Congratulations to International Relations student, Kate Beck, on winning UBC’s Premier Undergraduate and Wesbrook scholarships! We took a moment to ask Kate to reflect on her time at UBC. Here is what she had to say:
1. What lead to your decision to major in International Relations and minor in Human Geography and what do you like most about each specialization?
For me, International Relations has been great because it is so open ended and as a student you have to ability to create your own schedule and shape your major to what you are interested in. Geography has provided me with some more practical skills, including research skills and database management. My favourite aspect of these two programs is how flexible each on is with incorporating directed studies and study abroad programs. My experiences outside of the classroom through UBC have definitely been important to developing my interests and have helped to keep me sane while studying in the academic world.
2. You have had a number of papers published already. What advice would you give to students who are interested in having their papers published?
I have always spent a lot of time on my papers for my classes, researching, writing, rewriting and editing. Once I finish a paper, I often feel like I am not done with the subject yet, and my work is worth more to me than just a grade in a class. For this reason, I started submitting my work into undergraduate journals through UBC and other universities. Submitting papers is the easiest part, its must more difficult to go through the editing process once your paper has been short-listed for the journal.
3. This semester you are leading a Student-Directed Seminar on Prostitution and Human Trafficking in Comparative Perspectives. What prompted you to develop this seminar and what has this experience been like for you so far?
My friend Kathryn Hutchins has been interested in Prostitution and the Sex Trade for a long time, and she was really the one who got me interested in the subject as well. We began to notive that there were no courses that focused exclusively on the sex trade at UBC. After doing a course abroad in Copenhagen and Amsterdam on the Sex Trade in Europe, we began to develop our own course focusing on the Sex Trade and Human Trafficking in an International Perspective, and now our course is being offered this semester at UBC! We are having a really great time teaching it, and we have realized that the best way to really learn about a subject is to teach, listen, talk about and experience a subject.
4. Any secrets on how to balance academics and involvement activities?
Go into the real world and experience what you are learning about. This helped me to determine what I really was interested in, and it gave me a more well-balanced perspective when understanding issues through academics.
5. As you get closer to graduation, what are your plans for the future?
I am in love with cities, spaces, trees and rock climbing, so after I graduate I hope to do a masters in Urban Planning then do a degree in law, which will allow me to understand the bylaws and policies that dictate how cities are built, and allow me to make real changes to the spaces people live in. I plan on continuing to look at trees and climb rocks, and I hope to install climbing walls in parks around the world.