More than a major: Experiencing Arts at TMU

My journey to TMU and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) was not something that came out of the blue. It is something that I have been working toward for a while. Inspiration from relatives and career professionals helped in my decision to pursue a BA, and my goal to create positive change wherever I can. Since high school, I had wanted to pursue a career in politics, as I was so intrigued by how society functions and the ongoing fight to create positive change. For me, this was a very vague ambition; however, a bit of encouragement from my teachers made me understand that a dream is only a dream until you start taking your first steps, and for me, that journey began with the Politics and Governance co-op program at TMU. 

One of the highlights of my student experience has been the vibrant student culture and numerous opportunities available to me as an undergraduate student in the Arts. There is a unique student culture at TMU that stood out to me. Student groups, course unions, student clubs, and student societies are just a few examples of how the student community at TMU thrives in creating a welcoming environment and a very inclusive community.

Something I wish I had taken advantage of is studying abroad. While working toward your BA, you have the opportunity to travel to many countries and earn a full academic credit. I know students who have had the opportunity to travel to Australia, Denmark, France, Mexico, and so much more! Previously, TMU’s Global Justice and Change program also allowed students to travel abroad to Senegal and New Zealand. 

I did, however, take advantage of the many extracurricular opportunities in the Faculty of Arts. One opportunity that I was so grateful for was to work on the Kaleidoscope and SPROUT conferences that occur every year for Arts students. Organized by SASSH, the Kaleidoscope (external link)  Research Conference gives Faculty of Arts students the opportunity to submit a piece of work from any liberal arts class and present it to professors and graduate advisors. It allows students to showcase their academic classwork while gaining important public speaking skills in a supportive environment. The conference brings undergraduate students together to plan, host, present, and share research from different fields and topics. Their teamwork and support helped everyone gain a better understanding of various issues, creating a space that encouraged learning and exploration.

SPROUT (external link)  is a case competition open to all TMU students. Each year, the case competition partners with a selected company. Together, they develop a case question which students are given four days to solve in groups, with a prize at the end. Last year, SPROUT partnered with IKEA Toronto Downtown, and the question centred around sustainability in an urban environment. Aside from conferences, professors can provide Research Assistant roles to students. It is a paid opportunity to work with your professors to gather research for a project they are involved in! I had the opportunity to work on the impact of French Jesuits in Canada.