Jackson Ho, '06 BSc

Jackson Ho, '06 BSc Nutrition and Food Science, is a Quality Assurance Manager for Inovata Foods in Edmonton. While he ensures the quality of frozen lasagnas, salads and much more meets his company's standards, he is also a job shadow host for the U of A Job Shadow Week hosted by CAPS: Your U of A Career Centre. Ho believes in passing along his knowledge and providing learning experiences to other University of Alberta graduates.

Tell us how you stay connected to campus through volunteerism.

In Dr. Lynn McMullan's Nutrition and Food Science 363 class, 20 per cent of the students' marks are from participating in a food safety project at a food processing plant. As a former student, I was approached to see if I could host a group of students. I did the same project 11 years ago and thought I could provide a better experience for the students. It's a great opportunity for students to apply theoretical knowledge they learned in class in a real processing environment.

Over the years, we took in more groups as the number of companies participating diminished due to time and resource constraints. This involvement has led me to more collaborations with similar student projects for Nutrition and Food Science 312, as well as becoming a CAPS: Your U of A Career Centre Job Shadow host and speaking to students at the Nutrition & Food Science Career Forum and Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology student night.

Why do you think it's important for grads to volunteer their time?

When I was in university I had no idea what the food industry was like and there was no job shadow program at the time. I felt there was nothing to help bridge the transition from university to finding a job and actually working in the field. I have been through that process and I hope students can learn from my experiences and mistakes. It's a great way to invest in students, as they might become your colleague, co-worker or even your boss!

Do you volunteer for other organizations? Where?

I am a volunteer judge for the Edmonton Regional Science Fair and the Alberta FIRST Lego League Championship.

What does volunteering mean to you?

To me, volunteering is offering my time and skills to people who can benefit from them. It's a great way to stay connected to the next generation of students, as they tend to keep your perspective fresh. I really enjoy the one-on-one interactions and getting to know their story. Often, I learn from them as much as they learn from me.

What impact has volunteering had on you? On others?

The impact is far-reaching, from personal growth to expanding your social and occupational networks. Volunteering has allowed me to retain my roots with my faculty and the U of A. Never did I think I would be able to speak to a group of 120 students. When I see what bright futures these students have, it reminds me of my journey and keeps me wondering what is next to come.

What advice would you give to people looking to volunteer?

Volunteering is an extremely worthwhile endeavour. Find something you are passionate about and don't be scared off from commitment requirements. You'd be surprised how many people would be interested for just an hour of your time to talk!

Share a story or a memory from your time volunteering.

One of the things that I always offer to the students is a mock interview. I would gather several of my co-workers in the boardroom and we would conduct the interview as if we were hiring for the company. Most often, this is the student's first job interview and we love throwing out questions that would catch them off guard and unprepared. They understand that it is a learning opportunity and gives us a chance to highlight areas they can improve on. It's always great hearing back from the students who felt this experience has helped them obtain internships positions and jobs.

On average, how many hours per month do you volunteer?

It varies throughout the year. During reading week, when students are off class, I host several job shadow groups, which takes up my whole week. Other times, it's as simple as reading over a student's resume or an email discussion on current scientific/social political topics.

Anything else you would like to add?

Bring on the students, my door is always open!