Our Stories

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Amanda

By Amanda Backal, student

“I have found that whenever someone describes Open Circle, they almost always comment on the beautifully welcoming and inviting atmosphere. As we navigate university life ...

HasimAlani
Hashim (middle back) with his weekly volunteers at the Pathways to Education program

By Hashim Alani, student

Throughout my undergrad years, the experiences I’ve had with Student Open Circles ...

Student holding a sign that says "SOC supports growth by building a community!"

Join Student Open Circle in Growing Stronger Together by supporting our crowdfunding campaign. Help us raise $10,000 to support students spiritually, in their personal and leadership growth, and in service ...

A group of children and mentors smiling and laughing

New first year students have been looking us up and getting involved this summer before they even start at McMaster! In this letter, Julia, Divya, and Rose vividly describe the ...

JulieHarper

by Julia Harper, student

My involvement with Open Circle has been one of the highlights of my undergrad journey so far. Many will remember the feeling of being a ...

YouthTransitions(LR)

Our weekly student volunteers provide mentorship and tutoring for underserved children and youth throughout Hamilton.

Above: online tutoring for recent immigrant youth at YMCA. Bottom-left: childcare at a local women’s ...

Map Team
Divya (centre) with Marybeth, Julia, and others during our streetwalk training

By Divya Tamilselvan, student

Something you don’t normally find at university: a service that is devoted to helping ...

By Rose Leishman, student

Student Open Circles (SOC) has been an integral component to my university experience and impacted me in multiple ways. It provides an incredible community space ...

Students walking in a circle playing musical instruments

This is an exciting, scary, sad, and hopeful time of year for students who are graduating. Many tell us how much it’s meant to them to have the safe space ...

A large group of students around a bonfire

By Vivian Li, student leader

When in-person school reopened in 2021, I was still two years away from graduation. Although at the time I had already been at McMaster ...

 

When it rained on our end-of-term bonfire event, we moved inside and…
Panel 1, a group of students sitting in a cozy room, some on the couch, some on the floor, all wearing masks, with a TV screen showing a bonfire with the caption, "Creating cozy vibes." Panel 2, a group of students sitting around a table laughing and talking with the caption, "Joy of connecting." Panel 3, a group of students sitting in a cozy room singing along with a guitar with the caption "Jamming (from Taylor Swift to Jeff's songs)." Panel 4: Multiple large pieces of paper with drawn images of colour patterns and shapes with the caption "Collaborative reflection on hope."

 

New Beginnings Bonfire in May

Story in pictures continued…

Panel 5, a group of students sitting around a bonfire on benches engaging in conversation with the caption, "The weather finally cooperates!" Panel 6, a group of students standing in a circle outside in a park playing an game with the caption, "Getting to know each other." Panel 7, a few students playing hopscotch in a parking lot with the caption, "Play!" Panel 8: A student smiling into the camera with a background of students drawing with chalk in a parking lot with the caption, "Jen facilitating a chalk reflection." Panel 9, a group of students gathering around a picnic table full of food with the caption, "Potluck feast." Panel 10, a group of students sitting around a fire pit engaging in conversation and making s'mores with the caption, "What we couldn't do inside." Panel 11, three students happily sharing their s'mores to the camera with smiling faces with the caption, "S'mores!"