January Student Profile : Aly Ostrowski

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Aly Ostrowski made her way to the Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) program at Conrad Grebel University College as a way to continue her passion for peace studies. Before arriving at the University of Waterloo, Aly completed her undergraduate education at McMaster University, and dedicated a number of years w

Aly Ostrowski
orking in the Peace Education field. Aly skillfully applied her skills in conflict transformation to her passion in peace teaching and educational work. Soon after, Aly realised that she wanted to further her academic aspirations by attending graduate school. MPACS was a striking program for Aly to chase because of how it combines a progressive academic learning environment with a great community and a strong focus on building civil society.

Currently, Aly is conducting a literature review for the Resilience Research Centre at the University of Dalhousie. Her project in particular focuses on researching the resilience of refugee youth. Working every day on a project she is passionate about has been extremely valuable in using and further developing her research skills. Aly wanted to research the topic of youth refugee resilience because it is current, timely, and close to her heart.

Now in her last semester of MPACS, she has found that it has taught her to walk through the world with an open mind.

 There are so many different narratives and interdisciplinary perspectives involved in peace building that can only add to my understanding of a civil society

 It is this interdisciplinary approach that drew her to Peace and Conflict Studies in the first place. She feels that by viewing a situation through so many areas of studies and through different lenses, one can come closer to understanding the true reality of that situation.

Aly hopes to c

Aly watching a sunset
ontinue her work in the Peace Education field through working with an NGO or through governmental advocacy work. Aly is really excited to be more self-directed and directly apply what she has learned in MPACS to her life after school.

Aly’s advice to future applicants is to;

Be confident of who you are. Be open and be flexible, but don’t lose sight of your own aspirations and ambitions. Create that space to carry your vision forward and through the MPACS program and see how it adapts and grows.

For more information about the MPACS application process, visit the MPACS website