With supportive professors, guest speakers and events my time as a student was impacted greatly by the varying perspectives and experiences received.

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

I greatly valued the theoretical applications of learning in the classroom that shaped me into a critical thinker. Although, it’s the wonderful professors and opportunities McMaster provided that bridged theory with hands on experience that made my journey at McMaster so meaningful. With supportive professors, guest speakers and events my time as a student was impacted greatly by the varying perspectives and experiences received.

Earning a Humanities degree is the strongest step you can take to being well-rounded and in-demand.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

My professors and TAs were above and beyond what I expected of them. The class sizes are just the right size that if you were willing to make even the smallest effort, you could easily be known and recognized by your professors. The professors have the right mix of academic and professional experience and are ready and eager to help you. I never doubted that they wanted the best for me. Because I attended office hours or chatted/emailed with my professors and TAs, they knew how far to push me on an idea and encouraged me when I asked for advise on if I should continue to an MA. I credit my positive experience at McMaster to my professors and TAs.

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

Earning a Humanities degree is the strongest step you can take to being well-rounded and in-demand. Even better, your skills only get stronger the more you work with them. When you start looking for a job, see it as a step to a career. Your first job out of university will not be the job, it will be a job, and once you collect and work a few of these positions and you couple your education with these experiences, you will happen upon a career. It might not be exactly what you went to school for. When I graduated from McMaster, I thought I’d be working for an ad agency or a publication or media conglomerate right out the gate. I’ve spent time in the financial industry, in the cannabis industry and now, I work in Nuclear energy! I was fortunate enough to build connections and gain the right experience to let me be selective about where I want to work. I chose Nuclear because it aligns with my dedication to green living and positive environmental action. Once you have a strong tool box of experience, education and connections, you can take your skills and work wherever you want. Humanities is the ticket to what you want.

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

The value in my Humanities degree is versatility. The discipline is so fluid and adaptable and is needed everywhere. You are not limited to one job title or one industry. I can take my skills and work in any industry I want.

There is something special about the program and I really think it has to do with some of the professors there who put their hearts into teaching and mentoring students.

I really loved my time at McMaster and I will always cherish the people I learned from there. It really was an excellent program and I truly felt cared for and supported. I’ve worked with people and taught students who have gone to Ivy League schools and I quickly noticed that they were not as well prepared for academia as I was. There was always a link to the “real” world in the courses I took and I think that grounded my work and made social/cultural awareness and activism a serious part of my vision. There is something special about the program and I really think it has to do with some of the professors there who put their hearts into teaching and mentoring students.