In a heartfelt address at the NBCGSS Student Week opening ceremony, Dr. Zoë Meletis (faculty member in GEES and ESS) welcomed new graduate students to UNBC while emphasizing the vital role of international students in the university community.
Speaking from her position as Graduate Coordinator of the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies program, Meletis shared her vision for graduate studies at UNBC. “Graduate studies should be one of the best times of your lives,” she stated, encouraging students to embrace both academic challenges and personal growth opportunities during their time at the university.
Meletis, who holds office hours Wednesdays at 11 am in the First Nations Centre, emphasized her commitment to making graduate studies more welcoming and supportive at UNBC. She highlighted the importance of work-life balance, sharing how activities like soccer, swimming, and community involvement enrich her own life beyond academia.
The core of her message focused on international students, who numbered over a million across Canada in 2023. Drawing from personal experience as the daughter of an immigrant and his English language teacher, Meletis expressed deep appreciation for the diverse perspectives international students bring to classroom discussions and campus life.
“Thank you for choosing UNBC, Prince George, and Canada,” Meletis addressed international students directly. She acknowledged their challenges, from navigating multiple languages to managing financial pressures and sometimes working multiple jobs. “Your work ethic, ingenuity, energy levels, and dedication are noted and admired,” she affirmed.
Addressing recent policy discussions about international students in Canada, Meletis stood firm in her support for international students. “You offer powerful reminders of the rich global fabric that we live in terms of different ways of knowing, doing, speaking, working, worshiping, coming together, and understanding the world,” she concluded. “I want you here. We need you here.”
