Misha Apel

misha.jpgGraduated 2019

Double Major in English Language and Literature and the School for Advanced Studies in Arts and Humanities, minor in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Hometown: Dundas, ON

After SASAH: Legislative Intern with the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme at Queen’s Park in Toronto. JD Candidate, Western Law

What attracted you to this program?

I wanted to find a small tight knit program of like-minded individuals within a larger university. I like getting involved and the appeal of one-on-one education with access to larger student activities was really appealing!

"If I had to isolate just one lesson from SASAH that has helped me greatly, it would be critical thinking. The ability to take information, break it down and analyze it to the degree that I was taught has definitely played a key role in my time post-graduation."

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

Life as a SASAH student was unique and different. We were able to ‘dip our toes’ into all aspects of an Arts & Humanities education while specializing in our own field. We receive high level support and freedom from the program to explore our true interests and not only graduate as insightful and intelligent individuals but as mature and capable of handling a variety of topics.

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

Some of my best friendships came from SASAH! Being in a class with like-minded individuals meant that we had similar interests from literature to student involvement I had a blast getting to know my cohort. The people I met in SASAH became and will remain some of my closest friends because we were able to participate in such a vast array of experiences together in the program. In addition, every individual was willing to lend a hand at any moment for someone that needed help, whether it be academic or personal. It created a great comradery between the cohort.

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

SASAH’s immense diversity of experiences helped me most post-graduation. I was able to leverage that I participated in such a diverse range of experiences during my time at Western because of SASAH and all of the skills I acquired because of it. From creating art installations and exhibitions, creating a documentary, writing research papers, presentations, event planning to international opportunities, SASAH allowed me to participate in so many experiences that I am always able to use my experiences for my current and presumably future experiences. If I had to isolate just one lesson from SASAH that has helped me greatly, it would be critical thinking. The ability to take information, break it down and analyze it to the degree that I was taught has definitely played a key role in my time post-graduation.

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

Overall, I learned how to work with people in a variety of settings because SASAH’s in-class projects are so vast and different in each course that I am now great at adapting to new situations. There are so many skills that I learned in SASAH from working with people to public speaking to time management to research and writing skills. SASAH provides students with a well-rounded education that will be a great asset in your future.

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

Take every opportunity you can! Get involved in everything. The people you meet and the experiences you have will take you so far. This program offers unfettered access to professors, advisory board members, alumni and more who are not only top professionals in their fields but also willing to help you if you reach out. Also, slow down and enjoy your experience. Sometimes we are too busy trying to race to the finish line and figure out what we are doing next that we forget to stop and look at the scenery. If you do, you might just find that Western University and SASAH are offering you some of the best memories that you’ll have for the rest of your life!