Sarah Baik
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I chose UBC’s International Relations Program because I’ve always been interested in world history and politics. The program gave me the tools to better understand what’s going on in global affairs and how we got to where we are. My favourite class was “International Relations of the Great Powers in the Twentieth Century” with Professor Heidi Tworek.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
I grew up singing in choirs and I got to continue singing with UBC Choirs (specifically the Choral Union and Women’s Choir). Much of my time as a student looked like going to lectures and writing papers, so it was refreshing to spend a few hours a week in rehearsals in the company of other singers.
I also had the opportunity to go on exchange to University College London in the UK during my third year. This is probably the best thing my twenty-year-old self could have done since I got to live and study in a new environment, see a part of the world I’d never been to, and meet incredible people along the way. That year abroad gave me a renewed sense of adventure and a boost of confidence to carry with me for the rest of my time at UBC and beyond.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
I was a residence advisor during my final year at UBC. This meant that being an active member of the community and connecting with my neighbours was a part of my job. This experience exposed me to the world of student affairs, which I enjoyed so much that I went on to work in this area for many years after graduating from UBC.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I stayed at UBC! I worked in student engagement at Vantage College and, after a few years, I returned to the International Relations Program in the Faculty of Arts as a program manager/student advisor.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
Not at all! When I declared my major in international relations, I aspired to become a diplomat. Then, when I started working in student affairs, the work never ceased to energize me and I thought I’d be working in a campus environment for the rest of my career.
But my oldest and biggest dream was to become a writer. While I was working at UBC I was able to take creative writing classes on campus. Later, in 2021, I moved to New York to pursue an MFA in literary reportage and have since worked in public radio and narrative journalism.
What do you like about your current job? How does it relate to your degree?
Right now, I work as a producer for a podcast for kids called But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids! We get questions from curious kids all around the world and find interesting people who have the answers. I find this work delightful!
I also work as an independent producer, which allows me to pursue narrative stories and work with a variety of outlets. My curiosity is a guide in this work which involves a lot of research, conducting interviews, and working on many script versions with a team of editors to make the audio storytelling the best it can be. The critical thinking and research skills I developed during my studies in international relations are very relevant to this work.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Working in media and journalism can be challenging since the media landscape is always changing and with this comes persistent uncertainty around your work and your organization.
Talk to people you find interesting. You’d be surprised to learn how willing people are to meet with you over coffee, share their story, or connect you to somebody else they know in the industry.
Pay attention to what makes you curious and read widely.
Also, being a good friend and colleague goes a long way. You’ll need them to vouch for you when you’re applying for your next role and probably for the one after that, too. All this is to say, be a good human when you show up to work.
What advice would you give your first-year self?
Say hi to people you keep running into. Ask questions! Go to the beach!
Sarah Baik
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I chose UBC’s International Relations Program because I’ve always been interested in world history and politics. The program gave me the tools to better understand what’s going on in global affairs and how we got to where we are. My favourite class was “International Relations of the Great Powers in the Twentieth Century” with Professor Heidi Tworek.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
I grew up singing in choirs and I got to continue singing with UBC Choirs (specifically the Choral Union and Women’s Choir). Much of my time as a student looked like going to lectures and writing papers, so it was refreshing to spend a few hours a week in rehearsals in the company of other singers.
I also had the opportunity to go on exchange to University College London in the UK during my third year. This is probably the best thing my twenty-year-old self could have done since I got to live and study in a new environment, see a part of the world I’d never been to, and meet incredible people along the way. That year abroad gave me a renewed sense of adventure and a boost of confidence to carry with me for the rest of my time at UBC and beyond.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
I was a residence advisor during my final year at UBC. This meant that being an active member of the community and connecting with my neighbours was a part of my job. This experience exposed me to the world of student affairs, which I enjoyed so much that I went on to work in this area for many years after graduating from UBC.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I stayed at UBC! I worked in student engagement at Vantage College and, after a few years, I returned to the International Relations Program in the Faculty of Arts as a program manager/student advisor.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
Not at all! When I declared my major in international relations, I aspired to become a diplomat. Then, when I started working in student affairs, the work never ceased to energize me and I thought I’d be working in a campus environment for the rest of my career.
But my oldest and biggest dream was to become a writer. While I was working at UBC I was able to take creative writing classes on campus. Later, in 2021, I moved to New York to pursue an MFA in literary reportage and have since worked in public radio and narrative journalism.
What do you like about your current job? How does it relate to your degree?
Right now, I work as a producer for a podcast for kids called But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids! We get questions from curious kids all around the world and find interesting people who have the answers. I find this work delightful!
I also work as an independent producer, which allows me to pursue narrative stories and work with a variety of outlets. My curiosity is a guide in this work which involves a lot of research, conducting interviews, and working on many script versions with a team of editors to make the audio storytelling the best it can be. The critical thinking and research skills I developed during my studies in international relations are very relevant to this work.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Working in media and journalism can be challenging since the media landscape is always changing and with this comes persistent uncertainty around your work and your organization.
Talk to people you find interesting. You’d be surprised to learn how willing people are to meet with you over coffee, share their story, or connect you to somebody else they know in the industry.
Pay attention to what makes you curious and read widely.
Also, being a good friend and colleague goes a long way. You’ll need them to vouch for you when you’re applying for your next role and probably for the one after that, too. All this is to say, be a good human when you show up to work.
What advice would you give your first-year self?
Say hi to people you keep running into. Ask questions! Go to the beach!
