Convocation Profile: Cynthia Zische

We caught up with Cynthia just before Convocation and got her to answer some questions for us!

What program are you graduating from?

I’m finishing my Bachelor of Arts in Women & Gender Studies, with a minor in Political Science and a certificate in Sexuality Studies.

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

I actually did the first year of my BA at MacEwan (mostly online due to Covid restrictions) and intended to major in PoliSci and minor in WGS. Neither international relations nor government policy were super interesting to me, but U of A has a gender & politics stream and just way more interesting classes in general for PoliSci. And I have definitely enjoyed PoliSci more at U of A, but I also found that the conversations about power that I want to be part of are happening in WGS. When I “should” have been graduating high school, I was living under Burrard Bridge in Vancouver. When I “should” have been graduating university, I was a stay-at-home mother with 3 small kids. I’m in my late 30s, I’ve got multiple sclerosis—I’ve been through so much to get here and put in so much work, and I needed the things I was studying to feel relevant and useful and exciting to feel like I got what I came here for.

Tell us about your experience in your faculty.

My neighbour who is an accountant once called Arts degrees “navel-gazing degrees,” and she was so right. I spent so much time reading, reading some more, writing, and reading about writing. But that’s always where I have thrived with learning, I’m not a “multiple choice questions” person, I like to show what I know by thinking about it.  

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

I’m almost 40, so I’m quite a bit older than my peers—I’ll never forget teaching some first-year friends how to use a tampon without an applicator.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

My favourite professor was Dr Meagher, and my favourite class was getting to take and TA for WGS 101 at the same time with her. Because I started post-secondary at MacEwan, that’s where I took WGS 101, and it’s a different course there. My experience TAing while also going back to basics of WGS was an incredible end to my undergraduate experience.

What advice do you have for current and future students?

You’re not stuck. You’re never stuck. You can change your mind when you’re 30, 40, 50 years old, so just follow your passions and leave as many doors open for your future as possible.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

Dinner with my kids, partner, and dad.

What's next after graduation?

I’m taking the year off school to focus on Masters program applications, and Dr Meagher invited the 6 of us undergraduate TAs to co-author a paper about our experiences teaching. Mostly though, I’m going to sleep.

Enjoy your well-deserved rest, Cynthia!  I am sure we will be hearing more about you in the future!