Matthew Richardson
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I chose UBC’s BA in History program as I grew up loving history and knew I wanted to go into a career with it.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Joining clubs and meeting people! While at UBC, I was a part of the Dance Club, History Association, Archeology Club, and Pre-Education Club.
While you meet a lot of people in your classes at university, you can get to know people who share your interests through clubs as well. I now have some very close friends from my time at UBC in part because of joining clubs.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
Asking lots of questions and sticking to my plan.
It’s good to ask a lot of questions of professors in the field you want to work in and of professionals in that field. You can ask about things such as what the work you’re interested in is like and what the work-life balance might be in the industry and sector you’re considering.
It’s also good to get tips on how to take the first steps in building your career, for example by asking what others might have done differently when they were just starting out.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
My first job was teaching Grade 5. Before this, I worked part-time at the Vancouver Maritime Museum (and still do).
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
My career path is what I had originally planned.
One challenge I faced was that I needed to wait a few extra years to obtain a role teaching at the middle/senior social studies level that I was aiming for. I taught Grade 5 for a few years at the school I wanted to teach at before a position in my current department opened up. The wait was well worth it as I gained a lot of good experience along the way.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
I like talking about history every day, but it can be challenging to get all of my students as interested in it as I am.
Making classes interactive has been helpful! This has included things like roleplaying and board games, including an instance where I transformed the game of Catan into “Catanada” by using the original game to create a map of Canada.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
Having an Arts degree has provided me with a lot of career options. I became a teacher, but I could have also become an archaeologist or pursued a career working in a museum. And these options are still open to me!
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Work hard, ask lots of questions, and enjoy the journey.
Matthew Richardson
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I chose UBC’s BA in History program as I grew up loving history and knew I wanted to go into a career with it.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Joining clubs and meeting people! While at UBC, I was a part of the Dance Club, History Association, Archeology Club, and Pre-Education Club.
While you meet a lot of people in your classes at university, you can get to know people who share your interests through clubs as well. I now have some very close friends from my time at UBC in part because of joining clubs.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
Asking lots of questions and sticking to my plan.
It’s good to ask a lot of questions of professors in the field you want to work in and of professionals in that field. You can ask about things such as what the work you’re interested in is like and what the work-life balance might be in the industry and sector you’re considering.
It’s also good to get tips on how to take the first steps in building your career, for example by asking what others might have done differently when they were just starting out.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
My first job was teaching Grade 5. Before this, I worked part-time at the Vancouver Maritime Museum (and still do).
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
My career path is what I had originally planned.
One challenge I faced was that I needed to wait a few extra years to obtain a role teaching at the middle/senior social studies level that I was aiming for. I taught Grade 5 for a few years at the school I wanted to teach at before a position in my current department opened up. The wait was well worth it as I gained a lot of good experience along the way.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
I like talking about history every day, but it can be challenging to get all of my students as interested in it as I am.
Making classes interactive has been helpful! This has included things like roleplaying and board games, including an instance where I transformed the game of Catan into “Catanada” by using the original game to create a map of Canada.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
Having an Arts degree has provided me with a lot of career options. I became a teacher, but I could have also become an archaeologist or pursued a career working in a museum. And these options are still open to me!
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Work hard, ask lots of questions, and enjoy the journey.
