I knew I loved politics and policymaking before I got to UBC. However, I was aware that I didn’t have the tools or the knowledge to put that passion into practice. I chose to major in political science and minor in economics to learn how to craft effective, inclusive, and tangible public policy—something which I am fortunate enough to be doing today. UBC is a top-tier university, making it easy to be taken seriously and allowing me to begin making my case with a certain degree of respect and interest when I mention that it is my alma mater.

Not only has UBC taught me knowledge necessary for me to do my job and be competitive in my field, I learned critical thinking and analysis skills that are invaluable to living in an age of endless information, ranging anywhere from entirely accurate to completely baseless and untrue.

What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?

As much as I appreciate the learning environment afforded to me in my many courses, my most meaningful experiences took place outside of the classroom, among my peers, in activities that helped prepare me for the fast-paced life of politics and governance. With the AUS and AMS, I was able to experience life as a decision-maker, responsible for implementing policies that could help or hinder thousands of my friends, neighbours, and colleagues. With the UBC Young Liberals of Canada, I learned how campaigns work, both during and outside of election periods, and how to bring people on board to my cause and expand our movement among people who share our values. With the Political Science Students’ Association and Model Parliament, I was able to share the knowledge and skills I had acquired with people who, like me, wanted to put their passion into practice.

What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?

Albeit late, my most rewarding choice that contributed to my success at UBC was getting involved with the AUS and AMS. I met so many people who all wanted to make their community a better place to study, live, and socialize—with different majors, experience, and worldviews, and coming from all over Canada and the world. I am only sorry that I didn’t join sooner.

What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?

My first job after graduation was as a Legislative Assistant to a Member of the House of Commons. I worked in this role for approximately 20 months before getting my current position as a policy advisor in March of 2020.

Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?

At this point, my career path is as I intended. With a raging pandemic, career progression is slow for everyone, but I feel that I have been quite fortunate with my professional life. Considering I have only been in my field for 26 months and the position I currently occupy, I believe that I am doing quite well. Of course, my ambition is to continue advancing, perhaps occupying more senior roles in advising the Minister, or more senior ministers, but that is a longer project than the 26 months I have been working with.

In terms of challenges, the hardest part has been COVID-19. In politics, one’s network is their most valuable asset. In the absence of networking events and not being able to meet my colleagues and stakeholders in person, it is quite difficult to build that base of support in order to effectively carry out my duties as a liaison with both political and nonpolitical actors, as well as adequately consult with diverse sources, both through official and unofficial channels. As an extrovert myself, quarantine has taken its toll on my mental health, but thankfully, I have the good fortune of a supportive team and alternative means of communication to rely on to get me through to the next challenge.

What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?

In my current job, no two days are the same. Politics and government are fluid and difficult to plan. The lack of monotony is an important stimulant for me, and I can appreciate that unexpected events arise, or questions will be asked of me that I won’t know the answer to. What I like best is the most challenging part. Without a background in resource-development, in my role as a policy advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources, I am challenged everyday on the subject matter—forcing me to read and learn as I go.

What drives me to do it is knowing how much of a difference it will make for my community and my country if I get it right. How do I reconcile competing interests? How can I find common ground between two seemingly opposed groups? How can I build consensus on my proposed solution? All of these challenges relate back to my degree because they were at the forefront in my time at the AUS and AMS.

From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?

The value of an Arts degree isn’t the knowledge or the ability to recite facts or historical events. It’s the skills associated with research, analysis, collaboration, creativity, and statistics. Collectively, this wisdom is what allows Arts graduates to put tidbits of knowledge together, analyzing what is important and relevant to the problem at hand, and filling in the blanks with an educated guess.

What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?

Don’t focus on what courses you should take in the hopes of being relevant or impressing a potential employer. Take the courses that interest you most. You will be much better served by an interesting course encouraging you to do well than a course you think might be useful and not being stimulated, challenged, or interested in the slightest.

What advice would you give to your first-year self?

Get involved! You know you want to have a career based on building a network, making decisions, and serving your community. You can’t do that if you’re too shy to take the first step. You don’t need friends to go with—you’ll make some at the event!