Why you should consider completing a second degree

"Why you should consider completing a second degree", August 31 2009

In the spring of 2008, I graduated with a combined honours degree in cultural studies & critical thinking, and anthropology. While completing my undergrad, I had contemplated applying to graduate school. Although anthropology is a graduate program in Canada, cultural studies (which was my preferred area of interest) is not – it’s usually part of an English department. So I decided to give myself an advantage in the application process and pursue a bachelor of arts (non-honours) in English.

Originally, I had only planned to stay at McMaster for a year since it would only take me eight months to get all the credits required to graduate with the degree in English. I also took a bunch of indigenous studies classes as electives because I felt I could learn a lot from the program. I got the necessary references, filled out my applications and played the waiting game.

It turns out that I didn’t get into any of the grad schools I applied to, but that didn’t mean my options were limited for the upcoming year. Since I was doing very well in myindigenous studies classes, I decided I would go back to school again and finish with a combined honours degree in English and indigenous studies in April 2010 because:

• I can afford to complete this degree right now, so I do not need to wait until years down the road to go back to school
• finishing this program will help with my employability in the future – knowledge of indigenous issues can be applied to many different sectors
• it will expand my expertise in a way that may help admit me to post-graduate studies should I choose to go that route
• although there are times when I really hate school, for the most part I actually really like it (call me a nerd) – I have a genuine desire to learn and will likely be doing it in some form or another for the rest of my life.

With more and more people graduating from post-secondary education, the number of them who choose to get a second (or third) degree is on the rise. If you’re not sure if pursuing a second degree is right for you, here are a few things to consider:

Your other degree

Did you finish your other degree and realize close to the end that you hated what you were learning? Going back to school can give you the opportunity to learn things that are more in-tune to your interests.

Time

A degree is a huge time investment. Do you think you can handle another year or two (or more) of classes, and all of the things that go along with it? There will be more assignments, midterms, term papers, tests, quizzes and exams (not to mention pressure, anxiety and stress) in order to finish your degree.

Knowledge and skills

A second degree can give you the opportunity to learn things that you didn’t before. This can be something along the lines of essay-writing skills or sample analysis which you can put toward another career. You can also put what you learned toward post-graduate applications or programs.

Cost

Perhaps the biggest deciding factor is whether or not you can afford to do so. University is by no means inexpensive. In addition to tuition, supplementary fees, textbooks and supplies, you may need to consider the costs of housing, transportation, and living expenses. Although student loans don’t need to be paid until after graduation, they do need to be paid off sometime.

Book review: “10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea” by Suzy Welch

"“10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea” by Suzy Welch", August 28 2009

Some of Gen Y has not grown up enough to realize that the decisions we make now can have a major impact on our lives in the present, as well as the distant future. Many of us haven’t got to that point when it comes to thinking about our future in a serious manner. Part of the reason is that we don’t know how: our parents have been and in many cases still are incredibly involved in our decision-making processes.

I was watching The Hour recently and there was a segment on this book called 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea. I’m known as being somewhat indecisive (from my future, to what I’m going to wear or eat for breakfast each day), so I decided to get a copy of the book and hope it would help me out.

Suzy Welch, the author of 10-10-10 and the person who coined the term, promises to help you make decisions in a clear, transparent and straightforward manner by following the book’s philosophy. Whenever you face a dilemma, she says, you need to ask yourself three questions: How will this choice impact me in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years? But she also says it’s not as simple as asking yourself those three questions.

It is important to note that the 10-10-10 philosophy isn’t exactly literal: the first 10 is supposed to represent the present, the second 10 the not-so-distant future, and the final 10 several years down the road. 10-10-10 was just a means for Welch to conceptualize the idea in a way that could be easily remembered.

The book outlines how you can use the 10-10-10 philosophy to help you make major decisions in your life in regards to work, friendship, love, parenting and your career. Each chapter goes though a couple of examples of how Welch’s friends and family, colleagues at the Harvard Business Review, readers of O: The Oprah Magazine, as well as others she has come to know through various speaking engagements, have used the philosophy to solve their problems.

In nearly all of the examples she provides, the system seems to wrap up everyone’s issues very nicely. Interestingly enough, Welch claims that she doesn’t have everything tied up with a nice bow.

Perhaps the best piece of advice I took from the book was related to how we choose our professions. Welch states that people tend to gravitate toward certain professions because they’re good at them. She gives the example of English majors going into publishing, and math majors going to Wall Street. This is indeed true, and I’m sure you know lots of people who fit similar descriptions.

