Q: What is UTACCEL?

A: UTACCEL is a student organization which is dedicated towards bridging Canadian and Chinese students by promoting communication and the exchange of leadership. UTACCEL facilitates the exchange through annual conferences held in China, this year is our 4th year. UTACCEL will hold two conferences this year, the International conference which focuses on bringing the Canadian Campus life to the delegates and the entrepreneurship conference which will allow the entrepreneurial ideas of the delegates to shine in an intense competition.

Q: What are the roles of the ambassadors/seminar leaders?

A: The ambassadors are in the closest contact with our delegates, they share their stories, organize the fun activities and during the international conference the ambassadors will live with the delegates, the ambassadors embodies the UTACCEL spirit of exchange of leadership through person-to-person connection . The seminar leaders promotes their passions to the Chinese delegates through seminar sessions and course projects, they are also mentors for teams competing in the entrepreneurship conference to help them develop their ideas and organize their thought.
Both seminar leaders and ambassadors are bridging elements between the Chinese and Canadian cultures, they are expected to share their knowledge, experience and views, but at the same time much understanding of the day-to-day life and aspirations of Chinese delegates and the finer details of 21st century Chinese culture can be gained.

Q: When will the conference be held? How long is it?

A: The tentative date is the first two weeks of August. The length of the conference is about 2 weeks. The international conference will be 8 days, the entrepreneurial conference will be 3-4 days, and 2 days are allowed for transit between conference locations.

Q: Where will the conference be held?

A: The two conferences will span three cities in China. The international conference is held in Beijing, China, at the Affiliated school of Peking University. The entrepreneurial conference is held in Guangzhou, China, at the Four Point by Sheraton.

Q: What is expenses would the UTACCEL team cover during the conference?

A: UTACCEL will cover all accommodations and meals in the duration of the conference, UTACCEL will also cover the transportation expense related to go from one venue city to another.

Q: Is there any financial assistance for the conference?

A: Ambassadors will receive reimbursements to domestic travel to and from the venue cities in China, up to the amount of 1500 RMB (ie 免费国内机票*). Seminar leaders will have the benifits of the new forum program, fund raised in this program goes towards travel assistance for cost of airfare for seminar leaders, past fundraising for seminar leaders averaged 300 Canadian dollars per person.

Q: August is such a long time in the future, what if I cannot be sure about my plans of the summer?

A: UTACCEL acknowledges the uncertainty of planning for a major event so much in advance, nevertheless, we would encourage you go-ahead and apply for our positions. We have established a drop-out deadline of Feb. 29th, 2012. Even if you have accepted our offers and paid deposits, if you drop-out before the deadline, no financial penalty shall incur on you.

Q: How long and detailed does the seminar leader seminar/project proposal have to be?

A: The seminar/project proposal should be concise and within one page in length. Additional details regarding your seminar/project shall be included in the interviews, you would need to prepare a 10-15 minute presentation regarding your topic for the interviews.

Q: Is there a simple template as in what a 5-hour seminar should be composed of? Does the seminar topic have to associate with a hands-on project?

A: The seminar leader presents first an introductory lecture to all delegates for 30 minutes, then students will sign up for breakout sessions for individual seminar leaders. These break out sessions will have approximately 15 students, an hour each for 4 days. And the seminar should have a close relations with the course project (“Project Fantastic”), for example the topic “The United Nation” would be coupled with the project “Conflict resolution through simulated UN security council”.

Q: Is there a new deadline to applications?

A: Due to December 5th deadline is in close proximity of the exam period, we would like to extend our deadline over the winter holiday period, the new deadline is January 13th, 2012. Applications completed prior to the December 5th deadline shall have first priority for interviews, applications completed after December 5th shall have interviews scheduled according to application time. All positions of ambassadors or seminar leaders maybe filled prior to the January 13th, 2012 date, at which point all remaining applicants will be notified.

Q: What would the new timetable look like?

