Will Sharpe

Graduated 2021

Double Major in MIT (Media, Information, Technoculture) and the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities

Hometown: Kincardine, ON

After SASAH: Master of Media in Journalism & Communication from Western University

What attracted you to this program?

When I graduated high school, I knew the arts were for me. But when I mentioned that, most of the time, all I heard “oh, what are you going to do with an English degree?” As it turned out, the options were limitless. SASAH is a program that mixes the arts with tangible real-world experience, and I thought it was invaluable.

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

"My best advice is to keep an open mind. You may not love every class — and that’s OK. Some things will be challenging. That’s OK too. SASAH is about more than what happens in the classroom."

I met two of my closest friends through SASAH. We were all on the SASAH floor in Ontario Hall and have been close ever since. Luckily, we shared classes all through undergraduate, and knowing that I had friends in my classes made it easier to go to school on those tough, tiring days. As much as you love what you study, those tough days will come.

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

I’m still a couple of months away from my job search (nerve-wracking, indeed), but I can say that SASAH was key to my grad school application. I had relevant work experiences thanks to the internship program; I had community-engaged learning experiences; and I’d polished my skills in the classroom. I think it helped me stand out.

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

I have one key lesson that I took away from my time as an undergrad: get out of your comfort zone. I found it hard, probably harder than most, but I think it’s necessary. While I can’t guarantee immediate success, it’ll be worth it.

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

My best advice is to keep an open mind. You may not love every class — and that’s OK. Some things will be challenging. That’s OK too. SASAH is about more than what happens in the classroom, and I’d jump into any extracurriculars you can.