However, Welch states that “aptitude doesn’t always equal passion,” meaning just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should pursue it as a career. That is definitely something we should consider as a generation when we are looking for work. Welch also provides an example of how a young business grad named Kristin used 10-10-10 to choose between working in a small start-up company with an unstable future and a large company with a great reputation and many opportunities for promotion. I’m not going to tell you what the factors were for Kristin making her decision or what she eventually chose, though. You’ll have to read the book.

If you feel that you need some help when it comes to making decisions that can really affect you in the future, this may be a good book for you to pick up. It goes through a framework that can help you evaluate your choices in a way that makes you consider yourself, and those who also may be impacted by your decision.

How to make extra money by “moonlighting”

"How to make extra money by “moonlighting”", August 27 2009

As students, we’d all like to have a bit more money. Some of us work in the summer months and/or during the school year and this is still not always enough.

What do you do if you need a little more cash to get you through the month?

If you’ve already cut all your unnecessary expenses, it might be time to try moonlighting: taking a second (or third) job that is often paid “under the table” – meaning the employer pays you in cash and, more often than not, the income is not submitted at tax time.

Catering staff

Catering companies work primarily on evenings and weekends, which is optimal for most students. If you are involved in food prep, it’s a good way for you to get more familiar with cooking. If you’re serving, you’ll get some customer service experience. The pay is usually pretty good too.

Teaching or tutoring

High school students, as well as students in your school, may not be as proficient as you are in your studies. If you have an aptitude for certain subjects, why not tutor other students for a fee? This is a great way for you to gain some teaching experience if you are considering teacher’s college for the future. You can also edit people’s essays and papers for a fee, either a flat rate per piece or on a per word/per page basis.

Cleaning

Nobody likes to clean up after themselves and, in many cases, people will pay good money to have their homes cleaned for them. This often include cleaning houses or doing maintenance outdoors. All you need are some cleaning supplies and transportation, and you’re set.

Trials and experiments

I’m not necessarily advocating participating in drug trials, but there are several different ways you can participate in trials and earn some extra money. Many campuses pay students for participating in kinesiology and psychology studies. Marketing focus groups often pay good money for helping them get customer feedback on their products as well – sometimes $50 or $100 for a few minutes of eating chocolate bars or drinking beer. Watch out for advertisements on poster boards around campus to see what you can find.

Food Deliveries

Many restaurants will deliver to customers for a fee. As a driver, you will usually get paid an hourly wage as well as make money from tips. As long as you have a car, this is a way to make some easy cash.

Pets

Just like people don’t like cleaning up after themselves, they also don’t particularly enjoy cleaning up after their animals. Busy pet owners will pay for a “professional” pooper-scooper to come clean up after their dogs. You may want to offer your dog-walking services for people who can’t let their animals out during the middle of the day. You can also give pet sitting a try for people who go away on business for the weekend or on a vacation.

Paper delivery

This may have been a job you had when you were a kid, but there are always ads for these positions in the paper. This is a good way for you to get some exercise as you can complete your route through riding a bike or rollerblading. However, you need to be able to wake up pretty early in the morning if you are delivering a large daily paper!

Of course there are tons of other possibilities out there for you if you are looking to make a little bit of extra money on the side. Regardless of what skills you are advertising for hire, remember to use the resources around you to put yourself out there and to get hired. Even if you’re not making a huge amount of money, take what you learn from these jobs with you the next time you are looking for work. You never know what skills and connections this experience can give you!

Don’t turn away “artsy” students at career fairs

"Don’t turn away “artsy” students at career fairs", August 24, 2009

In high school, I was told that going to university would open a window of opportunities for my future and ultimately help me get a good job. I applied to university in a social sciences discipline since I did not have the mathematical aptitude to handle the sciences or engineering.

During frosh week, social sciences and humanities students were taunted by the engineers, who called out, “Spatula!” Meaning: we didn’t have any career options after university and were destined to work a low-wage fast food job.

Humanities students were specifically targeted with “A-B-C-D-E-F-G. H-I-J-K. L-M-N-O-P. Q-R-S. TU-V. W-X-Y-Z. Now I know my ABCs, so I can pass the humanities,” implying humanities courses are easy.

At the time, I just assumed this was a way for the engineering reps to promote faculty pride in their first year students, and this attitude wasn’t present throughout the rest of the institution.

However, it appears that was only wishful thinking: in the last few years, the humanities and social sciences have faced many budget cuts in instructors, number of classes offered and resources available, and I know that this is not unique to my school.

