How to start exploring your career in your first year of Arts!
Sophia (BA Psychology major, Drama & Spanish double minor) shares how you can get going on your career — as early as first year!
Your first year of University is daunting.
You ask yourself: will I be able to keep up in my classes? Will I make friends? Will I get lost? Did I choose the right major?
I get it, I’ve been there.
Your first year in the Faculty of Arts is a chance to explore your interests, strengths and abilities, to adjust to a new stage of your life. I met with Sophia to learn what it’s like.
She squeezed me into her schedule — already full of volunteer, work and academic commitments. “After this I have a meeting, then another meeting,” she laughs, “Google Calendar is my friend, basically.”
Although only in her first year, Sophia has welcomed new opportunities and has learned a lesson many students (myself included) only learn in their final years of university:
Professional development is a part of your degree — not something you do after.
Let me explain.
University academics are intense. The workload for a full time student (remember, 3-5 classes = full time) is heavy. Mix in part time work, volunteering, and other responsibilities, and the average student’s plate is overflowing. It can be difficult to remember your goals. Personal growth? Career readiness? Grad school?
Sophia identified her goals right away. “There is a huge jump from high school to university. But university is more than just studying. It’s about being involved and creating the experience for yourself by taking new opportunities as they come.”
Sophia is open-minded about her possible career paths. Her Arts degree could lead her to Law school, a career in marketing, becoming a teacher, or even working (and traveling) as a flight attendant!
“I’m not that person who’s like ‘yeah, this is what’s going to happen to me after university’ because realistically there are so many things that could happen!” She says, “But I think that careers are built to help other people. And that’s always what I have in mind.”
To explore these options, Sophia uses extracurricular and professional development opportunities to take a break from school. She attended the biennial Arts Works Conference, the Career Centre’s Psychology Speaker Series, and volunteers for groups like U-School and AIESEC. These activities help her make decisions about her priorities and her next steps in exploring her career.
So what does Sophia’s story have to do with you?
1. Say Yes
University is a great space to learn what you do — and don’t — like. Volunteer as a marketing assistant, or club executive, or apply for an AWE work term. If you say no to all new (and a bit scary) experiences, you’re getting in your own way.
2. Reflect and learn
Think about what you did or didn’t enjoy about each experience. Use this to decide which opportunities to take on next time, and which ones to pass. All students know that time is precious — spend it on opportunities you’ll learn from.
3. Balance is key
Doing everything isn’t realistic… or healthy! Learning to balance essays, exams, work, volunteering, family, and mental, social, and physical health is a real challenge. Your priorities might change throughout your degree, and that’s okay, so long as your decisions are purposeful.
4. Ask for help
There are tons of supports on campus. If you have a cool idea, there are grants to fund you. If you want to chat with someone about your career, there are career advisors and coaches. If you need support managing your degree, make an appointment with USS. We are here for you.
But there’s a catch — it’s up to you.
First year is your chance to surprise yourself. Say yes to opportunities, think about your experiences, take advantage of programs only available to students.
I know what you’re thinking. I have so much time — I’ll never graduate! Four years is, like, forever!
You’re wrong, it isn’t.
It will go by in a whirlwind of lectures, study sessions, presentations, coffee breaks, new friends and adventures. You’ll experience new things, good and bad, and — here’s an Insider secret— you are going to grow personally, intellectually and professionally in ways you cannot yet imagine.
Your future is limitless. Go get it.
From Year One, we are with you every step of the way. Here are some resources available to you as an Arts student!
Wondering about the ways your Arts degree can translate to a job after graduation? Read this article from a recent Arts grad!
