Student Testimonials
Here is what a few students have had to say about Arts and Contemporary Studies (ACS):
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Email Suit Up For Success sufs.ru@gmail.com
- Rudhra Persad, (ACS, Faculty of Arts) 2nd Year
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The Arts and Contemporary Studies program at Ryerson was the best thing that ever happened to me! It allowed me to customize my university experience, by providing me with so many opportunities to pursue the subjects that I was truly passionate about. ACS also provided me with the tools for success. I learned how to write, think and speak analytically, while engaging with major contemporary issues. Best of all, ACS allowed me to make life long new friends and learn with talented and passionate professors. I know that a degree in Arts and Contemporary Studies will provide students with a solid undergraduate education that will be transferable into the work place or future academic studies. (Update: Rhiannon now holds the position of president and CEO of the Economic Club of Toronto. She is pictured here with former U.S. President Bill Clinton at an event hosted by the Club. She was recently featured in Womenspost.ca as Woman of the Week - Rhiannon Traill, Class of 2008
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I'm from Caracas, Venezuela. When I came to Toronto and enrolled in ACS, I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into, but I knew I wanted to study the great figures of intellectual history. I also knew that if I was going to start school again, I had to make it fun. ACS was exactly right for me. Not only has it introduced me to a variety of interesting topics and ideas, but it has also taught me a lot about myself. It has given me certainty and polished my beliefs. I always knew I wanted to get into a business-related field, and I am currently working on an entrepreneurial project. As an international student at Ryerson, I can say that ACS definitely broadened and deepened my knowledge, while sharpening my analytical and critical skills. - Simon Zaidman Class of 2009 |
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In May 2009, I was given the opportunity to travel to Kenya to research an upcoming Alternative Spring Break (ASB) project. The trip completely altered my perception of development projects and made me understand many things about myself, the world, and how ASB can make a difference. Besides having the opportunity to grow as a person, I was able to study in a unique environment, and by this I mean interviewing locals in a tiny little village called Bakura and learning firsthand about the issues they face every day. This trip allowed me to develop a project for ASB that is unique and challenges the current model for international development. It is exciting to realize that students can make a difference by learning, and that these types of endeavours are supported by the university. The trip wouldn't have been possible without the International Conference and Research Support Fund grant that I received from the Ryerson International office, with matching funding provided by Arts and Contemporary Studies. It was as straight forward as writing a really clear proposal outlining the goals of my intended trip. As students, we have to realise our capabilities and see that we can do anything we set our minds to. We CAN make a difference simply by making changes within ourselves and exploring differently avenues of seeing this through. So next time you hear yourself using the words "but", "if", "maybe", or "someday" -- think again, do some research, and make the potential that is sitting right in front of your own reality! - Dani Dye, 3rd Year |
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I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I needed some better direction - so where better than in a program that had a name as unique as Arts and Contemporary Studies? That was basically my application story in a nutshell. Back in the day, when I was asked the question, "So what do you want to do after school?," it was followed either by an awkward moment of silence or a quick change of subject. Getting into ACS got me learning more about myself while learning more about the world around me by specializing in Global Studies. (Watching the news was no longer cryptic!). Jokes aside, after finishing my degree I came back to my hometown in Bangkok City, applied for a job at a magazine of the Bangkok Post (Guru Magazine), and got the job within three weeks of my return. My job is to write about political satire, all things Bangkok, and the clubs and restaurants I get invited to go to on a weekly basis (makes it hard to watch your weight). See? Those big essays did come in handy! So thank you ACS for putting me on the right track. - Sittipon (Oz) Chanarat, Class of 2008 |
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ACS allows students to develop broad skills while giving the opportunity to focus on particular areas of interest. I have been able to use the base of knowledge I gained in ACS as an outstanding foundation for a master's degree in international affairs. I was able to choose between several offers from graduate schools, not least due to the History Travel Award – for which only ACS students are eligible – that I received after my final year at Ryerson, allowing me to attend a summer programme at the Free University in Berlin and to travel across Europe. (Update: Julian was accepted into the MA in International Affairs (Conflict Analysis and Conflict Resolution) at Carleton University.) |
