What courses did you particularly enjoy?
Aboriginal Law (LS 496) with Dr. Whitney Lackenbauer. I love seminars and I love discussing topics concerning First Nations peoples so this was one of my favourite courses.
Also, Sexuality and the Law (SOC/LS 325) with Dr. Jennifer Schulenberg. This course was very controversial, intriguing, and informative. It provided various perspectives of issues discussed in class, such as pedophilia, which I would rarely encounter in an undergraduate course.
Where are you now in your career?
I am currently in the second term of the Master's of Arts in Sociology program at Waterloo and will be finished at the end of December 2016. The following September, I plan on starting my PhD. I have looked at potential graduate schools and have discussed the topic with several of my professors. Overall, I am leaning towards attending Queen's University's Studies Centre as it has been highly recommended by Dr. Boyle because its specializations are exactly inline with my research interests for the PhD (surveillance and security studies).
What do you love about your current program?
My favourite part about my current program is that I have the opportunity to learn so much on topics that I am personally interested in. Although the readings can be laborious, I have never been able to accumulate so much knowledge and apply it to real world scenarios. Every course I have taken thus far in the Master's program has been engaging, interesting and thought-provoking.
For instance, I am currently enrolled in Cities and Security (SOC 785) course and have learned so much about various security topics. Every week I learn something new and truly enjoy class discussions on areas such as urban planning, terrorism, security and surveillance technologies, and micro and macro policing.
How do you apply what you learned at UWaterloo?
Since I am seeking to apply to complete a PhD and would like to conduct research in my future career, I have found the skills that I have learned at UWaterloo to be very useful. My work ethic and quality of work has certainly improved as a result of being a UWaterloo student because the faculty push students to produce meaningful, professional quality of work. Furthermore, I felt that courses such as Research Methods (SOC 712) and Sociological Theory (SOC 700) have prepared my for my PhD because they are essential for graduate research and encourage critical thinking.
Do you have any memorable teaching moments or courses?
In the fourth year of my undergraduate degree, I remember being genuinely excited for the seminars (LS 401, LS 402, and LS 496). I appreciated the change to engage and actively participate for two hours, rather than passively transcribe lecture material.
What advice would you give to current students?
Go on an exchange! The selection of exchange destinations is truly remarkable. In my case, I chose Barbados, which meant that I was immersed within both beautiful culture and hot, tropical weather for four months during Winter 2015. I was also able to complete 5 credits at the University of the West Indies. In addition, UWaterloo offers various resources for the exchange process, such as international exchange advisors, scholarships, websites, etc.