Dankile Lin
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
Oddly enough, my decision to complete a degree in English Literature was somewhat on a whim. I applied to English Honours at the end of first year. I was unsure of what I wanted to study, and I figured that diving headfirst into Honours in second year would definitively let me know whether or not I enjoyed the program. As it turned out, I loved it! This made the decision to stick with the degree in third and fourth year very easy.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
The two best choices I made were to do ArtsOne, and in the years after, to complete an Honours degree. The Honours program helped immensely in teaching me how to conduct independent research and how to write a thesis.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
As with many people who graduated at the same time, Covid-19 threw a curveball into the career planning at the time. The chaos in the spring/summer of 2020 certainly made for an uncertain year. However, as demand for online test-prep and tutoring grew, I was able to make the shift to working remotely.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
I use the skills learned in my degree every day at work. Teaching grammar, English literature, and standardized test preparation has been a perfect transfer of all the skills/knowledge I obtained in my undergraduate degree. The most challenging aspect of my job is certainly the fact that every student comes in with a different learning mindset; however, it is, at the same time, also the most exciting and interesting part of the work.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
The best thing about an Arts degree is certainly the versatility of the degree. While this does mean that one has to be more proactive about finding the field they wish to work in and to apply themselves fully in that pursuit, an Arts degree certainly opens more doors than the average degree. Having one certainly makes me extremely excited about all the potential future opportunities.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Passion is key. In education and test prep, there is no shortage of available work — what is most important is to find your own style of teaching and to stand out. This way, clients will come and seek you for your expertise and style.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
Stop procrastinating! I know it can be daunting to start an essay/commit to a thesis, but starting early is always a better idea than ‘waiting’ for inspiration to hit.
Dankile Lin
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
Oddly enough, my decision to complete a degree in English Literature was somewhat on a whim. I applied to English Honours at the end of first year. I was unsure of what I wanted to study, and I figured that diving headfirst into Honours in second year would definitively let me know whether or not I enjoyed the program. As it turned out, I loved it! This made the decision to stick with the degree in third and fourth year very easy.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
The two best choices I made were to do ArtsOne, and in the years after, to complete an Honours degree. The Honours program helped immensely in teaching me how to conduct independent research and how to write a thesis.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
As with many people who graduated at the same time, Covid-19 threw a curveball into the career planning at the time. The chaos in the spring/summer of 2020 certainly made for an uncertain year. However, as demand for online test-prep and tutoring grew, I was able to make the shift to working remotely.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
I use the skills learned in my degree every day at work. Teaching grammar, English literature, and standardized test preparation has been a perfect transfer of all the skills/knowledge I obtained in my undergraduate degree. The most challenging aspect of my job is certainly the fact that every student comes in with a different learning mindset; however, it is, at the same time, also the most exciting and interesting part of the work.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
The best thing about an Arts degree is certainly the versatility of the degree. While this does mean that one has to be more proactive about finding the field they wish to work in and to apply themselves fully in that pursuit, an Arts degree certainly opens more doors than the average degree. Having one certainly makes me extremely excited about all the potential future opportunities.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Passion is key. In education and test prep, there is no shortage of available work — what is most important is to find your own style of teaching and to stand out. This way, clients will come and seek you for your expertise and style.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
Stop procrastinating! I know it can be daunting to start an essay/commit to a thesis, but starting early is always a better idea than ‘waiting’ for inspiration to hit.