections. This placement allows me to practice case assessment and intervention skills that I have learnt in class. I am also learning a lot from my field supervisor and clients who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. I am reminded to consider my own identity, and to ask questions to learn the client’s story from their own perspective. Giving clients self-autonomy is very key in developing therapeutic alliances with the people we support. There’s so much support built into CMU’s program, from field seminars to reflective supervision, to help me grow and discover my strengths and interests.

6. Self-care isn’t optional, it’s essential

Social work can be emotionally demanding. To show up for others in a way they need, I have to take care of myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. Learning to set boundaries and prioritize rest, reflection, and seeking therapy has been just as important as any academic skill I’ve gained from the program. Seeking therapy is normalized.

7. You’ll be personally and professionally challenged—your social location is key in the BSW

The BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) doesn’t just teach you how to help others—it stretches you to think critically about theories, systems, how to sit with discomfort, and how to hold multiple truths at once. You’ll wrestle with your own identity, values, and assumptions. I didn’t know how deeply personal social work would become by challenging me to examine my identity in the system. You’re always being asked to consider who you are, where you come from, and how that affects the work you do. This was a shift for me, as initially my identity often felt separate from my work. It can be uncomfortable but it’s also what makes social work meaningful. You’ll grow as much personally as you do professionally.

Social work at CMU is more than just an academic program—it’s a community. Be ready to be challenged, supported, and transformed. You will be challenged in your thinking, in your assumptions, and in your heart. I came in thinking I was here to give to others, but surprisingly I am also receiving by learning about myself along the way. If you’re considering this journey, know that it’s one you won’t go through alone.

Kate Muthuri is a third-year Bachelor of Social Work student.