2nd year Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA)

Hello everyone, my name is Cara Lo and I just finished my first year of the Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) program specializing in the Public Analysis stream. I am now writing to reflect upon my experiences and to express my gratitude for this program, its initiatives, and its student-led club.

Having taken some Canadian Law and Civics classes in high school, I became interested in learning about law and how the government works, and was inspired to enroll in this program offered by the School of Public Policy and Administration (SPPA). I will never regret signing up for this program because it uses an interdisciplinary approach that prepares students for a variety of careers. I feel like I’ve already learned so much in my first year! I had the chance to take many informative and fun courses including AP/PPAS 2110 3.0 Canadian Government taught by Professor Nancy Sanders, and AP/PPAS 3135 3.0 Public Law I, taught by Professor Danny O’Rourke-DiCarlo. In these courses, not only did I get to deepen my knowledge on how the government works, but I also developed the ability to ask strategic questions and contribute to discussions by participating in class.

I now serve as the Director of Student Engagement in the Public Policy and Administration Student Association (PPASA), a student-run organization that represents undergraduate students in the SPPA. I initially joined as a Junior Ambassador last year, where I had the opportunity to support executives with their workloads, which equipped me with many transferable skills such as time management, communication, and collaboration. I also attended many events and workshops hosted by the SPPA and PPASA, which allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and network with professionals. I am extremely grateful for these opportunities and I encourage incoming students to check out the BPA program and to join the PPASA because it is such a great and supportive community.

As I think about my future, the rest of my university life and career in the PPASA, I look forward to taking more interesting courses that will deepen my understanding of the government, law, and public policy, and to continue working with my fellow PPASA members and SPPA professors.