Lessons in Leadership: Emma McDonald Talks Sprosh
Sprosh, the orientation week for new Sprott students kicks off its ninth year this September. Emma McDonald, BCom/18, said she was terrified when she arrived at Carleton as a freshman. Her reservations about whether or not she would fit in or make friends quickly washed away during Sprosh.
“Within the first day, all of those fears disappeared because I got completely embraced by all of these upper year Sprott students. They showed me their favourite parts around campus and made me feel really included. Because of that experience, that’s why I came back every single year as a [Sprosh] volunteer,” said Emma.
Four years later and Emma was the CEO of Sprosh.
A moment she will never forget is when a second year student expressed that Emma was the reason she had come back as a volunteer for Sprosh. Emma said that was incredible and rewarding, since there had been an upper-year student who had been that person for Emma when she was a freshman.
Emma has taken the lessons she learned from Sprosh and applied it to other aspects of her life. The first lesson was finding the courage to step outside of her comfort zone. “The more you’re genuinely yourself, and the more you’re open to other people, the better a Sprosh experience you’ll have, and a better work experience you’re going to have,” Emma expressed.
The second key lesson was learning how to socialize with many people she didn’t know. Emma said that this is a skill she has taken into her work life: “As soon as you decide to become interested in someone, they will meet your expectations and be interesting. And you’re able to talk about things you never knew before, because every single person you meet knows something that you don’t.”
From SPROSH, to competing in case competitions, to being part of the Sprott Business Students Society, the networks Emma created during her time at Sprott have led to all of her employment positions since. She is now working as a recruitment officer at Carleton University. As a recent graduate, Emma said that her career goals are focused on working in positions where she can help people.
“The things I want to accomplish in the future, I want them to benefit others. That’s a huge motivator for me—being able to use the opportunities I have to ensure that the world is a better place for others,” Emma shared.
Emma still remembers how the upper year Sprott students made her feel so welcomed during orientation and set the tone for the rest of her time at Carleton. This sense of community Emma experienced extends far beyond Sprosh.
“The great thing about Sprott is how welcoming and encouraging they are. Most of the opportunities I was involved with, I was actually recruited for,” said Emma. “There was someone else who saw me, saw potential and saw an opportunity to bridge me into the clubs, society or something else. All you have to do is be open to the opportunity and someone within the Sprott community will definitely give you a hand up.”