A: First Round Deadline: December 5th, 2011
Interviews: December 12th, 2011 – January 9th, 2012
Second round: Jan 6th, 2012 – Jan 13th, 2012
Rolling Application Deadline: January 13th, 2012
Decisions: Third week of January, 2012

Are you passionate? Are you motivated? Are you a leader?
Are you eager to share your knowledge and experience?
If your answers are YES, we are looking for YOU!

Who we are – Let’s ACCELerate the World!

UTACCEL is an official student organization recognized by University of Toronto. We strive to promote communication and exchange of minds between Canadian and Chinese students on a platform for the students delivered by the students. Our goal is to provide our peers opportunities to exercise leadership skills as well as networking with elite students from a diverse background on an international level.

What we do – We Inspire people! We execute Dreams!

UTACCEL shall hold two conferences this year, the UTACCEL international conference will be held in Beijing and the UTACCEL entrepreneurship conference will be held in Guangzhou/Shenzhen. Every year, a group of exceptional seminar leaders from different fields are brought together to share their experiences and express their passion while inspiring Chinese high school students through the form of seminars and activities, as well as mentor students to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.

2011 Seminar Leader, Amy Jiang

Main responsibilities:

• Design and deliver a 5 hr interactive seminar in the topic that you are passionate about in the international conference which brings a Canadian classroom to Chinese high school students
• Design and supervise an interactive group project which will be showcased to everyone at the conference
• Sharing Canadian culture and university experience with the delegates through activities and sustained contact during the conferences, learn about the Chinese culture and aspirations of Chinese high school students
• Provide guidance and insights to mentor teams competing in the entrepreneurship conference
• Use your professional knowledge to help a team of Chinese student to blossom their business idea in English

Benefits:

• Building a strong network with outstanding individuals from U of T
• Opportunity to network with distinguished guest speakers from both industry and academia
• Develop communication, organization and leadership skills
• Experience three different cities with unique cultures from northern and southern China
• Free accommodation, meals and domestic transportation throughout the conference
• A platform is developed to help seminar leaders network with academic and industry partners in Canada, with the goal of holding joint seminars with these partners on the topics that individual leaders are passionate about

How to apply:

To apply, please go to apply.utaccel.com for applications, include:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Seminar/Project proposal

2011 Seminar Leader, Alex Ayers

2011 Seminar Leader, Graeme Maitland

Who we are – UTACCEL – Let’s ACCELerate the world

UTACCEL is an official student organization recognized by University of Toronto. We strive to promote communication and exchange of minds between Canadian and Chinese students on a platform for the students delivered by the students. Our goal is to provide our peers opportunities to exercise leadership skills as well as networking with elite students from a diverse background on an international level.

What are we seeking – Ambassadors

UTACCEL will organize two conferences this year, the UTACCEL international conference in Beijing, and the UTACCEL Entrepreneurship conference in Guangzhou/Shenzhen. We are looking for students, who are passionate about improving the mutual understanding between Canadian and Chinese students, and are enthusiastic about leading a group of talented and like minded Chinese delegates. They are bilingual individuals that will serve as the bridging element to overcome language barriers for the Chinese participants, and shall work one-on-one with seminar leaders to be part of the exchange of ideas. They are fun-loving and creative in their approach to share their rich experiences living and studying in Canada with the Chinese delegation. Above all, we are looking for individuals that can be part of the Chinese student body and lead from within.

2011 Ambassador, Di Wu (middle)

Responsibilities

• Adapt to two fast paced conferences in three cities in China, and construct new bonds with hundreds of highly motivated Chinese students
• Design and deliver fun content for our international conference, show your creativity
• Lead the Chinese delegates within our college system and activities
• Tell your story, share your thoughts about life and experiences in Canada
• One-to-one grouping with a seminar leader to help overcome the language barrier and facilitate discussions, team-up with delegates to accomplish a fantastic project
• Mentor and support the Chinese delegates for our entrepreneurship conference
• Team up with the delegates and create a new business idea in three intense days
• Network with the brightest future entrepreneurs and build a sense of community

