Even before Emma MacAulay graduated from TRU with her Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, she had already decided to continue her education in the fall. “I knew my educational journey wasn’t over. My parents always said, ‘Knowledge will always belong to you and can’t be taken away.’ So that has been a guiding sentiment,” she said. “Learning doesn’t always need to hinge on a professional outcome.”

MacAulay said, “It’s okay to change your mind – part of learning is finding out what works for you.”

Growing up, her educational interests varied, and her career trajectory had been anything but a straight line. “I wanted to be a nurse, then a lawyer, and maybe a police officer; perhaps I could go to HR. There’s so much I wanted to achieve that it felt difficult to be 100% decisive about my direction.”

She was accepted into the Human Resource Management Post-Baccalaureate program in Sept. 2024, then changed her mind and applied to the Master of Business Administration program. She eventually found her place in the MEd program. “If I were to tell my younger self that, say, one day I’d be doing a master’s, I wouldn’t have believed me,” she laughed.

Connection at Convocation

Just before she crossed the stage in her cap and gown at her June 2024 convocation, MacAulay met writer and storyteller Alicia Ashcroft, who was working as the orator’s assistant. They had a warm, good-humoured exchange that stuck with MacAulay, who later contacted Ashcroft, among a few other potential TRU mentors, for advice on growing her post-grad networks. Ashcroft, who welcomes any opportunity to mentor a TRU student or graduate, invited her for a strategic planning session, which led to an offer to join the Student Storyteller Squad.

“What impressed me most about Emma was her intentionality. She is the architect of her own life plan. She didn’t have a background in the social media/marketing realm, but that’s not a dealbreaker because professional development is a priority of the storytelling experience,” Ashcroft said. “That’s an important reminder for any bourgeoning professional who doesn’t yet have a well-rounded resume. Enthusiasm, creativity, curiosity, work ethic and willingness to learn are just as valuable as experience.”

The Office of Student Life promotes the academic, personal, spiritual and social support that Student Services provides. Storytellers audit their own experiences as students, set personalized goals, engage with supports, and create authentic content that resonates with their peers.

“Our mission is to destigmatize and demystify, not only accessing supports like Counselling or Accessibility Services, the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, Queer Connections and Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response, but feeling safe to talk about it with others,” Ashcroft said.

While it’s heartening to see awareness grow on campus, Ashcroft noted that “witnessing personal growth is such a joy. Emma has her anxieties, but she is often fueled by that fear. She wanted to expand her world and did exactly that. She wasn’t going to wait to be plucked out of the crowd. That was a key factor in nominating her for the Peer Mentor of the Month award, and one of the reasons why she won.”

Navigating lockdown and life on the other side of COVID

Having transferred to Kamloops from a well-established life in Surrey at the peak of COVID, MacAulay had limited opportunities to socialize and felt disconnected from the community after two years of remote learning. Feeling acutely aware of her need not just to rebuild her social network, she examined how to show up in a post-pandemic world.

“I can be super shy and introverted; I’ve gotten caught up in perfectionist mindsets that may have kept me safe from rejection, conflict, and this intense fear of mediocrity, but also held me back from gaining momentum and achieving goals.”

Living is learning

Even knowing what she knows now, MacAulay is hesitant to call her lack of undergrad extracurriculars a mistake.

“I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to navigate student life, but it is wise to seek out mentors and volunteer on campus and out in the community, as it will only benefit yourself and everyone around you.”

When convocation and career prospects are still a few years away, the singular goal of completing the degree can feel daunting.

“University is not just about your grades. Understandably, there are specific requirements that you may need to meet for certain competitive programs, but your GPA shouldn’t solely define you. Engaging in clubs, peer mentorship, and co-op can offer a multitude of micro-successes while further developing emotional intelligence and empathy.”

MacAulay has since volunteered for orientation and convocation, as well as for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. She has also completed WorkStudy terms with Advancement and Gender & Sexual Diversity.

Tapping into unknown talents

Quickly realizing she has a knack for production, in part because MacAulay personally understood how on-camera anxieties can affect performance and, ultimately, the final product.

“I am much happier behind the scenes. I don’t love being on camera or being the star of the show,” MacAulay said. “Trust me, I get how awkward, weird and embarrassing filming might be.”

To create a sense of ease, MacAulay exudes humour and patience, often providing status updates on the content and explaining the context in terms of vision, messaging, music, and effects. She’s been known to act out movements from behind the tripod – partly to exemplify her vision, but also so the actor doesn’t feel alone. While completing the task is the goal, safety is the main priority.

“If there’s something that really makes you feel uncomfortable, then obviously don’t push yourself too far, but discomfort is part of the human experience. It’s an opportunity to reclaim some of your power. When somebody says, ‘You made me feel so comfortable,’ that’s a highlight of a filming day, and it’s honestly more rewarding than the media asset. As much as I love seeing positive engagement online, it’s ultimately about making an impact beyond the screen. Social media trends may fade, but those confidence-boosting experiences could last a lifetime.”

“Reel” and relatable

TRU Student Life is a digital community and a hub for events and resources, with the storytellers acknowledging the challenges and frustrations of student life through tangible, relatable, and humorous content. “It’s not a critique of the system or a complaint; the best, most meaningful stories are honest, authentic and transparent. Even when it’s niche and specific to the TRU student experience, we strive for a sense of universality,” MacAulay said.

One video trend MacAulay co-produced with Ashcroft and fellow storyteller Reese Dolphy has smashed records, earning 4.3 million views and well over 300,000 likes. While “Student Life in four words” affirms that the team has their finger on the pulse of the social media zeitgeist, she admits it’s tricky to manage expectations on the other side of a big win.

Behind the scenes: MacAulay filming a reel with SVPR and Future Student Ambassadors.

MacAulay reflects on how her perfectionism can also flare up when the gap between expectations and reality widens. “I can be a take control kind of person, but I’ve learned that leadership involves planning and thoughtful direction, but also acceptance, understanding and occasionally, surrender. Sometimes you have to let go of a vision if someone’s got an idea they’re excited about. We want to capitalize on that bravery, as it’s really gratifying to empower others to try something new. People will always be more important than the product.”

Setting the stage for success

Part of Ashcroft’s mandate with the storytellers is to create a detailed plan, knowing you might need to throw it away on the day due to last-minute changes.

“Scouting locations, writing a script or outline and engaging in some pre-production discussions are among the best practices to ensure the smoothest possible shoot. When you feel calm and organized, it creates a sense of ease in an environment that can crackle with excitement and anticipatory anxiety. It’s about prep, then play, framework, then fun. It can be hard to get everyone in the same room, so that allows us to get to the fun bits faster,” Ashcroft said.

Looking back at her life, MacAulay has learned that your purpose becomes more defined over time, and so does your future. “Each time you test yourself, with each experience you seize along the way, you ultimately reveal something new about yourself and the breadth of your potential.”

Emma’s tips for life design:

• If you didn’t get the A, don’t let that slow you down. Talk to your instructor, ask for feedback and access support.
• Manifest your future, but trust that the universe may have other plans. My mantra is: ‘If this is meant for me, it will happen. If it isn’t meant for me, I don’t want it.’
• If a job or course doesn’t match your interests or personality, it’s not a failure; it’s a learning experience.
• Surround yourself with people who will inspire you to be your best self.
• With the right mentors and support, university is the best place to take calculated risks.
• Seek out on-campus and community opportunities, and explore options through the Federal Student Work Experience Program.

The TRU Peer Leader of the Month award recognizes the diverse contributions made by peer leaders and rewards students who exemplify attributes such as passion, leadership, resilience, excellence, creativity, and empathy.