Let’s Meet an UCalgary Political Science Alumni: Julia Domaradzki!

Julia Domaradzki graduated with a BA from the Department of Political Science in 2017 

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to pursue a BA in Political Science at the University of Calgary? 

I thought I wanted to go to law school and like most of my classmates, Political Science seemed to be the perfect pre-law degree. I also liked how I could choose interdisciplinary electives such as International Relations, Sociology and Linguistics. Subsequently, I decided to also pursue a major in French with a minor in Spanish. Thanks to the broad range of classes I could take as a Political Science major, I was able to participate in exchange programs in France and Spain studying languages and European politics as well as a practical internship in Washington, DC. 

What have you been up to since graduating in 2017? Where has your BA in Political Science taken you? 

After graduating, I knew I wanted to get some work experience before going back to school. I was open to anything and so I accepted a job as a Bilingual Cabin Crew Member with WestJet airlines. This experience was invaluable. I met so many interesting people and travelled a lot while also realizing that perhaps law school wasn't for me. I decided to explore different graduate degrees and am thrilled to say that I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Public and International Affairs at York University. This degree is a perfect combination of my interests of social justice in Canada and global policy. 

Do you have any words of advice for incoming political science majors as they start their degree? 

My advice is to be open to any work or study experience. Working at WestJet wasn't directly related to Political Science, but I believe that the time management and conflict resolution skills I developed while working in a people facing role are fundamental to my current work as a public servant. I am passionate about my current role as a Policy Intern at the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, and I never would have had this opportunity if I set my mind to strictly being a lawyer. I haven't completely ruled out pursuing a career in law, but I feel fortunate to have explored work in the travel industry and in policy at government to figure out where my interests truly are. 

Thanks for sharing with us, Julia Domaradzki!