SuccessBeyond

I decided to study tourism at Seneca because I thought that the flight specialty component of the program would assist me in obtaining a job with an air carrier. This particular career path was enticing because of the travel possibilities that came with it.

I chose the Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree because it let me use credits from my previous diploma and it allowed me the take an array of different course types. I had been away from academia for about a decade and did not know where my interests may lie. Because of this, the degree piqued my interest as it provided the ability to take courses in both hard and soft sciences.

I found all of my professors very knowledgeable and personable at Seneca, both online and in-person. I even had one professor agree to run a class that was not being offered at the time just for me because I was in my last semester, and it was one of the core courses I needed to graduate. Many professors and administrative staff went above and beyond to help me with my studies.

Also, I have taken classes at the King, Markham and Newnham campuses. Each campus has its own benefits and fit well with the programs offered at each.

My most memorable experience at Seneca was when, upon hearing about my research interests, one of my professors immediately walked me down the hall to introduce me to another professor. That professor then volunteered to help me with foundational readings for my research and has been in touch with me since, providing assistance and feedback on applications for funding and graduate school.

The Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program was great in terms of preparing me for my master’s program. The capstone project prepared me for writing my thesis. I have run into many peers in my graduate program who did not have the same capstone requirement and because of this, they found the thesis very daunting.

The transitions between diploma to degree and degree to master’s were very different. My diploma experience was very hands-on with a small amount of memorization and writing required. From there, my degree required no hands-on learning and a much larger amount of reading and writing, comparatively. However, my master’s demanded exponentially more reading and writing than my degree. For both the degree and master’s, the ability to self-learn and think for yourself was extremely important for success.

I see many advantages to having multiple credentials. Each demands something different and allows you to learn, grow and adapt in varying ways. In addition, you can work towards something where your accomplishment results in something that is with you forever, always able to be built upon.

My advice for someone who is considering going into a life of academia is to love learning, reading and sharing your thoughts. If you are passionate about something, you are set. Don’t let your age, life situation, or past failures stop you. I completed my diploma right after failing miserably at my first year of postsecondary education in forensic science. I didn’t start my degree until a decade later when I had three small children. You can work with almost anything to make a life of academia work for you and with your situation. There are few situations where it is impossible; you can find a way.

Balancing work, school and life is mostly about knowing yourself and what you need in order to get things done. Self-regulation is key. You need to be able to work hard, but you also need to know when to take a break. Do not forget to schedule breaks to make sure that you do not burn out. I recommend calendars in highly visible areas and a physical agenda. You remember things better when you write them down and having a visual of your schedule is extremely helpful. But again, knowing yourself and your style of attack is crucial.

Right now, I am working hard to finish my master’s thesis in time to start my PhD in the fall. I have been lucky enough to have my thesis results accepted for a presentation at a world conference in Europe at the end of the summer, which is the perfect way to end my master’s degree. My children are still all in elementary school and my PhD schedule will let me be available for them most of the time. I will be transitioning from a fully online (due to COVID-19) master’s to an in-person PhD, so there are sure to be some new challenges as well as new adventures.

Completing my Ph.D. will take me at least four more years, so my short-term plans are spoken for. I have yet to decide if I want to stay in academia after my PhD or enter the private or public sectors. I expect to get more insight on this choice during my PhD as being a teaching assistant will let me know how much, or how little, I enjoy teaching and if I want to commit full-time hours to that occupation. I am currently keeping my options and mind open to all possibilities.