When Syd Wells decided to come back to school in 2023, juggling classes, assignments and an off-campus job was a difficult balancing act. Last year, the political science major found a new work opportunity here at MacEwan that also allowed them to build lasting friendships and help fellow students.

Wells was one of the first nest leaders in the Community Nest program, which connects new students with those who know the ins and outs of campus life. Nest leaders plan activities and events to help newcomers build their community in fun, stress-free environments. They can also offer advice, answer questions or just hang out and chat during scheduled times during the week.

“The connect hours were fun. It was a very personal thing where students could come see you and talk about their stress or ask their questions. Some people just wanted to sit with company. It felt special,” says Wells.

Weekly and monthly events cover a wide range of interests, so there’s something for everyone. Wells planned movie nights, dodgeball games and even hosted an event where attendees presented PowerPoints to get to know each other’s niche interests (or, in Wells’ case, learn why the government should pay them for their cat). They’ve even accounted for students who might worry about finding peers at their same stage of life.

“We've started specific groups, like one for mature students,” says Wells. 

It’s something Wells says they would have benefited from when they first started at MacEwan. But being a nest leader has helped them build leadership skills that they’re already putting to use in their new position as a student engagement assistant.

“You really come out of your shell. With the way things are nowadays, social interaction can be hard for some people. If you are not there 100 per cent, it's not going to go well,” says Wells. 

In their current role, they’re still involved with some of the more behind-the-scenes parts of the program, like helping to plan the major “landing events” to celebrate milestone points in a student’s first year. And while they hope to continue that as they go on to pursue an Honours degree, their time as nest leader holds a special place in Wells’ heart.

“It’s the best job I've ever had. I worked almost 10 years before going back to university, and there isn't a job that I've ever done that is like this. You are just there to be a friend, an experienced person who someone can come to and be like, ‘Hey, so I messed up this way. How would you approach it?’” says Wells. “You can really help people.”

To learn more about joining the Community Nest program or becoming a nest leader, head to MacEwan.ca/CommunityNests.

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