IS graduate Mariah Izabelle Merican on a journey of global perspectives

Mariah Izabelle Merican crossed the stage this year, proudly receiving her International Studies degree with a concentration in Comparative World Politics, Culture, and Society, alongside a minor in Political Science.

As a Malaysian-Filipino, her unique background fostered a deep interest in global issues, driving her passion for pursuing International Studies.  

Merican arrived in Canada in 2019, seeking a place where she could share her knowledge in Global Asian politics as well as learn about North America's geopolitical landscape. She found this place at the School for International Studies. 

“International Studies had the program and courses that allowed my interest in comparative politics to truly flourish,” Merican said. “I felt International Studies would broaden my perspective on critical issues that aligned with my strengths while engaging with various global issues from a holistic perspective.” 

Merican fell in love with the curriculum, which allowed her to apply and engage with relevant global issues through interactive seminars.  One of the most influential courses on her career trajectory was IS 210 Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges taught by instructor David Matijasevich. 

This course, along with Matijasevich’s guidance, helped her develop a deeper understanding of the diverse political systems around the world. Through the lens of an international student who grew up in Malaysia, she considered how countries operated differently and what they could learn from each other.  

“International Studies covers a wide range of topics,” Merican noted, “and this course allowed me to explore my strengths and eventually uncover my niche within this field.” 

Another noteworthy course was IS 444 Inside Diplomacy: A Practitioner's Perspective with instructor Paul Meyer. The course was structured around weekly simulations of core global issues such as climate change, international trade, cybersecurity and peacekeeping, honing her practitioner's perspective to approaching global issues. For her final project, she investigated the development of the ASEAN Charter. 

“With this final project, it was by far the most interesting research conducted throughout my degree,” she reminisced. “[The project] allowed me to apply my comparative politics perspective while learning crucial areas within diplomacy that I did not consider before.”  

Merican’s favourite moments in class were the simple ones—sitting with peers from all over the world, sharing experiences and forming lifelong friendships. “IS classes aren't that big in the final year, but it was wonderful to connect and hear stories of those pursuing co-ops, international internships, or even struggling to find a job in our field,” she recalled. She appreciated the open exchange of opinions with her peers, saying, “We could be debating for four hours in class and then catching up over coffee afterward.” 

Contrary to her initial worries, Merican remains optimistic about her career prospects. “International Studies as a degree has provided a foundation applicable to various fields, whether in law, policy analysis, or social work. The possibilities are truly endless.”

Currently, she is pursuing a career with the Government of Canada. Eventually, her goal is to pursue a master's in public policy with a focus on the Asia-Pacific.