Benefits

• Share your knowledge, network and make a change in the lives of Chinese students
• Work with an incredible and diverse team of people, develop communications, organizational and leadership skills, be a part of a fun, intense and unforgettable conference
• Free meals and accommodation and transportation between conference venues, domestic transportation cost to get to the conference is reimbursable up to 1500 RMB
• Live with the delegates, work with the delegates, party with the delegates and truly get to know their lives, dreams and aspirations

How to apply

To apply, please go to apply.utaccel.com for applications, include:

• Cover letter
• Resume

City Explore, International Conference 2011

Ambassadors at UTACCEL 2011 Entrepreneurship Conference

Hope you had a great kick start of a year! Having had three years of experience and two successful conferences this past summer, UTACCEL is looking for talents to join our executive team 2012!

UTACCEL, founded in 2009, is an officially recognized not-for-profit student organization. Guided by the mission of “Establishing an international educational platform delivered by the students and for the students. By bridging gaps between different cultures, we enable students to discover their leadership potential and make a positive impact on society,” UTACCEL work with the top professors and students from University of Toronto, successful business leaders and politicians from both Canada and China to design a variety of programs for high school students in China.

The UTACCEL International Conference is an eight-day summer camp style conference with a theme of “To be inspired by the exchange of knowledge, ideas and culture on a Canadian Campus” to be held in Beijing in the summer of 2012. It’s not only a great opportunity for students to gain valuable knowledge; it is also a great opportunity for students to experience a real and inspiring multicultural Canadian classroom. Students will get first hand understanding of studying overseas and explore the challenges and opportunities that the two great nations have to offer.

The UTACCEL Entrepreneurship Conference is a three-day business conference with a theme of “Turn your ideas into reality” to be held in Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the summer of 2012. Besides gaining essential business knowledge, students will discover their entrepreneurial potential through a variety of activities and competitions. Students will get the opportunity to learn and challenge the young entrepreneurs from China and Canada, and network with their future partners to pursue their dreams.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

External Team

Directors of Corporate Relation / Projector Manager(s)

Your role will be to search and approach potential sponsors / speakers both inside and outside U of T and maintain amicable relationships with past partners. You will gain insight to the whole process of organizing conferences and capture the essential values of UTACCEL. Working amongst a motivated team, you will have great opportunities to expand your network with corporate leaders and to improve your communication skills by convincing them that UTACCEL is worth investing for.

Language requirement: English or Chinese (oral and written)

How to Apply?

Past experience with UTACCEL, e.g past Seminar Leaders, Ambassadors, Delegates and Executives, will be considered assets but we also constantly look for new talents to join us every year. Please send your Resume and Cover letter to executives@utaccel.com by Monday Oct 31, 2011 11:59pm and address the position of interest on the subject title. Check out our website www.utaccel.com for more information!

大约在四年前，我应该跟很多留学生一样，对这个新的国度，新的生活充满无数的期待与兴奋感，新鲜感。当时的我，对眼前的困难不以为然，一直相信，只要肯努力，就没有什么是做不到的。从我踏入加拿大国境的那一刻开始，我就告诉自己，“这个将会是一个崭新的开始，而我只能越挫越勇，不成功便成仁。”

