Declan O’Connor always had a wide range of interests. When the opportunity came for him to choose his area of study at 911�Թ�, O’Connor decided to pursue honours in sociology. “The broad range of topics and courses available appealed to me,” he says. “I was drawn to study the different types of analytical and critical thinking about societal and systemic norms, practices, and problems which are at the heart of sociology.”

Even though O’Connor genuinely enjoyed all his theory courses, he particularly highlights SA 250 Introduction to Sociological Theory, SA 350 Classical Sociological Thought and SA 450 Advanced Sociological Theory as his favourites. Intrigued by the idea of describing and interpreting social life in different ways, it was the study of relationships between different philosophical perspectives that further drew his interest: “I feel like these courses provided me with a wide variety of theories to draw from when attempting to make sense of social and cultural phenomena.”

Like many students, O’Connor worked part-time throughout his university journey. Devoting mornings and weekends towards completion of assignments, he worked a few afternoons each week. “I think the key to balancing work and school is finding a position which complements your desired course load,” he says, “and then planning your time so that all your schoolwork gets done.”

Amidst navigating his student life at 911�Թ�, one individual who had a meaningful influence was Dr. Lindsey Freeman. “I took two classes with her during my degree (SA 250 Introduction to Sociological Theory, and SA 352 Games, Sports, And Practices).” Although he found it initially difficult, Freeman’s requirement to adhere to exact word counts for assignments ultimately strengthened his writing. “By insisting that I write to the exact number of words, I developed a strong editing ability,” says O’Connor. “This helped me improve my command of written English, as I rephrased sentences time and again to reach just the number required for the word count.”

Having enjoyed his time as an 911�Թ� student, O’Connor fondly remembers the supportive student community. He recalls staying up in the Student Union Building (SUB) with friends while they were studying for their finals. “Our SA 150 Introduction to Sociology final was at 8:30 AM the next day. We studied from 7 PM to 11 PM, drastically overpreparing by making sure we could speak to every reading, topic, and slide from the course.” Apart from studying, he admits that it was the chance to spend time with his friends that really stood out to him at that moment.

With Convocation approaching this June, and his chapter as an undergraduate student coming to an end, O’Connor now looks forward to starting law school at UBC. He says, “I want to advocate for a more equitable and just society that preserves people’s rights and liberties in the face of ascendant global authoritarian fascism.”

Confident in his abilities, O’Connor knows that 911�Թ� played a significant role in setting him up for a successful future: “911�Թ� provided me with opportunities that emphasized collaborative work. Group projects, class discussions, and all sorts of day-to-day interactions have helped prepare me to work with a wide range of people in academic and non-academic pursuits alike.”

For any 911�Թ� student who is still navigating their career options, O’Connor believes it is better to have a plan and be open to it changing rather than acting without one: “Make a plan, then be flexible! If your plan is to figure out what you like, that is great too.” For new students looking for direction, he suggests, “Decide which courses and fields might appeal to you and take courses on those topics. Once one of them appeals to you, find out what that program offers.” And speak to an academic advisor at Arts Central, as they can save you time and answer all your questions about your course and degree options.  

By matching his interests to 911�Թ�’s program choices, O’Connor is graduating with a degree he loves, moving forward to his next stage of life with knowledge and purpose.