1 Starting My Journey in the Sustainability Office

It all started in 2021, during the height of the COVID pandemic. I was working in the Grounds Department at Trent University, helping out with a big task—managing the waste during student move-in. With everyone moving into dorm rooms, there was a lot of trash, recycling, and compost to handle, and they needed help from students who were familiar with the campus.

At first, it felt a little overwhelming, but I jumped right in, determined to get the job done. I didn’t ask a ton of questions—I just figured out what needed to be done and did it. Whether it was directing traffic or organizing the waste bins, I was focused on making sure everything ran smoothly, all while keeping an eye out for ways to make things more efficient. It wasn’t glamorous work, but I found myself really enjoying the problem-solving side of things and the sense of leadership that came with it.

One day, I had the chance to meet with the Sustainability Office Coordinator, who was checking in on the move-in process. She noticed how I was managing the chaos with a calm attitude and a can-do approach. She told me she was impressed with my initiative—how I didn’t wait for direction but instead just got things done. She asked if I’d be interested in working with her in the Sustainability Office. I was honestly thrilled by the offer! It felt like a perfect fit. So, without hesitation, I said yes.

That’s how I ended up in the Sustainability Office, and I’ve never looked back. It was an incredible opportunity to continue building on the leadership skills I had started developing in the Grounds Department while diving deeper into sustainability initiatives at Trent. From then on, I had the chance to create and lead events, organize sustainability campaigns, and engage with students and staff in ways that I never expected when I first started out. It all started with that one moment of showing up, taking the initiative, and embracing the challenge.