我在这个陌生的，没有家人陪伴的国度的前2个星期充满了各种的期待，所以尽管遇到了什么困难或者挫折，例如说：迷路，语言障碍，孤独等等，我依然还是很乐观的心态。我把每一个困难，每一个挫折都当成了很好的经验，做错了什么我就告诉自己，并强调：我学到了什么。当时真的是把自己当做是婴儿看待，因为听懂的不多，能表达出来的也非常有限，所以我对自己的要求就是：只努力，看到自己有进步那就好了。
我当时英文其实真的不好，虽然以前在国内高中的时候英文也考得不差，可是来到这边，完全就是两个样子。我能说的，就是那些我在英语课上学过的，课外的东西我基本上都不知道。所以第一天上ESL课，我当时很勇敢地跟老师讨论中国的某些政策问题，可是最后老师布置了作业我都不知道。不过从那一天我知道，这里的高中老师对你的第一印象非常重要。我那一天用自己的broken English说出了自己的观点，虽然暴露了自己英文不好的弱点，可是却让我英文老师对我这个人刮目相看，而这个也对我以后的英文水平提高有很大的推动。
还记得当时除了修英文，还有就是数学和一些business related的课。加拿大高中数学对于大部分中国学生来说都是易如反掌，只要保证上课听课，做作业的话要90以上绝对没问题。可是当时让我最最最感到挫败感的是我当时选修的一个10年级Introduction to business的课。当时全班20个学生，只有我一个是国际学生，其他都是native speakers,所以跟班上的学生融不进是非常正常的。最重要的是，当时老师上课说的话，我听懂的只有50%不到。可是老师他人很好，知道我的困难，总是会给我一些extra notes给我看所以我也不至于真的云里雾里。而且我也一直告诉自己，“我现在听不懂没关系，我好好学，很快就会全部都听懂的了。”
可是就这样，3个月过去了。在这个课上，我还是没有朋友， 老师讲的内容我大概还是有30%-40%听不懂。随着自己的英文没有什么起色，我变得越来越焦虑，并开始怀疑自己的能力。于是有一天中午在学校吃饭的时候，我就突然崩溃了，在我的中国留学生朋友面前哭了起来，也没有任何继续去上课的心情。当时还是17岁的我，如果逃课的话，学校会留言去homestay家里的电话告诉家长说我没去上课。现在只能感叹，当时真的是太纯情了，竟然就去了学校的guidance跟老师请假。其实这里的公立高中都有一个叫guidance的地方，其实就有点像国内的教务处之类的，学生有什么事情都可以去那里跟老师聊聊什么的。我当时坐在那位老师的办公室里，不能自已地哭，并断断续续地说出我的心情。
以下是我在2007年写的日志，各种grammar错误。求修改。

“I told her that I can’t understand many thing when I was in the class., then she open my file, and looked at my marks…after she scanning my marks.. she said:” you do very well!! You are the only student who can have 90 mark in business in the first term in my memory…see your math is 90,,your English is 81,,that ‘s excellent.!!…” brabrabra..

But,,, ,this is the biggest problem…I told her…:” I can get good mark in the subjects,, but, ,,I can’t understand what’s the teacher talking about except study!!!!! !!!!when the teacher was talking about the knowledge ,I can understand, ,or I can guess the meaning ..but when he was talking about the funny story in his life or sth else,, I can not understand! I can’t feel my English have been improved!!. And I am lazy ,I spend lots of time on internet and chatting,.”

After listening my words, she said “interesting…after your words ,I know you’re a promising ,very promising…u can do much better, and I am gonna tell you, you expect too much,..” She understood what’s my feeling and my problems. She said I have to do something to improved my English:” I know your problem.. Most of your friends are Chinese , Chinese stick together ,speak Chinese all the time, you can not improve your English in that situation, you have to go out, the know friends from other countries, speak English…”then she told me some stories happened in my school.. about the big difference between the students speak their own languages and the one who speak English all the time… I knew the difference..,,, but .that ‘s hard to be …I like my Chinese friends. We help each other .company each other. .but,, if my English still like that poor,,, and be improve so slowly….i can’t face to my parents,, they spend money to let me study English in Canada ,but I speak Chinese all the time after class….just like I was in China….Listening and oral English are the poorest part of my English, and they are the most important parts”.
上面说到的这个问题，我觉得大部分中国留学生都会遇到，那就是发现自己老是在跟中国人玩，很少会说英文。我当时也纠结了很久，甚至试过跟自己的中国朋友都说英文，可是发现那样行不通。最后自己慢慢发现，其实只要多跟Homestay交流，多跟一些外国人（native speaker或者其他国家的国际留学生）交流，英文还是会有进步的。
反正当时跟她聊完，我真的好多了，不是因为自己的成绩比我想象中好，而是说在当时那个非常时刻，有那么一个人在你差不多倒下的时候，说了那么几句简单的话，可是却恰恰给了我起码知道自己的付出并不是完全没有收获的，也许我只是在不知不觉中就变化了，不动声色得连自己都没发现而已。

