#SenecaProud

Pat Perdue  00:00

Hey I'm Pat Perdue and I'd like to welcome you to season four of the Seneca Proud podcast. Okay, so COVID isn't quite a thing of the past but it's going to be. And that's great news. Because we've got our sights set on an amazing future. And I hope you do too. Students will be returning to classes, little by little. Classes will be offered in a more inclusive way using leading edge technologies. And we're getting set for an incredibly bright, inclusive, equitable future. And the future is what Seneca Proud season four is all about. Everything from the near-term future of life at Seneca College in a post-pandemic world, it's going to be pretty great, to what life after Seneca means. And hey, if you're a student, I get that life after Seneca is something that's on your mind. What are you going to do? Are you going to measure up to the competition? And what can you do today to really set yourself up to succeed? To help with those questions, this season includes graduated Seneca students who have been out there doing their thing for at least a few years. We'll hear their ups and their downs, and what you can do to help set yourself up for success. So if you haven't already, subscribe and download. And join me as we consider the future and meet the people who are transforming dreams into reality. Because the next episode of Seneca Proud starts now. 

And welcome back to the Seneca proud Podcast. I'm Pat Perdue, and wherever you're listening to us from I'm glad you're here today.  We've got a great show for you. And what does show rhyme with? Snow. If you're in Toronto, or pretty much anywhere in Ontario, you've seen a lot of it over the past week or so. And as I record this, it's snowing again, but it's super pretty and very fun to play around in. So, if you're in Ontario, I hope you can find creative and safe ways to get outside and play in the snow. So let's talk about today's show. As you know a theme of this season is both life after Seneca College, as well as how students of Seneca College can set themselves up for success while they're here. And without a doubt the best way to do that is to get involved. And there's so much to get involved in. One thing to get involved in which is super important is the Seneca Student Federation or SSF.  The SSF is the Student Union at Seneca College, and is involved in a ton of things to help support students at Seneca. If you haven't checked out their website, I'll leave a link in their show notes. Definitely worth a look. And this brings us to our guest today.  Ritik Sharma is the president of the Seneca Student Federation. And in our conversation, you'll hear about some of the initiatives the SSF is involved in, as well as Ritik’s own journey from helping out with the SSF Food Bank and how that inspired him to get even more involved, until he became the president. Pretty cool. Here's a bit more about Ritik.

An international student from India, he graduated in April 2021 from the Seneca College International Business program. And in his own journey to get involved, he began helping out at the food bank.  Seeing the impact he could have on students even at that level, he decided to see how he could have even more of an impact. And that drove him to become the SSF president, which is a full-time job. And when he's not doing that he devotes his time to fitness and physical activity, Ritik and I began our conversation with Ritik sharing his journey from SSF volunteer to President, and then we moved into ways the SSF is helping Seneca students and what's on for the future. Okay, here's my conversation with Seneca Student Federation president Ritik Sharma.

 

Ritik Sharma  03:52

I've been into this student council since two years now.  It started with being a volunteer like, when I was in orientation, I just saw vision like what it can be, you know, to be a leader after the student council. So I started doing it as a as a volunteer. I volunteered for food bank, because I students, they literally struggle, like some of the students, they literally struggle for their food and groceries. So I started volunteering for the food bank, then eventually I stepped up as event staff where I get to learn what events, when we can plan for our students and how things work. And afterwards, I wanted to climb a ladder and wanted to be a voice of our students and wanted to work more on the academic policies and the procedures for Seneca students, so that's why I stood up for elections as a co-ordinator. So after that, eventually being a co-ordinator for a year, getting to know other things such as our plagiarism pledge ideas and way more other things that can help students and academics. And also in addition, I got in about what other programs that we can provide to our students related to food bank or volunteer opportunities, and other opportunities such as Tax Clinic, and all this stuff. So learning through that journey, I got to know like, there is a bigger version, and I need more power to implement all the ideas that I have. So that helped me out with the support of students to stand up for president, luckily, and by God's grace, I would say, and the blessings of students and each and every family member, I got this opportunity to serve our Seneca students.

 

Pat Perdue  05:27

I was just listening to that overview.  It sounds like you have a really broad perspective of what it means to be a student at Seneca College.  And one thing that you touched on that I'd love to talk a little bit about is food anxiety, you know, like people having enough to eat.  Share with us a little bit of how prevalent that is in the student population at Seneca College, because it's something that we don't hear about very much.