Once I completed a few years of school, I thought going to a career fair would be a good way for me to decide what I could do with my degree in the future. Not being in health sciences, engineering or business, meant few employers were interested in my degree.

I attempted to talk to a few different companies and was turned away when I told them I was in a combined humanities/social science program. I didn’t approach other groups because they had no information for students in more than one faculty. Quite frankly, the whole thing was a complete waste of my time, and I felt very frustrated and disappointed.

Does it mean those engineers were right, or do career fairs need to be re-worked in order to support the diversity of educational options out there?

I’m hoping for the latter. I was told to never to judge a book by its cover and, as an English major, that advice seems almost too fitting.

If your company is attending a career fair at a university or college, remember there will be students from all kinds of academic programs there and, as a result, students with a variety of different experiences, both in terms of education as well as employment.

Just because a student isn’t in a certain degree program does not mean they aren’t qualified for a job in your company. For example, I have experience in HR, public relations, marketing and management, which is something you wouldn’t know if you only look at what program I’m in.

Sure, if you’re part of an architecture firm you’re primarily going to want to hire architects or engineers. But if someone from another program comes to your table, you do not have to turn them away. Every company has multiple departments that need a variety of employees with different kinds of work and education experience, and your company should be no exception to this.

You attend career fairs to entice students, not to deter them. And just because your company doesn’t have anything to offer one student, it doesn’t mean the same student can’t pass on information about your company to a friend or two.

Why you should start saving for retirement in your 20s

"Why you should start saving for retirement in your 20s", August 17 2009

There have been countless reports which state that the Baby Boomers will need to work longer in order to save enough money to retire. Although retirement is supposed to start at 55, many people now work into their mid-60s or later out of necessity.

University students typically graduate at 21 or 22 and start pursuing their first real job. I will be graduating (for the second time) at 25, which is due to being part of the double cohort in Ontario and also choosing to complete a second degree. In terms of planning for my future, I’m a bit nervous about the fact that I will be reaching retirement age in 30 years and I have no definitive direction, nor do I have a stable, full-time job which allows me to save for retirement.

The truth is we don’t need to start with a ton of money to build a nest egg. Although the more you can save the better it ends up for you in the long run, you do not need to start out with a large lump sum.

If saving is tough for you, start small. Start putting aside 1% of your gross pay (what you earn “on paper” before deductions). Once you get used to the amount, move up to 2%, and once you’re comfortable with that move up to 3% and so on.

If you’re already working in an entry-level position with retirement benefits, you should find what the company’s retirement plan, also known as a Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), is all about. RRSPs allow you to save for your retirement while simultaneously deferring the income tax on earnings and savings until the money is withdrawn.

Up to 18% of your wages (to a maximum of $22,000) can be put into the company’s RRSP in a given year. They are designed to allow a flexible retirement date up until December 31 of the year you turn 71. From there, the RRSP’s must be converted into an annuity or a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), and you must start withdrawing money.

Of course, not all companies have a Group RRSP, so you should be saving on your own. If you start saving early, you have the power of interest on your side (as opposed to it being against you when you need to repay student loans or credit card debt). The money you put aside will grow because of this interest, so you should always have some put aside in either a high-interest savings account or one made specifically for retirement.

If you’re more interested in market-related investments, set up an informal meeting with a financial advisor at your bank to get some more information and advice.

Regardless of the ways and amount you choose to invest, the most important thing you should be doing at this point in your life is starting to save. Every little bit counts for the future.

Doctor or musician, which career would you choose?

"Doctor or musician, which career would you choose?" August 20 2009

A stereotypical doctor doesn’t have piercings or a tattoo, and a stereotypical drummer doesn’t wear scrubs. Bourke Tillmann, however, is a fourth-year medical student and is the drummer of the successful indie band Holding.Sky.

Holding.Sky has played with a variety of popular and independent artists in their three-and-a-half year reign on the indie scene. The band recently recorded their third EP, From the Throne to the Lions – produced by Dan Achen, who has worked with Feist and City and Colour. It’s available for free download, with proceeds going to charity.

Between Bourke’s busy schedule as an ER doctor, general surgery assistant and drummer, he and I recently chatted about his dual persona.

(Photography by Jeff Jewiss)

Q. What came first: wanting to become a doctor or a musician?

A. Wanting to play music came first. I wasn’t one of those kids who grew up wanting to be a doctor – I wrote the MCATs after first year [of university] just to prove to a friend I could.