必须说，我刚来加拿大时，对她的第一印象是很差的。没有电视里北美大城市的高楼林立，没有熟悉的街道人群。温哥华的机场出来就像是一片大农村。什么是加拿大？谁是加拿大人？怎么样是加拿大的生活？美国有强大的企业，英国有尊贵的皇家，德国有严谨的工程师，西班牙有奔放的斗牛士。 而在我出国之前，白求恩和说相声的大山是我对加拿大的唯一认知。可是在之后加拿大10年的生活学习，让我渐渐了解了这个民族， 转变了看法。

1776年，美国13个州脱离英国皇家的控制，宣布独立。其它的南部州也之后相继宣布独立。而同在一片大陆上的北边殖民州选择了继续忠于英国女皇，这就是后来的加拿大。在之后的200年里，加拿大被夹在两大势力中间，同时吸收着来自英国和美国的影响，逐渐学习，发展，定位自己。这个历史背景造就加拿大今天的体制，文化和经济，使她在保守中没有放弃着对自由的追求，在各个民族的融合中体现着自己的文化。

保守让加拿大在世界的商业舞台上并没有太多的建树。可是在08年的金融危机中狂流中，全球的金融体系都被淹没，而保守的投资政策却帮助加拿大的银行屹立不倒。自由和开放使加拿大面对许多少女怀孕流产，青少年吸毒的问题。可是同时在世界的每一个大陆，都有着来自加拿大的背包客。他们会背上一个包，穿着拖鞋去浪迹天涯，到非洲穷苦的地方做教育，医疗。相对简单的历史似乎没有给加拿大留下太多的文化底蕴。可是通过几百年的移民，世界各地的人们来到这里扎根，发芽。融合，而不是同化变成了加拿大的特色。人们可以在多伦多吃到世界各地的美食，参加各个民族的庆典。

很多人都说加拿大很像社会主义。她有高昂的税收，相对也有更好的福利。她的医疗福利给了每个人生存的机会。我有两个朋友，一个刚刚生的小女儿心脏有个小洞，需要治疗补救，另一个朋友患了败血病，每个月要换血。他们天价的医疗费用都由政府来掏腰包。可是同时这种庞大，复杂的体制又臃肿缓慢，吃饭扎了一根鱼刺，可能要排队几个月才能拔掉，而移民的申请更是要等上数年之久。

加拿大的学校基本上都是公立，也一定程度上秉承了政府的特色。大家耳熟能详的顶尖私立学校，像耶鲁，哈佛都在美国。可是也不能排除美国充斥的野鸡大学。而加拿大的大学都有质量保障。多伦多大学以理论研究突出，得过8个诺贝尔奖，许多教授，实验室都是世界顶尖的。滑铁卢大学有加拿大的MIT的称号，她培养的电脑专业的学生是北美许多一流企业的抢手货。可是由于它的很大部分财政从政府来，注定了他们没有同样的资金来做品牌，在国际上也就没有那么大的名声。留学加拿大有个好处是留下来工作十分容易。大学一毕业，不管有没有工作都可以申请3年的工作签证，不拍被遣返。由于与美国的距离，也使申请美国的工作变的容易许多。

我也想再重复一下许多人说过的话，加拿大的大学是相对宽进严出。我和许多中国留学生一样，中学时数学物理的成绩打败本地受教育的学生跟秋风扫落叶一样。可是进入大学以后，教授放任，难度加大的这种突然转折让我用了很长时间适应。我有不少同专业的朋友留级或者退学。

同时，课外的机会之多是我以前在中国没有想象到的。学校有成百上千的学生组织，一群群志趣相投的同学一起分享，竞争，创造。我们UTACCEL也是在这样的环境里诞生的。

许多人会把加拿大的大学和美国的大学做比较，觉得只有哈佛，斯坦佛这样的学校才是最好的。可是选择学校和选择一款手机一样，有的人喜欢大屏幕，有的人喜欢发短信，不是每一个都适合你。这个决定应该取决于学校专业的特色，教授，同学的能力，未来毕业的机会和付出的代价。

