Convocation Profile: Phoebe Lam

Phoebe Lam isgraduating with a double major in Linguistics and East Asian Studies, and a minor in Psychology. Along with her degree, she is also graduating with two certificates– one in applied social sciences research, and one in translation studies with a focus on Japanese. We caught up with Phoebe to get more information about her and her interests.

What led you to choose your current area of study, and why the U of A for your studies?

When I applied to university, I did not have a good idea of what I wanted to study. I initially enrolled with a major in psychology and a minor in linguistics. During this time, I also took a lot of electives. Through these courses, which I originally enrolled in for fun, I found a direction that I wanted to pursue. Later on, I was fortunate enough to get involved with some of the labs in the linguistics department, where I was able to try a range of things before eventually finding my niche.

In terms of choosing a university, I had lived in Edmonton since I was quite young, so it seemed like an obvious choice to apply for the university right here at home. I found that being able to stay in a city that was familiar to me during my undergraduate years was beneficial since I was able to try and explore new things with a safety net of the community that I already had here.

Tell us about your experience in your faculty?

During my undergraduate, I came to appreciate being a part of two relatively small departments (East Asian Studies and Linguistics). I found that everyone I met was not only very friendly, but also very passionate about the work that they do. The professors are approachable and personable, and I always felt very comfortable at the faculty. I found that everyone was happy to share their experiences and resources to guide me throughout every step of my degree, and I could not have completed this degree without such a supportive environment and community.

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at U of A?

One of my favourite memories would be taking LING 375. It was a directed research course and due to the small class size, we all became very close. During the course, I was able to learn a lot about how research is conducted in different areas with linguistics, and got to get involved with a few different labs. I was also able to meet a lot of really amazing people during this time and had so much fun! We ended our semester with a party and celebration, which really cemented LING 375 as one of my most memorable classes.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class?

It is hard to pick a favourite professor since I had so many great teachers! The professor I worked with the most would be Dr. Evangelia Daskalaki. She is my supervisor for my capstone project but has truly gone above and beyond, giving me a lot of guidance in regards to my path after graduation. Through working with Professor Daskalaki, I have had the opportunity to present at conferences and connect with others in the field. Her advice and support has really made a huge difference in my academic journey.

What advice do you have for current and future students?

My biggest advice would be to be unafraid of trying. University is a time for exploring new things, and the U of A has tons of options. You never know what is going to work for you until you try. I think many of the opportunities I had during my time as an undergraduate were a result of me stepping out of my comfort zone and into unfamiliar spaces.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

This spring, I am fortunate to graduate alongside a few friends who I have known since I was in middle school; it feels really special to be able to celebrate the end of our undergraduate degrees together. My friends and I are planning a small roadtrip, where we can spend some time together before we go our separate ways pursuing our careers or further education.

What’s next after graduation?

Currently, I am working at a non-profit based in Edmonton’s Chinatown. Here, I do everything from program planning and leading tours, to administrative tasks such as managing event listings. In particular, I have been asked to focus on workshops and events that have a focus on Cantonese culture, history, food, and language, where I can create an environment for members of the community to connect and learn. I have also had the opportunity to help with website translation between English and Chinese, and handle subtitling for a documentary with interviews conducted in Cantonese.

Later on, I hope to pursue graduate studies in language acquisition research! I believe that spending some time in community work will help me build a more robust and multifaceted understanding of the many topics I have academic interest in.

Congratulations Phoebe!  We are glad you enjoyed your undergraduate time with us!