An introvert at heart, Bachelor of Science student Jencel Diaz says the MacEwan Ambassador program is to thank for her new identity as a self-described “yapper.”

“A few years ago, I would have run away if someone I didn’t know talked to me, but this program pushes you out of your comfort zone,” says the Biological Sciences major. “You become more social, your public speaking skills definitely increase and the cherry on top? You make new friends.”

Diaz says different training sessions and workshops like the Emerging Leaders program helped her learn how to balance school and volunteer commitments, including her role as the president of the MacEwan Circle K International club. “Now, when I'm feeling overwhelmed, I know I need to step out and take a break. I walk outside, take a nap or catch up with friends in SAMU.”

For Diaz, who was born in the Philippines and came to Canada in 2014, volunteering with the Edmonton Food Bank as a MacEwan Ambassador holds special meaning. “I went to a public school, and some of my classmates were orphans,” she says. “I saw what it was like to have barely anything, and I don't want the families accessing the food bank to feel that.”

Diaz has big plans for her future – medical school, working as a doctor in Whitecourt, where her family lives and eventually taking on medical missions to the Phillippines. “I feel so privileged just having the opportunities I do,” she says. “It fills my heart, and I want to walk out of university having made the most of it so I can give back to my community.”

Giving back is something she encourages all students to consider. 

“Just go for it! Volunteering is a no-lose situation. It’s good for your personal growth, and you can help your community improve, one step at a time.”