It was incredible that in my program we had professors who were at the top of their respective fields. They were all so passionate about what they taught and that passion ...

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

I would say for me it was the quality of the professors. It was incredible that in my program we had professors who were at the top of their respective fields. They were all so passionate about what they taught and that passion became contagious. I loved that they sort of untaught within some lessons, they made you question sources. They made you question what you have taken as sort of as gospel and unpack that, like the historiography of it. And that, for me, was fascinating because it was like being a detective.

What advice would you give a current student who is looking into their career options?

Keep doing the thing that you’re doing for love because you never know what set of eyeballs it will reach. You’ll start meeting people through these experiences and opportunities who share your interests and can aid you along the way.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Humanities degree?

The best thing is just being able to walk away and having a general understanding or a general timeline of history (not just to win Trivial Pursuit games!) but you know it does factor into so much understanding. Knowing that the Italian Renaissance happened after the Roman Empire or, to take it out of the West, that when the Europe was in a so-called Dark Age, China was having it’s own renaissance of sorts with the Tang dynasty. Just having that general understanding of things may sound like small potatoes, but if the Humanities were lost, there would be a huge knowledge gap.

My program at McMaster provided me with the opportunity to commune with students and professors who encouraged interdisciplinary approaches to creating knowledge.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

My program at McMaster provided me with the opportunity to commune with students and professors who encouraged interdisciplinary approaches to creating knowledge. I was exposed to a blend of both kinesthetic and text based learning, which helped me to grow a deeper intimacy with course material.

What advice would you give to a current student who is thinking about career options?

My advice to a current student would be to focus on getting the most out of each class you’re enrolled in. Having an idea of what career you’d like to pursue is important, but this should not be at the expense of developing a broad range of knowledge that will help expand the skills you bring to whatever career you end up in.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Humanities degree?

A Humanities degree promotes creativity and critical thinking. Right now, the pursuit of social justice in our contemporary moment demands an examination of the historical and geo-political conditions that undergird our social relations. The Humanities provides students with an opportunity to interrogate privilege and structural inequality. By doing so, imagining and creating a more just world becomes possible.

My program at McMaster taught me a breadth of skills beyond what you see on the surface from a history degree.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

My program at McMaster taught me a breadth of skills beyond what you see on the surface from a history degree. Yes, there was critical thinking, reading, writing, and learning historical events. But behind those activities I learned advanced writing skills, in particular how to synthesize complex ideas and events into digestible arguments. Probably most importantly however was learning critical analysis skills like considering a source or argument from every angle and to take into consideration who is writing the stories we learn and internalize both in history and elsewhere in society.

What advice would you give to a current student who is thinking about career options?

My advice would be to keep your options, and mindset, open. The skills you learn with your degree are applicable to so many professions. The area of work I ended up in wasn’t something I knew existed when I was doing my degree however the skills I learned at McMaster and my studies beyond perfectly prepared me for it.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Humanities degree?

A degree in humanities gives you a vast amount of transferable skills that are useful in many areas of life and in countless careers. The value in learning how to think critically, analyze and synthesize information, and effectively communicate are crucial to success in nearly every situation.