Daniela Mendoza Ramirez
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Congratulations to Daniela Mendoza Ramierz who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science! Daniela completed two Arts Work Experience (AWE) work terms with the Government of Canada one of which was at the Embassy in Spain! We caught up with them to talk about their U of A and AWE experience. Here is what they had to say:
How are you feeling about graduating?
I am really excited about graduating! It represents the culmination of all the work and experiences over the last few years. As a first generation Canadian, graduating means a lot for me and my family.
What is your favorite memory of being a student at the U of A?
My favourite memory of being a student is being part of student groups. I loved being part of these communities at the university. They have helped me grow as a person through the work I was doing and learn skills that were not taught to me by my classes. These experiences ultimately helped me land my AWE work terms.
Do you have any advice for current students?
My advice for students is to get involved in student groups, you can gain skills that are not taught in the classroom and it helps you build a community. If you are thinking of doing AWE, just go for it! The job market is tough right now but this is a good opportunity to acquire professional experience even before graduating.
Talk about your work term with AWE! What was your role and responsibilities? What did you learn?
First of all, I am glad that I decided to join AWE as I was able to live in different cities, experience new cultures and grow personally and professionally. AWE complimented my degree and allowed me to put into practice some of the skills I acquired in my courses. During my time in AWE, I had two work terms. The first one was an eight month term as an intern in the Economic Section of the Embassy of Canada to Spain and Andorra in Madrid, Spain. In this role, I supported the Trade Commissioners through research, content creation, and event coordination in the areas of clean technology, agriculture and agri-food, transportation and foreign direct investment, to mention a few. I had the chance to learn about the work of the Trade Commissioner Service and their role in helping Canadian companies and organizations enter foreign markets. I also learned about how diplomatic relationships are built and maintained between Spain and Canada. My second work term was as a Junior Trade Policy Officer in the North America Trade Negotiations Division at Global Affairs Canada. I had the chance to get a glimpse of the policy work that is carried out to uphold Canada's trade agreements with other countries, specifically the Canada, United States, and Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).