Kristin Murrary
Kristin Murrary
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Kristin graduated with a degree in the BA, Political Science and is now working at Prairies Economic Development Canada, Government of Canada as a Senior Policy Analyst. Keep reading to see how AWE shaped her career path.
Looking back, how has AWE impacted the direction you went in your career?
AWE was instrumental in kickstarting my career. I was first introduced to Prairies Economic Development Canada through an AWE internship and I later came back to the organization after finishing my degree. Through AWE, I discovered a field of work that interested me, suited my skill set and aligned with my studies. I also made valuable connections that helped me enter the workforce after graduation. It turned out to be such a great fit that I'm still with the same organization over ten years later.
How did your work term through AWE shape your understanding of the real-world application of your degree?
When I first started university, I didn't have a specific career path in mind. I decided to pursue an Arts degree because I was interested in the types of courses it offered, but I didn't have a clear idea as to how it might translate into a career. AWE gave me an opportunity to explore options around the kinds of organizations and jobs that might be relevant to someone with an Arts degree. The work terms that I completed helped illustrate how the skills and knowledge I was developing in school could be applied in a professional setting. They also provided me with valuable work experience that helped build my resume and support a successful transition into the workforce.
How has having an Arts degree allowed you to advance your career to where it is today?
In my experience, an Arts degree supports the development of foundational skills such as critical thinking, research and analysis and communication, which are adaptable to many different professional contexts. In my role working in economic development, this has allowed me the opportunity to work on interesting projects across a range of topics like energy and clean technology, health and life sciences, aerospace and defense and many more.