I was greeted with a nurturing love of reading and learning. It was the ability to sit down, focus and construct an argument or opinion. Reading is a superpower.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

When I first got to McMaster, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was able to get started in Humanities and set myself up to pursue a multitude of paths. I was taking intro to computer science courses, philosophy, world religions, and communications. The flexibility throughout the program was helpful.

What advice do you have to current students who are looking into their career options?

Go meet other people in other faculties. I expanded who I was chatting to across different disciplines and that helped set me on the career I meant now. I was interested in start-ups and pitch competitions which came from a lot of conversations I was having with students in commerce. While daunting, it was totally worth it. There are so many departments at McMaster, you can go meet nursing students, engineering students or future lawyers, all which might expand your mindset on career options.

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

If you want to try to make a career out of something in the arts, universities give you an option to see its application in both an academic setting and professionally. Many professors were practitioners of their craft and performers, maybe on stage or on screen somewhere.

It shaped my ability to be objective in analyzing different situations and learn to become a critical thinker.

What inspired you to select your program or area of study in Humanities at McMaster?

Being able to be part of an interdisciplinary program was key for me as it allowed me to explore my multiple academic interests.

How do you feel that your program shaped your personal and professional development?

It shaped my ability to be objective in analyzing different situations and learn to become a critical thinker. The interdisciplinary nature of the program allowed me to explore interests related to social justice, not limited to one department.

What experience(s) were most impactful during your time at McMaster?

The most impactful experience was being able to take a seminar that provided presentations of different careers relating to law and policy. This experiential component was extremely helpful.

How has the versatility of a Humanities degree enabled you to succeed?

The interdisciplinary nature of my degree is what led me to presently pursue a PhD.

The small size of the Studio Art program at McMaster helped me to form close collaborative relationships with my professors, which is something that I have always carried with me.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

The small size of the Studio Art program at McMaster helped me to form close collaborative relationships with my professors, which is something that I have always carried with me. The flexibility of the program allowed me to challenge myself and be curious, which I think is invaluable to a liberal arts education. After graduating from the arts program at McMaster, I started a media arts-oriented collective/space (HAVN) in downtown Hamilton with a number of McMaster alumni from various faculties and disciplines, which would not have been possible otherwise.

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

Do your best to take the leap and engage in community and collaboration!

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

I place a great deal of value on a humanities/liberal arts education for giving a certain breadth of thought and conceptual flexibility that proves important later in life.