A day in the life
Courtney Larkin (BMgmt'10)
I decided that I liked Dal one day, and ever since, that’s all I wanted to do. I was probably 12. It’s the only school I applied to.
A journey of self-discovery
When asked to recall her most memorable Dalhousie moment, Courtney Larkin's answer comes without a moment’s hesitation: Orientation Week.
“I was extremely shy on my first day, and very scared,” admits the native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. “By the second day, I had completely lost my voice from cheering. Some of my best friends now are from those few days. I got to meet a lot of people, and I remember meeting the VP Student Life at the time and thinking that would be the coolest job in the world.”
Four years later, she was elected president of the Dalhousie Student Union – a fitting role for a student who declared herself a Dalhousian at a far younger age than most. “I remember going on field trips to see shows or performances at the Rebecca Cohn, and thinking ‘I want to go here,’” she recalls with a laugh.
She spent her first two years at Dal studying sciences, working towards a career in dentistry. But a course in entrepreneurship, taught by Ed Leach, inspired another path and she decided to complete a Bachelor of Management degree.
She now works as Campaign Manager for The United Way of Halifax Region.
While Courtney was completing her final year at Dalhousie, she participated in the National Mentoring Program (NMP). The NMP included a summer work term at a public, not-for-profit organization, while being mentored from a private-sector employee.
“Through the NMP I was able to combine my analytical, organizational, and leadership skills while exploring the services and programs of the United Way of Halifax Region. In my role as the Special Projects Coordinator I took a lead in the Community Development division and Campaign Development division. During the summer months I developed several initiatives to engage the university demographic to build awareness for the opportunities and services within the United Way.”
Courtney encourages other undergraduate students to consider the opportunities available through the NMP, “It’s a great experience to work with a not-for-profit. Not only can you apply your skills, but also create a sustainable change that can affect many people’s lives.”
