Cody Ritter

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Name: Cody Ritter

Specialty/Program:

Bachelor of Arts Honors in German

If you were a superhero, who would it be? If you had a super power, what would it be?

I think the coolest superhero ability is depicted in Deadpool 2. The character Domino has the power of being lucky, so that would be enough for me! (Another example of super-luck can be found in the American Gods TV series' depiction of Leprechauns, albeit in a less flattering light).

What inspired you to become an Honors student in MLCS? 

Prior to university, I worked in Calgary at a manufacturing plant called Westech Building Products from 2010 to 2018. As a Lead-Hand, my work was both interesting and demanding, but following the birth of my first child in 2015, a desire for change in occupation and lifestyle began developing. Amidst contemplations on some alternative ways of life which might be attainable for myself, I volunteered with the Strathmore Rural Fire Department (now known as Wheatland West). During my time with the firehall, I learned a great deal and worked with a lot of great individuals, but some of the experiences highlighted life's frailty and pushed me to want to make the most of my own. As such, my continued contemplations led to an examination of some persisting desires that had seemed as though they had already slipped out of reach. I had always been interested in history and longed to reconnect with my own German heritage through language, so I decided to take a chance on myself and looked into studying both such topics at University. In this endeavor I was faced with not just financial obstacles including homeownership and having now two children and a partner to provide for, but also barriers with regards to my own acceptability to universities. During my high school years, I was not a dedicated student and, as such, failed to meet the entry-level requirements for the University of Alberta. I was not dissuaded, however, and instead looked for universities in Canada which offered both German Language study opportunities as well as History and honors programs (If I was going to return to school, I was going to give it my all). I found precisely this on offer in Nova Scotia's Acadia University and was rewarded with an incredible first year of study (shout out to Acadia's Dr. Michael Dennis), where I was accepted into their own German and History Honors program. During this year, however, my wife and I had our third child, and felt as though returning to Alberta where our extended families resided could be beneficial for helping raise our three children. Acadian professor Dr. David Duke was himself an alumni from the University of Alberta and offered encouraging advice during my decision to relocate. The experiences I had at Acadia University reinforced my own belief in myself to undertake the University of Alberta's own MLCS and History Combined Honors program. Coincidentally enough, in my fourth year I completed the History portion of the Honors program and did a separate History Thesis under Dr. David Marples who was himself the PhD supervisor of my previous Acadian instructor Dr. David Duke.

What is the best thing about being an Honors student in MLCS?

The best part of being an Honors student is the freedom to customize your workload and study topics while also being able to work one-on-one with wonderful and experienced professors! I must shout out Dr. Simone Pfleger for agreeing to do a directed study course with me which greatly helped in my preparation for writing my MLCS Thesis. The topic was German Sci-Fi and Dystopian literature and was as fun as it sounds while it also challenged my German language skills and expanded my understanding of unique perspectives originating from German cultural products.

Cause(s) you care about.

The spring of 2023 has been a crazy year for wild fires in Northern Alberta and, as such, I am incredibly thankful and supportive to any/everyone who offers their time either volunteering within such organizations or helping support them through Fire Fighter Associations and/or Committees.

Tell us about a topic you are excited to do research about (e.g., your current Honors thesis).

My completed Thesis focused on the legacy of the East German Stasi and state surveillance apparatus in German fiction, both via film and literature. I focused on exploring the role which social memory has in fictional form on shaping the broader social consciousness and perpetuating an awareness of the traumas from past experiences. I compared fictionalized narratives of the Stasi as presented in "The Lives of Others" film with historical accounts as a means of highlighting the value and role which is played by historical narratives emerging outside of the academic institution and within fiction. A big thank you to my Thesis supervisor, visiting professor Dr. Adam Takács, who had an incredibly busy year yet agreed to take me on and aid me in completing my MLCS Thesis.

Any (survival) tip(s) you would like to share with new or prospective MLCS Honors students?

Ideally, taking courses which compliment your knowledge of Thesis subject is extremely helpful for anyone undertaking this program. Additionally, choosing the right subject which is engaging and fun makes the research and writing of the Thesis all the more enjoyable! I hope that eventually the MLCS program shifts closer towards the History Honors structure which allows for a full two-semesters to work on the Thesis (whereas the the MLCS program currently offers only one) but there remains the potential, as I did, to have a directed study course the semester before writing your thesis which allowed me to delve into a subject within the backdrop of my Thesis. Staying in touch with the current honors advisor is also incredibly helpful for being aware of all the options available to you and for ensuring you don't miss any deadlines! The MLCS Honors department is wonderful at doing its best to help its students succeed!

Most importantly, if the Thesis program is something your thinking about, DO IT! Because YOU CAN! The work may seem insurmountable, but it isn't! Try to plan ahead, don't leave things to the last minute, take it one day at a time, and do your best!

The first thing you plan do after graduating or, if you have already graduated, tell us what you are doing now.

Now that I have graduated, my focus is on taking some time to be the best father and husband I can be. Our youngest is about to turn four, so I plan on pursuing a Masters Degree in a year or two when all our children are in their own full-time schooling. I did spend a summer working at the Carstairs Heritage Centre and found that very rewarding, so my future schooling might be oriented towards attaining a position within such an community-oriented institution like a local museum or geared towards attaining a PhD and remaining in academia, both of which offer plenty of opportunities to continue to expand my own knowledge with regards to the world around us.