General Arts & Sciences Grad - 2008
When the path from school to career takes unexpected twists and turns, and creates confusion about which way to go, George Brown College can be a valuable signpost that provides the right direction.
That was the case in 2006 for Sheida Richardson, then a recent high school graduate working in a retail store and wondering what to do next. With no academic interest or career goal in mind, the Oakville native had chosen to delay post-secondary school to explore her options. About a year into her educational hiatus, however, she began feeling unsettled and eager for something new, so she started investigating educational options. Specifically, she was looking for a broad-based program offered within a relatively condensed time frame that could potentially propel her to more specialized learning. She found her fit in George Brown’s General Arts and Science program, a two-year liberal arts diploma program that exposes students to subjects within the arts and humanities, social sciences, and science and technology. “I liked that I’d be able to pick out courses that interested me, but also take ones I wasn’t sure about, so that I could figure out what I liked most,” says Richardson, 23.
In the program, Richardson took courses in areas such as mathematics, sociology, Canadian literature, environmental science, history, geography and politics. The last of these was most fascinating to Richardson, she says, because it offered her a new way of thinking about worldwide political systems and behaviour, and provided her with a long-term academic goal. “Political science opened my eyes to how politics affects the way the world operates. It was really interesting stuff that I wanted to pursue further,” she says.
Richardson was also able to develop her abilities in research, writing, critical thinking and oral communication – the last of which had always proved vexing due to her somewhat reserved nature. But a course that focused entirely on public speaking immersed her in the skill and before long she found herself becoming comfortable with expressing herself to her classmates. “It put me completely out of my comfort zone, but it was good because I picked up skills that I can use anywhere.”
Richardson’s experience at George Brown reflects her remarkable transformation from unsure high school graduate to successful, focused and self-assured college graduate. Her inclusion on the Dean’s list for both years in the program, and her receipt, upon graduating in 2008, of the Dean’s Medal in recognition of her high marks and positive influence on her peers, speak to her significant academic and social accomplishments.
Moreover, Richardson discovered her aspirations for the future: she’s currently halfway through completing a double-major degree in political science and criminology at the University of Toronto. Her transition to university was made easier through the support of a particularly influential George Brown instructor, who offered her advice and helped her problem-solve throughout her first year. Also helpful was the fact that she was able to apply two of her George Brown diploma credits to her programming, which allows her to complete her degree at a more relaxed pace. Richardson continues to excel – she’s also made the Dean’s list at U of T for the last two years – and, upon finishing her degree, she’d like to pursue law studies. She attributes her current success to having found her academic niche, and having developed strong study, writing and organizational skills at George Brown.
Says Richardson: “My friends ask me how I stay so organized, and how I write and study so well. I tell them I spent two years at George Brown and that’s where I learned everything I know.”