 

Ritik Sharma  05:54

Honestly, I would say this pandemic has let us learn that what we should be grateful for, for each and every step what we have, you know.  This pandemic has let us know, you know, that what are the things that we have of each and everything, like staying healthy, having our meals properly good.  Like all these stuff has, let us know. So that has also helped me to, you know, like some of the students they literally struggle for their food stuff. So by going into food bank staff, and by doing volunteering, and then eventually taking up the initiative as a council members for the food bank, I get to know like students.  They are literally struggling and I feel like none of us should sleep empty stomach, right. So that has literally motivated me to start it from the virtual food bank gift cards, and eventually then going for our food bank hampers that we have been serving our Seneca students as of now. They have an in-store pickup, like we have our campus in which they can do a curbside pickup for our food bank groceries. So that has literally helped out a lot of students. And I hope like we keep on helping more and more students day by day.

 

Pat Perdue  07:08

That sounds like a really great initiative. For those who are listening. And me to, you know, if we want to get involved with that contribute to the food bank help out in some way. What advice would you like to provide?

 

Ritik Sharma  07:26

So if you’re a Seneca student, we would love to ask students to volunteer for us so that they get to know like, what a volunteer opportunity it is, and also helping out students, and also helping us to prepare our packages for our students. So that is basically a committee for the students by the students. And also, if you are outside the community, I would say if any of the shares that you can do for our students, I guess each and every water droplet that counts. So I would say all these donations that are directly for the students only. So helping out the students in any of the way can be beneficial. And we would love to have help from any of them.

 

Pat Perdue  08:07

That's great. And is there a website where we can go to learn more about that? Or is there a physical drop-off location?

 

Ritik Sharma  08:13

Definitely, as we have our website that is SSFInc.ca, on which you will get a lot of information about our food bank service. Also, in addition, you can write an email to the Student Federation president that is me and our team. That is SSFInc.ca. Now you can write an email to us regarding if you have any questions or concerns and we are always available for the getting giving the rewards to any of the sources that we have.

 

Pat Perdue  08:40

That's amazing. So I'm just going to say that URL one more time:  SSFinc.ca?  Is that correct?

 

Ritik Sharma  08:46

That is correct SSFinc.ca.

 

Pat Perdue  08:49

Awesome. I'm going to leave that in the show notes, but just in case anybody's listening, and they're jotting it down, sounds like it's a really important URL to remember. So thanks for sharing that. So let's talk a little bit about you and your journey as well. You know, you've got such a broad perspective, and then you decided you wanted to have more influence and be able to make a bigger change. So you decided to become the president.  Was there any one thing that happened that you're like, ‘You know, I just need to be the president.’

 

Ritik Sharma  09:16

I would say if, in the very beginning, I'm going to start from the journey that when I started my orientation day.  On my orientation, they I felt like, there is something that can help out students, you know.  In academics like, if you go from, you know, from the curriculum perspective.  Like students, they already have a vision you know, they are here for this reason at the same time. There are some domestic issues and as well as international students going through a lot of things and they don't have a vision as of now, they just go for, you know, we have to go to our classes and afterwards there's that's it, we are done. But at Seneca there are so many things to grab, like literally so many things to grab, like, you don't have enough time, and you have so many activities.  And then, which you can get involved with. So starting from the orientation only I felt like Student Federation, is the way that can, you know, enlighten you, and that can put a spotlight on you from the very beginning and you will see a change in your personality as well. So from my orientation only I get to see like, there is a visual through which you can help her a lot, a lot of students.  Even like when I used to see my classmates struggling with their class schedules or struggling with any of the economic things they used to be, like, to whom should we approach and that vision helped me out, like when I was volunteering with SSF, I get to know these things before and we and I was used to like, “Okay, let me help you out with this.” And you know, there is information, a student council, that can help you out. So that I was like, let's broadcast this, you know, and let's make this vision a broader one, so that I can help more students at the same time, so step by step, going from a volunteer, and then staff and then a co-ordinator, and eventually a president, that helped me to broaden my vision. And that helped me to serve more students.

 

Pat Perdue  11:04

That's amazing. So share with us a little bit about what's going on at the Seneca Student Federation, what initiatives are underway and what changes if any folks can look forward to.

