Alex Busch

Graduated 2020

Double Major in Mathematics and the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities, Minor in English Language & Literature

Hometown: London, ON

After SASAH: Master's in Applied Mathematics from Western University

What attracted you to this program?

Going into first year, I was having a hard time choosing what to study – I was interested in so many things and could see myself going in a lot of different directions. The idea of an interdisciplinary program stood out to me as a way to explore different topics and find connections between them. I also liked the idea of community engagement, smaller classes, and the many unique projects you don’t get to do in a typical class.

"Classes involved a lot of discussion and interaction, and many not-so-typical methods of evaluation. We were really encouraged to pursue our own ideas in projects, and because of that, I ended up doing work that was memorable and meaningful to me."

What are your thoughts about life as a SASAH student? What makes it unique?

The most unique part about SASAH, in my experience, was the open-minded approach to learning. We spent a lot of time out of the classroom, going on various trips and getting involved in the community. Classes involved a lot of discussion and interaction, and many not-so-typical methods of evaluation. We were really encouraged to pursue our own ideas in projects, and because of that, I ended up doing work that was memorable and meaningful to me.

How did your relationships with other SASAH students positively affect your experience at Western overall?

It was nice to have the same cohort of people moving through the SASAH classes together – something that doesn’t always happen in other departments. My classmates always surprised and inspired me with their wide range of passions and talents. Having such a diverse class makes for really interesting discussions, and it made me love group projects in SASAH (which, I have to admit, were often rough in other classes).

How has SASAH prepared you for the job market and/or graduate school?

One really unique opportunity you get in SASAH is the community engaged learning / experiential learning credit. These experiences stand out on your resume because you gain real work place experience and practical skills (and often deliverables you can show future employers / supervisors). They are a chance for you to explore potential careers, and can open the door to jobs down the road. I ended up doing two. For the first, I ran a small art business selling paintings and doing commissions. In the process, I learned about marketing, website design, and making a business plan. For the second, I volunteered with ANOVA (London’s women’s shelter and sexual assault center). That was an incredible experience for me. I got to help with the plans to make the shelter pet friendly and facilitate public education presentations and workshops. This gave me an opportunity to be more involved in my community, and work with very diverse groups of people. These experiences helped me better understand what I am passionate about, and how the skills I was learning in classes translate to success in a real workplace.  

What lessons and skills contributed to your success after you graduated?

I think the most important lesson I took away from my time in SASAH has to do with all of the independent learning experience I gained in the program. It’s the sense that, even when I don’t know how to do something, I am confident in my ability to figure it out. In SASAH, you are presented with a lot of opportunities, ideas, and challenges that are new to you and sometimes outside your comfort zone. I found this experience useful as I moved into a graduate program in a very different area of study than my undergrad and had to learn new skills (like coding) fairly quickly.

As an experienced graduate, do you have any advice for current SASAH students?

My advice to current SASAH students is to make the most of your experiential learning credits. They are a unique opportunity to explore what you’re passionate about, make a real impact on your community, and discover how that could translate to a future career. They were definitely some of the highlights of my time in SASAH!