Q. What are some of the reasons why you wanted to become a doctor?

A. This is actually a pretty personal question. During my teenage years, I was unfortunately near a lot of death and from then on have seen the after effects this trauma has had on my friends (depression, suicide, drugs, homelessness). I never wanted to be helpless in a situation like that again.

Why else? It’s something I love and am good at. And when I think about it, I know I would give anything to save a person’s life. So now I get to go to work every day and do just that. Not only do I get to do that, but I can call it a career.

Q. Why did you want to become a musician?

A. The joy in writing music and creating something new, when you sit down with a few friends and put together a few notes and a rhythm there’s just magic. Then getting to perform, to show others what you have made – it’s incredible. You’re terrified because you’re showing your deepest emotions and they might be rejected, but you’re thrilled because you have an excuse to be completely yourself.

So why did I start playing an instrument? I thought drums were cool. I always wanted to play them so I decided to. Why do I want to become a musician? Because I want to have the challenge of creating something new every day, and the thrill and fear of showing my soul to strangers every night.

"I practice two hours away every weekend and spend half my nights planning shows and tours. It reminds me there’s more in my life than just medicine." —Bourke Tillmann

Q. How do you think being in a band helped you get into med school?

A. When you’re getting ready to play a concert in front of a couple thousand people, a med school interview really isn’t that intimidating. So instead of being paralyzed with fear when I interviewed, I was relaxed.

The second way I think it helped is the system’s desire to show how accepting it is. Medical schools want to show the world that they accept everyone, that they’re not an elitist system, nor perpetuating a social hierarchy. So I had already slid by their mental benchmark and made a nice example to show the world how accepting medical schools are. Do I think they are as accepting as they’re trying to portray? I’m a white, middle-income male, so you guess.

Q. How has being in a band helped you since getting into med school?

A. It has helped me keep perspective. So many people allow medical school to consume their lives. Instead, I practice two hours away every weekend and spend half my nights planning shows and tours. It reminds me there’s more in my life than just medicine.

It has also helped me keep in touch with my patients. As an independent band, we tend to play the shadier areas of cities, and . . . more of my patients are in a lower social economic range (to be politically correct). I spend a fair amount of my time hanging out with my patient population, while a lot of people in medical school spend their free time in bars with $15 covers and $8 drinks.

. . .

When you remove the social barrier that the physician-patient relationship creates, sometimes you can learn a lot more. Of course, you can sometimes learn too much. But in our music we broach some common but difficult subjects, and when you start the conversation people aren’t nearly as afraid to continue it.

Q. Do you ever regret the choice you made to go through medical school to become a doctor?

A. I wish I could say no, but it’s a hard process. When I’m spending hours studying instead of learning how to play a guitar, or reading about an esoteric disease I’ll probably never see in my life, I ask [myself] if it’s really worth it. But the patient interaction . . . working up their problem, figuring out how to make them feel better (not necessarily how to cure their disease) makes up for it ten-fold.

Oh, and the paper work sucks.

Q. How has your training in medical school helped you within the band?

A. Well, it’s made me more of an asshole, so I feel less bad when yelling at them to get something on the business side of the band done.

But seriously . . . Working in a hospital really teaches you what’s important in life and has made me appreciate the band even more, which makes me work harder. Also, I have learned how to manage and delegate tasks, and this really does help the business side of the band. As far as writing music, I’m usually at my most creative when I’m in a poor mood, so it has helped me write some new songs.

Q. What advice do you have for people who feel like they need to make a decision between an ideal career choice and an important part of their personal life?

"Working in a hospital really teaches you what’s important in life and has made me appreciate the band even more . . ." —Bourke Tillmann

A. I tell them to do what makes them happy. Is that ideal career going to make you happy, or is it just impressive? Trust me, it doesn’t take a lot of money to make it in this world – I’ve lived off a bag of chocolate covered raisins and table scraps for a month.

I’ve also been homeless for four months (although not in a row). You can make due on very little and still be happy. But doing what makes you happiest doesn’t always come easy. If you truly want it, you won’t give it up, but you’ll have to sacrifice.

I rarely ever watch TV. I sleep less than six hours most nights. I’ve lost girlfriends. I’ve been in car crashes. I’ve been on the other side in hospitals and I’m not the best in either of my two passions (music and medicine). But I love them both so I make the sacrifices I make.

So I say again, do what makes you happy. If you want to ski for three months a year, find the job that allows you to do that. Don’t find a job that demands you work ridiculous hours so that when you’re 60 you can start skiing. If family is your passion, find the easiest, shortest job you can so you can spend as much time with your family, while still helping support them. Money only has value when it’s spent, so don’t spend your life chasing it.

