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headshot of ilham

Ilham Hoque

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2009 University College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: International Relations
  • Major: English
  • Minor: Political Science

Alongside the Classroom

  • Constituency assistant intern, Ward 8 Councillor’s Office, Toronto City Hall

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Contract work, City of Toronto
  • English tutor, Kumon Learning Centers, 2009

Finding permanent work was difficult, having graduating amid the Great Recession, even with my years of volunteering, student leadership, on-campus and off-campus work, networking, and informational interviewing.

I had gained practicum experience in this sector through my studies at Seneca College’s SSW program.

  • Education sector:
    • Field placement coordinator, Social Service Worker Program, Humber College
    • Senior academic advisor (counselling, academic policy advising)
  • Published author (children’s picture book): Wonder Walk (Iguana Books, 2019)

Do not be afraid to go on international student exchange if you can. You not only get some wonderful life experiences and can grow, but what amazing memories and a cool story to have for the rest of your life! I do wish I had taken advantage of the international student exchange opportunities; it may have even helped me in getting that first job out of graduation too.

And another thing: get to know your Career Centre well. They hold a vast number of events to help current students figure out how your degree can be applied to that first job out of graduation and throughout your career.

celine's headshot

Celine Cheung

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2010 New College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: Art History
  • Major: English
  • Minor: Writing & Rhetoric

Switched programs from: Geography and Linguistics

Alongside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Began as a special education teacher at a Montessori school, Hong Kong
  • Moved into e-learning and educational administration (e.g., coordinating webinars, hybrid and online courses, workshops) in the non-profit sector, Toronto
  • Currently working in education, professional development, and finance portfolios for a public service professional association
  • Also a freelancer in translation, project management, and learning/development
  • Took my love of coffee to new heights by having loyalty points at 5+ coffee shops, and completing barista training with City & Guilds UK, so I can be fully qualified to critique and sample coffee around the world

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Lisa Smart

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2011 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: English
  • Major: Woman & Gender Studies

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

Get involved as much as you can during your undergrad. You can do this by building your Co-Curricular Record or getting involved in the wider community. The post-secondary experience shouldn’t only be about getting good grades. It’s a place for you to connect, establish new relationships, and start building your network!

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Brandon Bastaldo

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2012 New College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: Cinema Studies
  • Major: English

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

  • Certificate in project management, University of Toronto

Career Accomplishments

  • Production lead, Loblaw Digital
  • eCommerce/digital product launches and project management: Dyson, Canopy Growth Corporation

Take your time to learn more about yourself.

Reach out, talk to professors, challenge other students and yourself to think and engage.

Use your classes to create your voice and your approach. Understand how to ask questions and get your ideas across in difficult situations.

Reach out to TAs, Professors, other students who you might find interesting and who can share some perspective.

Once you leave university, the ability for this to happen organically sometimes dramatically decreases. Approach the world with wonder.

Clare O’Brien

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2020 Trinity College

Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from:

Alongside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

In the Media

“Relax, it’s okay if you don’t know what you’re going to do after graduation!”

Chelsea Kowalski

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2019 University College

Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Freelance copyeditor
  • Editorial Intern
  • Volunteer Copyeditor, TheJ.ca

In the Media

“It’s never too early to start making a plan, and it’s never to late to throw it away.“

Danielle Dewar

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2007 New College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from:

Outside the Classroom

  • Costume designer on a few plays at Victoria College
Career Accomplishments

  • Spent several years working in communications for non-profits, startups and the tech sector in Canada
  • Now work as a freelance writer and run my own digital media company, Brand Dew Media
  • Also do freelance DV screenwriting and just produced a pilot for a new web series that will hopefully be funded through Kickstarter called The Stickmans
In the Media

New College Impact

I was in the double cohort. Many students were randomly placed in my first year of school, myself included, so I had virtually no ties to New College. The majority of my courses and education happened via the Cinema Studies program offered out of Innis College and the English Literature program offered out of Victoria College.

“It’s easy to make up your mind regarding what you’re going to study long before you even attend university. I made my choices that way at first but stayed open to the idea of changing my mind halfway through. I changed minors several times and don’t regret it. I took more credits than I needed to in the end, but gained a lot of experience in the different subject matter I studied along the way as a result.“

Isabella Fink

Isabella Fink

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • BA 2017 Woodsworth College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from: Cinema Studies

Outside the Classroom

Career Accomplishments

  • Outdoor Wilderness Education
  • Freelance Film Production
  • Copywriting
  • Film workshop curriculum design and teaching for middle school

“Get involved in extracurriculars to help build community and connection in areas you are interested in, either career related or just personal interest!”

Afriyie Donyina

Afriyie Donyina

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2004 New College
Inside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Education professional with teaching experience at various private schools
  • Member of TESL Ontario and TESL Canada
  • Knowledgeable in educational technology, curriculum development, instructional design, multimedia, and leadership

“Participate in internships and co-op programs during university. It is important to explore different career options before you graduate.”

Krisma Saini-Chahal

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2014 Woodsworth College
Inside the Classroom

Switched programs from: Criminology

Alongside the Classroom

  • Intern, Student-Teacher
Outside the Classroom

  • Tutor
Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Teacher, Upper Grand District School Board
  • Research and development assistant, U of T (during MA)—gained a research background conducting and analyzing studies related to counterfactual reasoning in children

“Volunteer and gain experiences outside of the classroom! Do fieldwork, experiential learning or an internship – it will help you figure out what you like and what direction you should take your undergraduate degree.”