Rowan Pickard
Rowan Pickard came to UBC Okanagan right out of high school thinking that they would have to focus their studies right away, sacrificing many interests. But they quickly learned that first-year is the best time to explore what the Bachelor of Arts degree has to offer.
Rowan took a first-year course in cultural studies practices, noting that the instructor was so engaging and emphasized a number of things that were important to them.
“When I looked into more cultural studies classes, I realized this area would set me up to learn about things I was interested in,” Pickard notes. “In the intro courses, we touch on so many things, and I became eager to continue learning in this field.”
With an interest in a career in journalism, Pickard wanted to make sure that they would be prepared not only with a broad scope of history and cultural studies, but also learning about different writing styles.
Pickard is now a third-year student doing a combined major in Cultural Studies and English, and says they are able to engage in these classes in a way that allows them to apply what she’s learning to her daily life, and toward her future career in journalism. Engaging and analyzing different forms of media and decolonization practices are key when thinking about journalism.
“Thinking about how we situate ourselves as someone to tell a story or give someone a platform, you have to be aware of who the audience is, who are you speaking to or represent.”
That has been one of the biggest learning curves in the program for Pickard. “Thinking about myself as a white settler, one of the responsibilities I have with my privileges is to try and uphold and amplify voices that are not always given spaces to speak and be heard.”
Cultural Studies allows for more critical thought and engagement, without expectations that there is one answer, you can be critical without having to be right or wrong. It allows you to take all of the things you learned over time and apply them to everyday topics or conversations, she explains.
Many of the projects they have done in cultural studies courses involve taking every-day situations, relationships, interactions, and bits of media and critically examining how it can (re)produce and be embedded with colonial discourse that causes harm and violence.
“I found taking courses in cultural studies, I can apply so many things I learn to my everyday life, which is something I really value. I would rather see things through a critical lens than to take things at face value or take things for granted.”
Pickard is currently working to build the Cultural Studies Course Union with fellow students.
“One of our goals is to engage more students to let them know what Cultural studies is about, not only as a major, but even just to take courses as they can help broaden students’ learning experiences and points of view.”
Students can connect with the course union via email at culturalstudiescu@gmail.com and follow their Instagram @ubco_culturalstudies.