From Classroom to Career: Reesha Jagdeo’s Transitions

From Classroom to Career: Reesha Jagdeo’s Transitions

Bangkok Patana Alum, Grad’17


In the vibrant city of Vancouver, Reesha Jagdeo, Grad’17, explains how she bridged the gap between academia and the corporate realm. As a Digital Marketing Specialist, she now navigates the marketing department of an IP endpoint company that provides solutions for voice paging, emergency alerting and secure door entry. Her role involves everything from campaign management to SEO and SEM. It’s a far cry from her student days, but Reesha thrives on the novelty and engagement of her new professional environment.

Going Back to Canada: An In-Betweenish Experience

Reesha’s return to Canada to attend the University of Guelph was more complex than she anticipated. Unlike international students, she wasn’t entirely new to the country, but unlike Canadian peers, she had spent her formative teenage years in Bangkok. A young childhood in Canada gave familiarity with Canadian culture and Ontario was a place that would always be home. Yet, her young adult years spent in Bangkok created a unique perspective. Reesha found herself in an ‘in-betweenish’ group, not fully Canadian but not quite an international student either. Memories of teenage adventures with friends in Bangkok tugged at her heart. The transition wasn’t just geographical; it was emotional. Reesha missed Bangkok and felt a void even amidst the familiar streets of Mississauga. The biggest asset was her family and the comforting familiarity of Canada.

From Student to Professional

The transition from university to job hunting wasn’t without its challenges. Reesha said the job market proved more formidable than expected and the transition to a new city (to Vancouver, BC from Mississauga, Ontario) was difficult, even for someone who had moved from Canada to Bangkok and back. Reesha vividly recalls her first post-university interview. Thought she entered the interview with confidence, given her three work terms and qualifications, the interviewer framed her experience as insufficient, almost as if they were doing her a favour by offering the job. It left her feeling diminished and doubtful. Reesha persevered, reminding herself of the value she knew she could bring to the table. She said, “Once you ride out the overwhelming waves, there will be others full of opportunity.”

Mental resilience became her anchor during this period. The tools she used to navigate the job search included platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn. She also connected with other professionals over LinkedIn, to grow her network.

Preparing for full-time work was eased by Reesha’s co-op experience during university. Yet, she said that stepping into the workforce was nothing like she anticipated. From her experience at school in Bangkok she was used to dress codes but the nuances of office culture, workplace expectations and behaviour could be daunting. “University really does not prepare you for the workplace. I did develop a lot of soft skills in university, but I learnt a majority of the hard skills on the job. You have to apply the theory in order to learn,” she said.

Reesha said there was also the emotional realisation that being a student had been an integral part of her identity. She said leaving that behind at 22 years old was both liberating and challenging. No longer did she have the structured routine, predefined projects or clear deadlines. Feedback was scarce and there was no rubric for performance assessment, in the same granular way as there was in academics.

Studying Marketing Management at the University of Guelph

Reesha’s passion for understanding human behaviour and business studies had been evident while she attended Bangkok Patana School. Marketing was her destined career path, and the University of Guelph became her academic home. She said the co-op programme provided refreshing breaks from the academic grind, allowing her to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. Co-op terms – three in total – exposed her to diverse roles, including digital team assistant, educational programming and research assistant and marketing associate.

Through these experiences, Reesha discovered not only what she loved but also what she didn’t. It was a process of elimination, narrowing down the industry and work type that resonated with her.

Culture Matters: Navigating Work Life

Reesha’s job interviews were strategic. She probed beyond the usual questions, seeking insights into work-life balance, employee support and leadership styles. Her current employer’s genuine enthusiasm about work-life balance stood out. They understood that happy employees produced better results. Reesha advocated for herself, recognising that job-seeking wasn’t a one-way street – she deserved a workplace that aligned with her values.

As Reesha continues her journey – from Bangkok Patana School’s corridors filled with learning opportunities and friendships forged to the professional world in Vancouver and beyond – every challenge faced becomes a testament not just to academic learning, but life lessons imbibed along the way.

The information in this post is valid for the date posted above. Our curriculum and policies are dynamic. For up-to-date information, please contact the school directly.