This reel was part of a larger series entitled “My TMU Breakthrough” which was featured on @studentlifetmu, Toronto Metropolitan University’s Instagram channel for current students. The intention behind the series was to feature current students telling their own stories of a moment during their undergraduate studies when they modeled courage, resilience, or growth. Each story would be a snapshot aimed to encourage prospective and current students to take bold, sometimes difficult steps to achieve success in whatever way they define it. Estella’s TMU Breakthrough is an example of a commuter student exercising courage and resilience to make meaningful connections on campus as a way to make the most of her undergraduate experience at TMU. It also demonstrates to commuter students that it is possible to find connection on a commuter campus. We worked with Estella to edit her story to a concise one-minute script and then helped her develop a film plan that used visuals to amplify the story of her personal breakthrough. The result was a short reel that clearly resonated with our student body, as evidenced by the impressive engagement on social media: 1,900 likes, more than 1,000 shares, and over 48,000 views.
From the Judges
This entry tackles a rarely seen topic on social media—the challenges of commuter students. Through a thoughtful, collaborative documentary, it gives voice to their experiences while also offering solutions, portraying TMU as a supportive and inclusive university. They produced a high-quality piece.
