Alejandra Fraile
Alejandra Fraile: HMC candidate
Leadership is not about being first — it’s about making sure no one is left behind.
Meet Alejandra, a Bachelors of Accounting student at HMC Campus! A passionate leader who cares about promoting Financial Support: Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards across all campuses!
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I’m inspired by the idea that leadership is stewardship. If I’m given influence, it’s not to elevate myself, but to protect opportunities for others, especially those who may not always feel represented.
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The most pressing issue students across Ontario are facing is affordability. The rising cost of living and education is pushing many students into survival mode rather than allowing them to fully engage in their learning experience. As a Board member, I would prioritize advocacy, transparency, and support systems that make education more accessible and equitable for all students.
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The most pressing challenge students face right now is financial strain combined with academic pressure. Many students are balancing jobs and full course loads just to stay afloat. I would focus on improving transparency around support systems, expanding access to resources, and ensuring leadership decisions reflect the real financial realities students live every day.
What are some of the student issues that you would like to bring to the Board table?
Why is Financial Support the area YOU ARE most passionate about?
Advocating for financial support is important to me because it has directly shaped my ability to continue my education at Sheridan. Throughout my entire academic journey, I have relied on OSAP to fund my studies.
Like many students, I have experienced both the benefits and the challenges of navigating financial aid systems, including application requirements, technical issues, delays, and uncertainty around funding timelines. These experiences have given me a realistic understanding of how financial stress can impact students beyond just tuition payments. Over the years, I have encountered several issues with OSAP and related financial processes, from technical errors to documentation concerns and funding delays.
Through these challenges, I learned how to advocate for myself by working with the Student Hub, understanding policies, and following up until issues were resolved. This hands-on experience has helped me develop confidence in navigating financial systems and has allowed me to support peers by sharing guidance, resources, and practical advice when they face similar problems. I also have experience applying for and participating in scholarships and other financial assistance programs. Receiving this support reinforced how meaningful scholarships, bursaries, and awards can be in easing financial pressure and allowing students to focus more fully on their academic and personal well-being. For many students, these resources are not just financial support but a source of encouragement and validation that their efforts and circumstances are recognized. Financial challenges affect students in many ways, including academic performance, mental health, and overall engagement with campus life.
I have seen how confusion about eligibility, unclear communication, or limited awareness of available supports can prevent students from accessing the help they genuinely need. This is why advocacy in this area matters deeply to me. I believe students deserve financial systems that are transparent, accessible, and responsive to their realities. As a Board member, I would bring a student-informed perspective grounded in lived experience. I care about ensuring that financial support programs are communicated clearly, administered fairly, and designed with student needs in mind. My goal is to help reduce financial barriers so that students can focus on learning, growth, and completing their education without unnecessary stress or uncertainty.
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I am a third-year student in the BBA Accounting program and an active member of the Hazel McCallion Campus community. I balance my studies with professional and academic experience, which has shaped how I think about governance, accountability, and student advocacy. Through my academic journey, I have developed an interest in ethics, decision-making, and how organizations work. Working on team projects and presentations has shown me how important communication, fairness, and listening are in creating a positive academic environment. Outside of school, I have experience as a math tutor and in customer-service roles, where I developed strong communication skills, patience, and a sense of responsibility. These roles have taught me how to support others, explain complex ideas clearly, and stay organized and dependable. I am interested in joining the Board of Directors because I genuinely care about students and believe in listening to their concerns with fairness and respect. I value hearing different perspectives and trying to understand what students are experiencing, whether their concerns are academic, financial, or related to mental well-being. I approach these situations with an open, unbiased mindset and do my best to support others by helping them find solutions or the right resources. I also believe it is important for students to have a voice in decisions that affect them, and I would take that responsibility seriously as a Board member.
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Well-being of the student and engagement. With an increase in academic pressure, financial stress, and meaningful community connections, we need to ensure students are not only represented but also supported, included, and empowered.
Alejandra’s leadership style:
As a leader, what is Alejandra more likely to do on the board?
"Student leadership SHOULD feel more SUPPORTED and less STRESSED”- Alejandra
As a reminder, you will need to vote for campus specific representatives, but all Board discussions are passed when every Board member is involved. Take look at all of your campus reps, stop by their campaign booths and make an informed decision on March 16 - March 20.