Eli Agay

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED & CONQUERED

It feels surreal to finally post about this. I have officially completed my Social Services Worker Diploma at Seneca Polytechnic and will have the final stop at the Convocation next month. It seemed like yesterday when I posted about my reintroduction content when I moved to Toronto from San Francisco and have taken the biggest career leap from Corporate Human Resources to Community Services.

During my 2 year program, I was literally the title of my favorite movie- Everything Everywhere All at Once 😅. From interacting with future students during open houses, being a peer mentor for 4 semesters, a campus tour guide to new students, a student leader as President of the Social Services Worker Club Seneca@York (2024-2025), Student Ambassador for the Faculty of Continuing Education, Consent Ambassador in the Gender-based and Sexual Violence Prevention Education Team, Student Help Representative in The Service Hub all the way to supporting & cheering for our new alumni members during convocations, I was every time I wear my uniform and name tag with the goal to provide the same sense of community that I have enjoyed during my stay. Thank you Seneca International for recognizing my contribution and including me in this year’s International Student Achievement Award winners.

Surrounded by an amazing set of people from my friends, instructors, club advisors & peers, management and colleagues in my on campus & off campus jobs- I was able to finish my program strong being in the President’s Honour List for Winter 2025. Can’t help to reflect using the Ecological Systems Theory as I look back how my surrounding system gave me courage to carry on and helped me heal & persevere.

When the transcripts came out, I immediately called my grandmother in the Philippines and celebrated (with tears of joy) that I will be walking the convocation with High Honours. To my family, your support has given me the resilience that I needed as I navigated the toughest times. From Tres days during my young Uni days to 4.0 GPA, your trust gave me the confidence to bet on me.

Excited to celebrate our hard work with my fellow graduates at Meridian Hall!

How was your Summer?

This was the icebreaker question for my first in-person class this semester and mine was a very Seneca Summer ❤️🖤🤍

Grateful for the trust of our Social Services Worker (General) faculty as they have involved me in promoting our program to future & new students, thanking our community partners and welcoming my fellow students from the Yorkgate campus who are now all attending the Seneca @ York campus starting this Fall 2024.

Summer indeed went by so fast when I started my Student Ambassador journey for the Faculty of Continuing Education as well as a Peer Educator for Consent @ Seneca. These roles have allowed me to know & engage more with the Seneca community and serve with purpose & passion through Sexual Violence Prevention Education.

Sharing some Summer snaps:
-Radio Interview for SSW program promotion (In photo: Ryan Flanagan, Seneca Polytechnic Media & External Relations Specialist and Kayla of KiSS 92.5)
-Community Appreciation Day for the SSW partner agencies (In photo: Biljana Bruce, School of Community Services Academic Chair)
-Open House sharing Seneca’s Part-Time Programs (In photo: Salina He, Faculty of Continuing Education Administrative Coordinator)
-Empowerment in Community Drop-in session in collaboration with Counselling Services
-Consent@Seneca Bystander Intervention presentation for Seneca Residences
-Consent@Seneca portfolio presentation for Seneca Athletics & Recreation
-Student Mentoring in Life and Education (SMILE) program Peer Mentor Training (In photo: SMILE Peer Mentors)
-Fall 2024 Welcome Day as Campus Tour Guide (In photo: Fall 2024 Seneca @ York new students)

I’m excited for my last year in Seneca as I continuously serve as a Student Ambassador, Peer Mentor and President for the Social Services Worker Club Seneca @ York (and hopefully, continue my streak in the President’s Honour List as I finish my Diploma 🙏🏽)