Discovering the programs — and students — of RRC Polytech

By: Liam Nikkel

In late September, I ran into a friend I didn’t expect to see on campus. We chatted for a bit and I asked him what he was doing there. To my surprise, he said he was a student at the RRC Polytech Exchange District Campus.

For nearly a month, we had been attending classes in the same buildings, yet we hadn’t happened to meet until that day in the Tim Hortons line. Curious, I asked what program he was in. He said “Business Information Technology” (now called Application Development and Delivery). I hadn’t heard of this program before, so I got him to explain his studies to me. I was intrigued.

After we parted, I looked around and seemed to notice the people around me in a new way. Surrounded by countless students with their own stories, I realized how limited my perspective was. I was in a dome. The dome was my classes, classmates, teachers, and assignments — all the things that pertained only to my program. I rarely took the time to be curious about what else was happening on campus. What other programs are offered at RRC Polytech? Who is taking them? Why are they taking them? I decided to find out.

Over the course of a week, I set out to talk with students from different programs at RRC Polytech and take a series of photos with them. My only request was that they bring one item that is important to them in the context of their program.

All it takes to break free of the dome is to be curious and strike up conversation. I’m constantly surprised by the stories I hear from people when I simply take the time to chat with them. If striking up conversations with strangers isn’t your favourite pastime, don’t worry — I’ve done it for you.

(Photos by Liam Nikkel)

Rez Christian Gutang

Information Technology
“I like solving problems. Once I find a solution to a difficult problem, it’s very satisfying.”
“This is my baby. Gotta have backups; that’s what IT is!”

Hannah Carmona

Digital Media Design
“I like how versatile digital media is.”
“I’ve always really liked drawing. I use it a lot in my design course.”

Julie Bujak

Business
“I’ve worked in a lot of restaurants; I’d like to run my own one day.”
“It’s nice to have something to sip on while I do my work.”

Iain Ormiston

Application Development and Delivery (BIT)
“I’ve been thinking a lot about accessibility in web design. I’d like to make websites much easier to use for people with all abilities.”
“I do pretty much all my work on a laptop, so the act of physically writing things down helps me feel more prepared for each day.”