An unexpected academic journey

"The beginning is the most important part of the work" Plato

As Plato says " the beginning is the most important part of the work". You may be interested in knowing more about me or not, but I find important to explain how I came to become a Political Science student as it represents the beginning of my academic journey. I tend to believe we are the result of the environment within which we grow up, as it shapes our perception of the world, our actions and reactions. So here is my story.

"I have NEVER EVER considered Political Science as an option"

As a 17 year old, full of life and freshly graduated from grade 12 with a baccalaureate in Literature, I had no doubt I would obtain, the question 'what's next' was so easy to answer. I am an "organization-holic" as I like to call myself. Indeed, I like to plan everything in advance and organize my life around it in order to have an overview of how things are evolving. Thus, what was next for me was clear: I was going to university, getting into an easy program, getting good grades and getting into Law School haut-les-mains. My dream was to become a Lawyer in the Anglo-Saxon world, despite French being my first language, and fortunately I had my parents on my side.

So, imagine me landing in Canada hopeful and determined as I have never been. I was so ready to make my dreams come true ... until my first semester as a Sociology major challenged what I have always believed to be the perfect plan.

In fact, even though I had excellent grades, I was bored in my major and even found it way too easy. Yes, I wanted an easy major to get good grades but.... Moreover, I was always asking myself what I would do with a BA in Sociology if I was ever tired of Law or if I didn't even get into Law School. I was disappointed in myself for having chosen the easiest way, but people around me were encouraging me as they were aware I wanted to get into Law School. I don't know how many times I heard "don't worry, so many people do this" or "it is just four years, you won't even notice". Yet, I didn't see things that way. Four years seemed long, very long, and I couldn't continue wasting my time and money on something I had no interest in.

From this moment, I started thinking of what I could do instead and criminology was my first choice. However, it was way toooo much science for me and Science is not my f.o.r.t.e.

Therefore, this choice was off the table as I know I couldn't even fulfill the first year requirements. I wanted an exciting major but your girl was not ready to risk her GPA. I decided to stick my major until I find something more interesting to do.

___ I do have to mention that I have NEVER EVER considered Political Science as an option. For me, growing up in an African country, politics didn't exist, there was nothing to understand about it besides that our leaders were a bunch of power thirsty despots and crooks. That was it! I was the type whom would turn off the TV or change the channel whenever news were on, as they were full of deception ___

Fast forward to the second university semester , one of my friends convinced me to take a Political Science class with her as an elective. What at the time seemed like a trivial decision changed my life for good. It was an International Relations' class, and the teacher, whom later became my mentor and my advisor, was quite old. Before the class even started, I had already set myself up for disappointment. Imagine then, how great my surprise was when the course actually ended up being so lively, accurate and talking about subjects that mattered to me. By the end, I was telling everyone who wanted to hear it that I RECEIVED THE REVELATION and I finally knew what I wanted my major to be, FINALLY! ( at everyone's surprise...)

Without any hesitation, I ran to beartracks (Ualberta student space) to change my major. For the first time since I started university, I felt engaged in something. As expected, it was not easy as Sociology was to me. My beginnings as a Political Science Student were even catastrophic and I was sometimes tempted to go back to my Sociology Major, but I convinced myself that loving what you do is an asset to do well. I actually loved all my classes; it gave me a voice, a platform to let my experiences, opinions and personality shine through and I wasn't ready to give up. (Have you heard that political science students are hard headed and strong willed? well what is a default in society was what made us top of our classes)

Four years down the road, I don't regret my choice at all. I wish I knew the system better before committing to my major, since I would have specialized in a particular field. However, I'm more than grateful to all the people who supported me both psychologically and academically. I still remember this night... The night I wrote the LAST sentence of my LAST Political Science research paper. It was approximatively 5 AM, and I was listening to Marvin Sapp's song which says "Never would have made it without you, I would have lost it all but now I see how you were there for me. I'm stronger, I'm wiser, I'm better". I cried that day remembering all the ups and downs I have been through and all the sleepless nights.

It wasn't easy but I made it ! I am no more a girl, but a grown up woman ready to face this world with a big enough intellectual luggage and a motivation nothing will undermine.

Khady-Emilia D., your future employee