Home / Blogger Profiles / Jessica
Jessica
- Program: Human Rights and Law
- Year: Fourth Year
- Hometown: Stoney Creek, ON
Why did you choose Carleton?
I have an aunt and uncle that live in Ottawa and as a kid my parents, brother and I used to come up here all the time and tour Parliament Hill and do other touristy things and I fell in love with the city. When I applied to Carleton in grade 12, I came to an open house on Thanksgiving weekend and I also fell in love with the campus. I was also offered a very generous scholarship, which helped convince me that this was where I wanted to be for the next four years.
Why do you recommend Carleton to prospective students?
The campus is beautiful, the scholarships are generous and the programs are interesting. But beyond that, Carleton offers lots of ways to get involved in every aspect of your life, not just academically. I have been involved with intramural sports, clubs, volunteer activities and diversity programs. These opportunities have made my university experience that much more rewarding.
What are your post-graduate plans?
I plan on going to the University of Toronto for a Master’s of Social Work and hopefully working as a social worker one day – either working with survivors of sexual violence or doing public education and awareness campaigns related to these issues.
What clubs/events/athletics/extra-curricular activities do you participate in at Carleton?
This year, I participated in the Allies in Equity program, an incredible one year long diversity-based program wherein myself and a group of other students launched a poster campaign called “think again” for the Carleton community. The posters were displayed all over campus and used the tag line “everyone is a little bit _____ist”. The posters were intended to encourage people to be mindful of their personal biases and to strive to be more inclusive. I was also a volunteer with the Sexual Assault Support Services Office, working on Sexual Assault Awareness Week and the White Ribbon Campaign. I also volunteer with the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities as a note-taker.
Where is your favourite place to hang out on campus?
I love Roosters, which is in the University Centre on the 4th floor. It has great food, my favourite are the pita dippers, and is a relaxing place to hangout and get homework and assignments done. They play great music and, since it gets very busy at lunch time, it’s a great spot for people-watching!
What is/are your favourite thing(s) about Ottawa?
I love that there are so many different types of organizations and clubs/societies on the Carleton campus. They enable students to get involved in so many different ways and participate in things they are interested in outside of the classroom.
What is the most interesting class you have taken at Carleton?
I loved SXST 4101. This is a 4th year sexuality studies course (offered pretty much every semester) that looks at advanced topics in sexuality studies. This semester’s topic was ‘Queering the Nation’ and we discussed, using an inter-sectional analysis, issues related to race, gender and sexuality. We analyzed these issues theoretically, tying them back to historical and modern colonial projects. It was very interesting and great discussions took place!
Lecture class versus CUTV?
I have taken both but I prefer lectures. I have found that with the CUTV classes I have taken, I have trouble committing a certain number of hours a week to do the work and watch the lectures. I also enjoy the discussion component of a live lecture and the ability to discuss ideas with other students who share a lot of the same ideas and concerns that you do.