How did you decide to pursue a degree in sociology? What interested you most about it?
I made the decision to major in sociology after transferring to SFU from my first year at Douglas College. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to work with people and have always enjoyed learning about social behaviour and culture. I can remember that the topics discussed in my earliest sociology and anthropology courses were engaging and left me eager to learn more. Additionally, I noticed very early on in my degree how much the field of sociology overlaps with that of other disciplines, which made me even more interested in studying it! All in all, there are so many options for career paths that can set students up for success in future plans and studies!

What was your favourite SA course? Why?
One of my favourite SA courses was SA 321 - Social Movements taught by Baran Fakhri, which I had the pleasure of attending in my final semester at SFU. This course prompted me to engage with social movements from various perspectives, both through film and Baran’s fascinating lectures. It is courses like this that make exploring new concepts through a sociological lens so exciting. Another memorable course I took was SA 443 - Ethnographic Sensibility in Action (the Social Lives of the Dead), taught by Dr. Pamela Stern. This course is representative of how broad and diverse the opportunities for learning really are within the SA department, giving students like myself the opportunity to dive into more niche and focused topics.

What’s something you’re proud of accomplishing during your time at SFU?
After 4 years of hard work, it has finally all paid off as I am one week away from my convocation ceremony as I write this! At times throughout my degree it was difficult to stay motivated but at the end of the day, it was my strong interest in what I was studying that made it possible. Above all, I am proud of attaining a degree within a discipline that truly is so interesting to me. Being granted honours throughout my time at SFU and graduating with distinction are also significant achievements.

What are your plans post grad/what are you up to now?
Although I am momentarily branching out from my career path to explore what the diverse workforce has to offer, I am also actively seeking volunteer opportunities that will support my future goals. These plans include applying for the M.A. in Counselling Psychology program at SFU and, hopefully, getting into the field of counselling. In the meantime, I am also hoping to have my paper published in POLIS: Sociology & Anthropology Undergraduate Journal, as it is a great opportunity for students to put their work out there and share their sociological findings.