“You just feel like you [always] have someone is your corner.”
Carleton alum Emily Kelly graciously set aside some time to chat with me about her experiences as a PMC student and student-staff member.
Emily Kelly with her Carleton degree.
Emily graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (honours) in Sociology with a Minor is Disability Studies, in June, and when I asked what she could recall about her first experiences with the PMC, right back at the beginning of her time at Carleton, she was quick to express that while she was nervous coming in she, “always felt in really good hands with her PMC Coordinator(s).”
We (PMC) always encourage incoming students to register and schedule their intake appointment over the summer leading up to starting at Carleton, when possible. It avoids the September rush and cuts down on potential delays in getting started. Emily did just that, and confirmed in our conversation that doing so meant feeling more settled-in going into her first term of university classes.
Emily joined us as a student staff member in August of 2022, just before beginning the final year of her program, and was candid talking to me about the ways in which having multiple perspectives on the PMC, and our mandate, informed her as a student and staff member.
When you started working at the PMC, were there any parts of being a PMC student that informed how you approached the position?
Definitely! Being a [PMC] student, and having that lived-experience of not being ashamed of being registered with the PMC makes it second-nature to encourage students who are hesitant to approach us [at the desk].
[…] Especially in my role working at the front desk – which is something I didn’t even realize how much I appreciated [before working here] – it just makes sense to be really welcoming when people come in, the way that [everyone] made me feel really welcome.
Conversely, are there any parts of being a PMC student-staff member that informed your approach to PMC and accommodations as a student?
I came into the PMC with lived experience, and my minor was in Disability Studies, so I had [already] taken an interest in accessible education, [but working at the PMC] helped to inform the direction of research for my capstone project.
As much as there’s no shame in having my disability, there’s still a [social] stigma, and being someone with that same experience [from both sides] helps me to relate to our students.
I always save my favourite question for last when I get the chance to speak with members of the PMC community. When I asked Emily if there was anything she wished that everyone knew about the PMC her answer came both sure and fast. “If you need help, just ask for it,” further expanding that, “even if you think it’s not a PMC thing, it [might be] and if it isn’t we can help you find who to talk to.” Emily went on to add, “I’ve never seen a group of people so tight-knit [by the genuine desire to see our students succeed].”
Lynette Wilson
Carleton University
Published Wednesday, July 12, 2023