 

Ritik Sharma  11:15

That's, I guess, my favorite question?  So we have been doing a lot of things for our students, eventually, you know, being a pandemic President, you know, shifting all the way from, you know, in-person activities to virtual activities.  But we haven't stopped our services for our students.  So starting with, you know, our virtual events, which includes bingo nights, Wheel of Fortune, and all these events, so that we can connect more students and also, we can engage students in this pandemic as well. Also, in addition to that we have in serving our students with Food Bank program, and also students can register themselves free of course, for their taxes.  As you know, still students they struggle filing their taxes and they pay a lot for the taxes. So we have been providing the service free of course to the students. In addition to that, we have been providing membership perks to our students, which includes discounted tickets for Wonderland, discounted tickets for all museums, discounted tickets for other activities that they can do across GTA. And discounted would say cellular packages, which includes freedom mobile, and also in addition, we have been providing our students support through our different funds that we can allocate to the students. Basically, we have been given COVID-19 relief and as we all know that students are literally the ones who have been struggling as they have been going through online classes. At the same time, they have been paying a lot for the tuition fee. So there is a relief that they require. So in collaboration with Seneca College, the Seneca Federation is providing COVID-19 Really Fund.  Each and every semester since the pandemic has started to the students. And we have donated this year $500,000 for our students for COVID-19 Relief Fund and also for going COVID-19, a bursary… our Board of Directors have allotted $100 for COVID bursaries only. In addition to that we have been donating for work integrated learning as $75,000. Also, we have been collaborating with Helix by providing them with the Helix Venture Fund, which includes $51,000.  And we all know that Equity Diversity and Inclusion is the main goal for our SSF also, and we have been trying our level best to portray through all our ways. So we have been working with Seneca to represent different communities and providing them a chance to come up front. So we have been going through that as going to encourage that as well. Also for our indigenous students. We have donated $21,000 for two of their murals in Seneca that have been designed by Chief Ladybird and involves students, faculty and college staff to participate in filling part of the mural. And there is a bunch of a list I can go over and over and over. But yeah, I'm gonna stop it here for now. But inclusion. I would say the SSF Council is always there for students who help out in their advocacy and so if any of the student is facing any of the difficulties, we are always here to help them out. That's a summarized version of what's going on at SSF. But I have plenty of things on my list if you want me to go on and on.

 

Pat Perdue  14:53

I love it that that's a sample of what's going on because it sounds like you're all busy. So, for students who are listening to this, you were talking about bursaries and, and some financial relief. Again, if they want to find out more maybe for some this is the first time they're hearing of it. What should they do?

 

Ritik Sharma  15:12

So they can go on our website that is SSFInc.ca. In addition to that, they can also reach out to our social media that is Seneca SSF. That's our main Instagram handle through which they can just leave a single text, and our team will be responding to them. Also, I have my Instagram account official Instagram account for SSF President, that is the username is SSF President, and they can send our texts or they can email me on my email address.  Everything is given on our social media, and on our website. So, to reach out to any of the council members or to reach out to me and my team, you can just leave a text on our Instagram.  And also, our website has 24 hours from 24/7 virtual staff through which they can leave a text and team will respond.

 

Pat Perdue  16:01

That's amazing. So for anybody listening out there, I will throw those Instagram links in the show notes as well. So please watch for that. And that's super cool. So, as you're considering this coming year, you've talked about some initiatives that you're excited about and that you're doing. Is there anything that makes you say, “Yeah, this is the thing; this is the thing that's got me really excited!”

 

Ritik Sharma  16:24

I would say, as our division is inclusivity diversity. And from my perspective, I guess that's the most important thing that we represent each and every student and each and every student should be well represented. So that's what makes me proud that Seneca Student Federation is here to support students from equity diverse, deserving groups, achieving equal access to post secondary education at Seneca. So our Equity Diversity Inclusion awards, that has been, you know, that we got an opportunity to, you know, provide funds for several hundred thousand dollars, which will include students who identify as Black students who identify as Indigenous students who identify as having a disability or students who have identified as sexually or gender diverse. We have been collaborating with Seneca to provide the best that we can do for this initiative. And I'm super proud of this initiative that we have been doing something for equity, diversity and inclusion.

 

Pat Perdue  17:30

Sounds great. And I know that Seneca College, through Au Large, is heavily involved in equity, diversity and inclusion. So it's really, really great to see how strongly behind it you all are. So, in addition to providing the funding, do you get involved in setting agendas or creating programs or having a non-monetary impact on, let's say, somebody who might identify it in one of the groups that you mentioned, or, or in any other part of student life?