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What I found in Arts and Contemporary Studies (ACS) was a community of peers and professors, the foundation of which is a true interest in education. The professors are not only passionate about their respective fields of study; they are sincerely and enthusiastically interested in teaching. My classmates came from diverse backgrounds with various interests, talents, and goals, but we were united in an inquisitive spirit and a candid willingness to share our perspectives. In ACS you will find a supportive environment which fosters intellectual, professional, and social growth. No matter what your interests are, you will be able to pursue them to the fullest extent in the Arts and Contemporary Studies program. (Update: Jason has been accepted into one of the top law programs in the United States: Cornell University) - Jason Pierce, Class of 2008 |
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Before I chose which university I would be attending, I decided to meet some people from every programme that I applied to. The students from ACS were definitely the most friendly off the bat, and I immediately felt at home with them. A few weeks later, I accepted the offer from Ryerson to start Arts and Contemporary Studies. Once I began school, I was unsure of where I wanted to go with my degree. Thankfully the faculty works together with students to shape our academic future. I started to see that I had some talent in writing and English Studies. With encouragement from the department, some friends and I were able to start a student "zine" called The Continuist. So I entered ACS unsure of my ambitions, and where I would go with life. Now I'm looking at some English MA programmes, hoping to one day be a professor or enter the professional writing field. - Gint Paul Sileika, graduating 2011 |
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After completing my ACS degree, I was accepted at the University of London, at the Centre for Development, Environment and Policy, in the MSc Environmental Management program. ACS is a challenging and exciting interdisciplinary degree that I designed to fit my goals and priorities. Courses such as Global Studies, Equity and Diversity, Gender and Development, and the History of Science established the extensive theoretical foundation I need to complete graduate studies. I also had the chance to study Spanish, focus on international history and complete a minor in leading and managing in the non-profit sector. In addition to academics, opportunities such as the inaugural undergraduate research conference in the Faculty of Arts, Arteries, and Ryerson's first ever Alternative Spring Break in Guatemala gave me the chance to develop important leadership qualities and engage in life changing voluntary experiences. I am so pleased with the personal and professional opportunities that I have because of ACS! |
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After graduating from ACS I managed to land a job quite quickly. Last October I began my career as an HR Analyst for a computer programming software development company called Morega Systems Inc. - thanks to the Human Resources minor that ACS allowed me to obtain. I am sure that if it were not for my well-rounded education, I would have never been considered for such a position. I felt very prepared entering the work world, even though I did not have very much job experience at the time. Thanks to ACS, I have no trouble handling anything that comes my way. - Laura Miceli, Class of 2007 |
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Every course had very different material which engaged me in different ways, and yet you could see how they overlapped each other, and how carefully thought-out the tightly-woven ACS cloth really is. I am so grateful for everything I have learned about the world (both past and present), and for how I was pushed to enhance my reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. I think this is a very unique program. You can tell that every professor is enthusiastic about their area of teaching, which I believe to be key to the learning process. The more they were engaged, the more I wanted to be engaged. I never felt that I couldn't speak up in class or go see a prof for help if necessary. I am so grateful to have spent my first year of uncertainty in this program, which has not only begun filling me with knowledge, but left me with a stronger thirst for reading literature as well as keeping more in tune with the events of our world. – Christina Bryson, first year student, 2007-2008 |
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Education is about growth—both intellectual and personal. The great thing about the ACS program is that it allows you to truly expand your horizons and to understand yourself and your environment. Many students will perceive and experience the world differently when viewing it through the ACS perspective. The various options and minors will help you experience what true education is all about by accommodating your intellectual growth. For students hoping to pursue an M.A. or Ph.D., the ACS program is ideal as well. (Update: Christina has accepted an offer to do an MA in International Relations at the University of Toronto, starting in Fall 2008. This will be fully funded by a scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Christina was also the 2008 recipient of the Gold Medal for the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson.) - Christina Smit, Class of 2008 |
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After graduation, the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Association hired me as Marketing Assistant. It's a dream job and I love every minute of it. As part of the Marketing team, I he p to organize and promote all of the events that take place in Downtown Kingston. And we have many, very large events. I never would have been given this opportunity if it hadn't been for ACS. The fact I could do a business minor definitely helped sell my skills as a graduate. And the Arts/Culture part of the degree was the icing on the cake. I was beyond proud to explain what ACS was during my interview. Yes, I use many of the skills I learned in Marking but it was the Arts courses that really rounded out my skills and have made it easy to adapt to my new position. - Alex Amodeo, Class of 2007 |
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