如果你想出国混个文凭，无论在哪，你都会度过痛苦的四年; 如果你有足够的资源和野心，也许美国的大学更适合你; 如果你想有好的学习环境和未来发展的机会，加拿大的大学绝不会让你失望。

加拿大不是天堂也不是农场。有一部获奖纪录片叫 “Which way home”，讲述了中美洲的小孩如何梦想美国是个黄金遍地的国家，他们坐着火车，走过沙漠，有的被遣返，有的死在路上，有的到了美国遇到更多挑战。留学加拿大也是一样，会有快乐，也会有困苦，有失望，也会有希望，最终还是要靠你自己。

初到加拿大时，因为读12年级课程的关系，每天总是有很多空闲时间。我总爱有事没事的跑去多伦多公共图书馆看书。中文英文小说历史，什么都读。

读的多了，闲暇无聊的时候会观察周围的人。图书馆的怪人很多，比如说有一个黑人，每天下午两点四十五分总会穿戴整齐准时出现在图书馆。他每次都没有跟任何人说话，而是径直走到图书馆的最后一张桌子，开始翻越一本本厚重的百科全书。一边看口中还念念有词，有时候看得高兴了还会指手画脚，甚是陶醉。还有一名流浪汉，全身臭哄哄的。但是每天总会趁着他人练琴的间隙跑进琴房练琴。别看他一身肮脏，他却弹得一手好琴。透过琴房的玻璃，我模糊地看到他陶醉在自己的音乐世界里。

当阳光随着时间的推移一点一点地消逝的时候，我才意识到我又在图书馆消耗了一个下午了。回家的路上，我突然觉得自己该干些什么，唉，总不能每次都跑去看书，感觉太特么书呆子了？！我就这么琢磨着。忽然想起图书馆有一张海报，是关于招聘志愿者leading to reading program. 内容大体是讲如何辅导三四年级的小朋友英文和数学的。我心想，要不弄个这个试试。

于是就这样，我稀里糊涂的报了名，过了面试，参加了培训。成为了一名辅导员。

我辅导的小朋友是个巴基斯坦来的，我的主要职责是辅导他的数学和英文。刚接这个任务的时候，我心中暗喜。数学么？太好教了！英文，让他读读童话就可以了。

结果上课的第一天，我的想法和现实实在差距太远。小朋友一上来就问我，” 姐姐，我们什么时候可以玩游戏？”， 我说“你做完这10道数学题我们就玩。”结果10道简单的一位数乘法题他做了足足只有15分钟。每一道题，他都要拿出他的手指开始比划，有时候比划着比划着就弄错了，然后他笑笑说“Let me do it again!”当时我的嘴巴就只有”OMG”的O了。在他折磨到第三题的时候，我毅然决定开始教他乘法口诀表。“two times two equals four, two times three equals six… ”没想到这个巴基斯坦小朋友在抵抗学习方面还是蛮有能耐的，“No,  that’s too hard! I don’t wanna do it. Can we play the game?”, 我摆出一副to be or not to be 的面孔，“小子你要么给我背完2的乘法口诀，要么你就别想玩游戏。”小朋友听到之后，只好默默地背完了2以内的口诀。

终于，游戏时间到了。没想到他学习不怎么安分，玩起游戏却超级厉害。不过悲剧的是，说服他从玩游戏的乐园回到写作业的现实当中又是一番较劲脑汁的较量。小朋友在跟我来回对话N个回合后，终于屈服在我的淫威之下，把他的课文念完了。很快，一小时的辅导时间就结束了。我的组长跑来跟我验收，问我的感想如何。