Q. Do you think you can serve as a role model to others? What about others in the band?

A. I would like to see myself as a role model – [it] would be pretty awesome to think that I’ve done enough in my life that it’s worth people looking up to. As for the rest of the band, Holding.Sky is about dedication and breaking limits. We all challenge each other.

Ben [Tillman, bass] finished working on Tim Burton’s 9 and is now working on another major motion picture; Mikey [Hill, guitar] is in med school; Tim [Laidman, vocals] has degrees from both Sheridan and Mohawk; and Kohji [Nagata, guitar and backup vocals] will always challenge you to be a better person.

Q. How has all of your education and/or work impacted the bands progress, if at all? Do you think any of you would quit the band?

A. I think it’s more how is the band impacting [our] education and work. But truthfully, the fact that some of our jobs have locked in contracts means we can’t do extended tours unless we know they’re going to be very beneficial for the band. Which means we have to use other methods to get our name out there.

As for anyone quitting the band, unless Thursday, Moneen, Attack in Black or the Deftones offered them a spot in their band. I don’t think anyone is going anywhere.

Faculty and Program Series Part Two: The Indigenous Studies Program

"Faculty and Program Series Part Two: The Indigenous Studies Program", August 16 2006.

BY DANIELLE LORENZ, MACINSIDERS

The Indigenous Studies Program (ISP) at McMaster is one of the smallest degree programs on campus with approximately 250-300 (about 100 Native and 150-200 non-Native) students taking courses each year. It was established in 1991 as a response to the desires of Indigenous representatives, Native and non-Native students as well as educators from the region for increased accessibility and support from the University for Indigenous cultures and education. One of the goals of the program is to preserve and promote Indigenous Knowledge to students and researchers that are interested in learning more about Indigenous cultures and perspectives as well as enhance and support Native, Métis and Inuit students at McMaster.

This interdisciplinary program features perspectives from Indigenous Theory, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, English and Social Work among others. ISP classes are beneficial to McMaster students of any academic discipline and in any desired career path. Presently, students may take a combined major in Indigenous Studies or have a minor in Indigenous Studies. They may also take ISP classes as electives.

Faculty Awards:

• Professors Hayden King and Rick Monture were nominated for MSU Teaching Awards in 08/09
• Director Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill was at President Obama’s Inauguration

Important Contacts:

Student Inquiries: indig@mcmaster.ca or call (905) 525-9140 ext 27426

Tips for Success:

1. Always attend your lectures and tutorials, and take good notes.
2. Finish your readings to the best of your ability. If you can’t complete them all in one week read them for the next because they are part of discussion all term.
3. You will be writing essays in these courses. If there is something you do not understand or feel you are struggling with talk to your professor. But don’t wait until the last minute to get help!
4. Participation is a large portion of these classes. Make sure to participate and ask questions.
5. When in doubt, ask.
6. Pay attention to what is happening to Indigenous people in the news. Sometimes this ends up being part of class discussion.

Professors:
Program Director: Dr. Dawn Martin-Hill - on leave 2009-2010
(Acting) Program Director: Rick Monture
Full-Time Lecturer: Hayden King
Mohawk Instructor: Tom Deer
Anishnaabe Instructor: Ali Darnay
Elders in Residence: Bertha Skye & Norma General

Social Events/Opportunities:

McMaster First Nations Student Association (MFNSA) hosts a variety of events throughout the year. These include but are not limited to cultural awareness events and conferences on campus, toy drives during the holidays, and an annual Unity Ride. Additionally, MFNSA students are involved reaching out to local Indigenous communities as well as co-planning the Indigenous Lecture Series, and promoting post-secondary education in Native communities and more.

Native and non-Native students are encouraged to join and participate actively in MFNSA. You can contact them via email at mac.first.nations@gmail.com. You can also visit them in the MFNSA student lounge in Hamilton Hall 103D.

Looking Forward – Future Paths and Occupations:

Taking Indigenous Studies classes gives the student knowledge on the issues that face Native people and their communities. This knowledge can be transferred to a wide variety of professions and careers. It should be noted that some of these occupations may require additional education aside from a bachelors degree. Below are some suggestions.

• Graduate Studies
• Law
• Communications/Journalism
• Policing
• Department of Culture
• Non-profit Organizations
• Environmental Groups
• Policy Advisors
• Museums
  
• Business
• Social Work
• Government (municipal, provincial, federal)
• Correctional Facilities
• Teaching
• Financial Planning
• Medicine