Meghan Ross graduated with a B.A. in English. In an interview, Meghan admitted she was initially drawn to UBCO because “I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a Major Entrance Scholarship recipient for UBCO in 2009. Receiving that scholarship had a huge impact on my life because it gave me the chance to attend UBCO. At the same time it took away some of the pressure that many students experience in attending university. It gave me the room to really enjoy both my classes and the experience of being in university, and, to some extent, to follow my heart.”
Meghan is also one of many students who decided to change majors while attending university. “I initially started at UBCO as a Creative Writing major, but when I had to declare myself officially at the end of my second year, I found that it was my English classes which fired my mind and caught my heart and soul, and so I ended up an English major and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.” Meghan was the recipient of the Medal in Arts in 2013 for having the highest GPA in the Bachelor of Arts graduating class that year.
During her undergraduate degree, Meghan participated in UBCO’s Go Global program. “The highlight experience of my degree at UBCO was undoubtedly the year I spent on exchange through Go Global at Lancaster University in the UK. It was an incredible experience.” This opportunity allowed her to “volunteer at and attend the British Shakespeare Association conference, where I heard some amazing speakers and panels, and saw some incredible theatre.”
Back in Kelowna, she engaged in community activities and community theatre: “one of my favourite experiences while I was at UBCO was being involved with V-Day and the Vagina Monologues through the UBCO Women’s Resource Centre. Taking part in these productions introduced me to an amazing community of committed and passionate women working to improve conditions for women not only in our own country, but also in other countries. It was one of my first introductions to activism, and one of the most amazing volunteer experiences I’ve ever participated in.”
Meghan is now at UBC Vancouver working on her Master of Library and Information Studies. “I knew from my English program that I enjoyed research and study and literature, and I wanted a career that would incorporate elements of that, while also incorporating my love for people and for public service. Once I realized that, a career in public librarianship was inevitable.” She also added that her time at UBCO was extremely helpful in preparing her for graduate studies: “Learning how to completely immerse oneself in a topic, essentially by reading every piece of research written on it, and then bringing that research together into a coherent whole that could be summarized, examined, and reflected upon, was an immensely useful experience.”
Meghan summarizes her experience thus: “I would tell prospective students that FCCS was a perfect fit for me as a student, because it enabled me to be both focused and flexible in my degree. I took some transformative classes, and had some incredible experiences. I built relationships with professors who were and continue to be very supportive. I was able to gain an education that was both broad and deep, and tailored specifically to my interests. There was room to be interdisciplinary within the program, which I think is a great advantage to have in this day and age.”
This story was written by Brandon Taylor, English major in FCCS. Brandon is a Research Assistant in FCCS, contacting alumni to find out about their experiences here at UBCO.