我幽幽地吐了一口气说，小朋友甚是可爱，就是不够有定力。组长大美女笑笑说，来这里参加辅导项目的小朋友，大部分都没有良成良好的学习习惯的。而我们这个项目就是希望培养小朋友们的学习习惯。我拨浪鼓似的点点头，心想“娘啊，妈妈当初是怎么让我背下整整一页的乘法口诀表的？！”

在之后的每周一次的辅导时间里，我对他有了进一步了解，他告诉我他有一个哥哥，一个小妹妹。哥哥学习成绩也不怎么好。爸爸妈妈希望他将来能做一名工程师，这样他就能拿很多钱养家。他也提到过，他的表哥就要结婚。我当时很开心的祝福，结果他却一脸悲伤的说，他们的婚姻是被安排的。他说他长大以后，家里也会给他安排婚姻的。’I don’t have the choice to choose the right one. ’真难想象一个小学三四年级的学生会这样想。。。与此同时，他的成绩也有了进步。某个星期，我碰到了来接他的妈妈，平时都是他自己走回家的。他妈妈很高兴得拿着成绩表跟我说，他的数学从C变成B了。我看着他妈欣慰的眼神，心里忽然觉得很心酸。想着爸爸妈妈把我拉扯到那么大，还送我出国读书，真的很不容易。

在拿到大学录取通知书后，我决定回国呆一段时间。于是辞去了图书馆辅导员的工作。也跟那个巴基斯坦小朋友说了再见。其实这是我第一次做志愿者，也是我第一次辅导别人。

最开始做志愿者的动机，也只是想打发无聊的时间以及拿到那一封推荐信好申请大学。但是在辅导这位巴基斯坦的小朋友的过程中，却让我认识到自己所能获取并不仅仅是一纸证明而已。就拿同做辅导员的其他志愿者来说，他们当中，有得是高中生，有得是已经工作了十年的高级工程师。他们在乎的不是那所谓的推荐信，而是看到孩子们的笑脸。记得有一次，那名高级工程师Alla带了几块硬纸板来辅导，说‘today we are going to have a great fun’。依据那几块硬纸板模型，剪裁报纸，并做成一个纸飞机。两个小朋友拼装好后。就在过道上进行比赛。经过一场厮杀拼大的纸飞机大战之后，Alla问，你们有想过纸飞机为什么能飞起来么？小朋友们立刻七嘴八舌的说了起来。那你们有想过我们的纸飞机还可以怎么改造么？小朋友说，‘Yes，i think i have a great idea!’完全看不到胆怯,完全看不到不自信。对于这些生长在加拿大的小朋友来说，敢于质疑敢于发问，就是他们教育的精华所在。而Alla也很开心的给他们上了一堂工程设计课。

我从未想过以自己的能力能去帮别人什么。在第一次真真正正服务到别人后，我想我是爱上了这种滋味。之后，我又做了很多志愿者，例如帮穷人建造房子，帮环保组织整理数据库，帮教授做研究，帮中华情搞宣传，当然也少不了做UTACCEL tutor的志愿者。

在这里，志愿者是一种很纯粹的东西。大家会因为相同的兴趣爱好聚在一起帮忙，例如多伦多国际电影节志愿者，Danforth艺术节志愿者。你所需要的只是一个充满微笑的脸，还有一种“Yes, let me help you”的精神。当你渐渐融入这种活动后，你会发现这才是快乐的存在。

每一次的志愿行动，我觉得我收获的不仅是服务他人，还锻炼了自己的各项能力。最重要的是，我回想起我在图书馆碰到的那个黑人那名流浪汉，还有在我生命中影响我的各种人，我突然觉得自己活得很有生力， 我发现了自己喜欢干的事情。

第一次奉献，你拿到的不仅仅是一封推荐信而已。

融入了UTACCEL在里面非常好啊，但我觉得如果可以加些心理描写，突出下对于一个加拿大的留学生这种志愿者的经历意味着什么或者第一次和外国小孩亲密接触感觉和中国孩子有什么不同呢，第一次面试紧张吗，似乎可以更突出留学专栏的意义，而并非是单纯的第一次经历。