 

Ritik Sharma  18:00

Definitely, as the student council is always here to represents students, and all the aspects. So we as a council member, sit on college committees, to work on academic policies and do work on academic areas, where we feel like students’ voice should be heard and there should be a student perspective. So every council member is sitting in all the college committees. Each college committee has a representation from student council. So we sit on the committees and we represent the voices of students and we present the students perspective in the meetings. So that's how we bring it back in different college areas.

 

Pat Perdue  18:37

And so how's that going? Any breaking news for us?

 

Ritik Sharma  18:43

A bunch like our policies get updated every year in September only so you will be hearing a lot in next September. Our policies are being worked upon. And there are so many things going on at Seneca and thanks to Seneca community who have been working with Student Council really well, to implement best for our students.

 

Pat Perdue  19:04

Got it. Got it. But let's talk a little bit about you and your journey. So here you are. You're president of the Seneca Student Federation.  Is this, you know, is politics or this kind of leadership, something that you plan to continue as your career progresses? Or what does the future hold for Ritik Sharma?

 

Ritik Sharma  19:23

As of now, I would say I'm just loving what I am doing right now. And if so, many students have believed in you then you have responsibility to keep, and I would say as of now, I am looking forward to serve students for one more year because I have been acclaimed for one more year as well. So that means more students have believed in me. So this journey has helped me to learn a lot, to broaden my world-vision for our students.  So I'll try my level best to serve the students as much as I can throughout my journey. And afterwards, let's see how God takes me and like, if I feel like I am, you know that I have done what I have kept in my mind, then definitely yes, I'll just look forward to serve as many people as possible because I love serving people in different aspects.

 

Pat Perdue  20:19

So you mentioned learning, that you've learned some things on this journey. What's one thing that might leap to mind as something that you've learned?

 

Ritik Sharma  20:26

The best thing that I have learned so far is you every story has three sides, and you get to be a better person to hear all of the three sides and you have to be, you know, kept yourself and your biases aside, and you have to hear all the stories from three aspects. And all these, you know, listening to each and everything, I guess, that what makes you a good leader, you have to listen to all aspects and implement in a way that everyone should feel that they have, they are being well heard.

 

Pat Perdue  21:01

That's a great lesson to listen, and what are the three sides?

 

Ritik Sharma  21:05

So the three sides I would say the first all there is every story.  I would say how the three sides the one that I tell, the one that you tell, and the one that is actually true, then watch what's going on and what actually is because everyone has their own perspective, and everybody has their own story, what's going on, but there is always a third side. You know, well, what actually the story was.

 

Pat Perdue  21:30

That's a great learning. I think there's plenty of folks listening that, including me, can probably do a better job of absorbing and really honoring that learning. So thank you very much for sharing that and Ritik it sounds like the Seneca Student Federation is in super good hands and benefiting from super good leadership. So I guess on behalf of Seneca College and the students, thank you for all the time that you put in this role.

 

Ritik Sharma  21:57

Thank you so very much, man for having me. I am blessed to have these words from you. I really, really appreciate what you have said for me and I would try my level best to serve as much as I can for my students.

 

Pat Perdue  22:09

Thank you, Ritik. And thank you so much for joining the podcast. It's been a pleasure meeting.

 

Ritik Sharma  22:14

Oh, my pleasure. Thank you so much, man for having me by goodbye.

 

Pat Perdue  22:19

And that was my conversation with SSF President Ritik Sharma. So, what stood out for you. For me, I was particularly struck by his energy, of course, and his commitment to making a difference, and how his journey began in a pretty straightforward way in helping out with the Food Bank  I placed a link to the Food Bank’s webpage in the show notes. The Food Bank specifically is a great way to get involved and really make a tangible difference to students live. Food anxiety, wondering where our next meal will come from, or having to skip a meal or two because you have to wait until your next pay day is real. And it's the kind of thing that no one really talks about. So maybe check out the Food Bank or any other initiatives at the SSF and discover how you can make a difference. Maybe that's your challenge accepted. See what I did there. Okay, I'd like to thank Ritik for joining us. And as always, I'd like to thank you for listening. I'm Pat Perdue. Stay proud Seneca.