UWeconomics | Page 10

peers from all around the world. I don’t think there’s ever a better time to meet people from so many different countries, cultures and educational backgrounds. Befriending people is a significant part of the whole university experience and being in UW definitely gave me the chance to meet interesting people from all over. This experience was mind-altering, as I gained exposure to so many different ideologies and ways of living. Through this experience, I became consumed by wanderlust and I promised myself to travel all around the world.

Q: What did you decide to do after graduation? How is your Economics degree applicable to your field of work?

A: I was working with the Canada Border Services Agency as a Student Border Service Officer, and had the opportunity to start with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) right out of my final year. My job basically revolved around preventing and deterring the illicit use of employment insurance (EI). A huge part of it was interpreting and analyzing policies and legislation, along with data-mining systems and interviewing claimants to ensure compliance.

I then got the opportunity to work for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB): a no-fault insurance and compensation board for workers in Ontario. I started off as an Adjudicator and was recently promoted to a Case Manager.

With a background in economics, it seems anything is possible, as it is applicable to many different fields of work. With my degree in economics, I was able to gain and apply many skills and abilities that have helped me progress my career: analyzing data sets, policies and trends, strong research skills, problem-solving skills, awareness of current affairs, presentation of complex information, critical thinking skills, and numeracy and statistics skills, just to name a few.

Q: What is one thing you miss about university?

A: There are many things I miss about university; the wealth of knowledge, being young and full of ideas, the all-nighters in the library, and the list goes on. But if I had to pick one, it would definitely be meeting

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