Have you met Blessie, director of the Career Centre and Experiential Learning? Spend a few minutes getting to know her a little bit better.
What is your first U of A memory?
I got my undergraduate degree at the U of A. My first memory is my older sister (who was a couple of years ahead of me) showing me how to find my way around campus. The campus seemed so huge and overwhelming to me so I was very grateful for the help. Now I always stop and help anyone who seems lost.
What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?
That is a hard question. I have worked with so many of my coworkers for so long and we talk about everything.
What’s your favourite distraction?
I recently discovered TikTok and occasionally pass the time watching cleaning, laundry-folding and gift-wrapping videos. There’s really something for everyone!
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
I have been investigating some of the options out there for certification in equity, diversity and inclusion. There is a lot of critical work to do in these areas and I want to boost my capacity to engage in it myself and support the work of others.
What’s a weird pet peeve you have?
I am very sensitive to my physical environment. I find it very difficult to focus and be productive if the space around me is cluttered and disorganized. I also often start cleaning and organizing as a way to help me process a problem I am trying to solve.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
My parents immigrated to Canada in the late ’60s and because of that I didn’t grow up around my grandparents and they all passed while I was very young. Seeing the relationship between my parents and my own kids I understand what I missed out on. I would love to sit down with my grandparents to learn more about their lives and my family’s history.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
I love clever, socially-informed comedy. Laughing about hard things in life helps me keep things in perspective. I would love to see Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Lilly Singh or Trevor Noah live.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
Worry less about your grades and more about having experiences. Say yes to a few more scary things — who knows where they could lead you?
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
My phone! I use it to organize my whole life and my family’s lives — calendars, to-do lists, contacts, recipes, photos — everything. I can’t imagine going without it.
What three words describe your U of A experience?
Dynamic, Challenging, Fulfilling
